Bristol / DAP Beaufort
Technical Information

Background
Designed by Bristol as a twin-engined reconnaissance and torpedo bomber.

Australian built Beauforts
During the war, 700 Beauforts were built by the Australian Department of Aircraft Production (DAP) at Fishermans Bend near Melbourne. The DAP built Beaufort was powered by Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp engines with 1,200 horsepower each for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

The first ninety aircraft (Beaufort A9-1 to Beaufort A9-90) were intended to be used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) in Singapore, and most were allocated RAF serial numbers. Only a handful of these saw service before the fall of Singapore and the surviving bombers returned to Australia and were delivered to the RAAF.

Mark IX Beaufreighter
During the war, 30-40 Beaufort Mark VIII's were converted to Mark IX version by removing the rear turret, and adding an extension that turned it into a transport aircraft. These Beaufort Mark IX's were renumbered in the A9-7xx series.

Production
A total of 1,380 Beauforts were built. 680 by Bristol in the United Kingdom and 700 by DAP in Australia.

Technical Details (DAP Beaufort)
Crew  Four (pilot, navigator, two wireless air gunners)
Engine  2 x Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp radial engine 1,200hp driving a three bladed metal propeller
Span  57.8'
Length  44.16'
Height  14.2'
Maximum Speed  225 mph
Range  1,600 miles
Armament  4 x Vickers 7.7mm machine gun
Bomb load  1x 18in torpedo or up to 907 kg of aerial bombs