The recovery of other Beauforts

As the war in the Pacific ended over sixty years ago and Beauforts were quickly retired from use by the Royal Australian Air Force, it is understandable that parts are in very short supply. To restore a historic aircraft to any sort of condition takes time, patience and money - and an element of luck. It's not possible to head down to the shops for the parts that make such an elderly and complex aircraft tick.

So - when the restoration team hears about a Beaufort wreck or a part owner contacts the team to offer up parts for use in the restoration of A9-141, they are very quick to check it out. As time goes by, parts are becoming scarcer - and when they are located, they are turning up in the most unlikely places - advertised on the internet, found in garden sheds and in outbuildings on farms.

In sourcing parts for the restoration of Beaufort A9-141, the team will travel nearly anywhere to find the right material. To see photographs of the recovery of parts essential to the restoration of this historic aircraft, please click here.

There has been one other major restoration of a DAP Beaufort in Australia. A9-557 - a Mark VIII aircraft - was restored to a static display condition for the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, and until recently, this aircraft could be seen on the Museum floor. Volunteers from the Beaufort Restoration Group were involved in the restoration - which was completed in 2003.

To find out more about this aircraft and the restoration, please click here.