Bristol / DAP Beaufort
Technical Information

Background
Designed by Bristol Aeroplane Company as a twin-engined reconnaissance and torpedo bomber designated Type 152. Developed from the earlier Bristol Blenheim light bomber.

Bristol Beaufort
Built by Bristol in the United Kingdom powered by the Bristol Taurus radial engine with three bladed constant speed propellers. A total of A total of 1,013 were built by Bristol. The last was Beaufort T.Mk.II completed November 25, 1944.

Department of Aircraft Production (DAP) Beauforts
During 1939, the Australian Government invited a British Air Mission to expand the Australian aircraft industry and the Bristol Beaufort was selected for production in Australia On July 1, 1939 an order was placed for 180 aircraft and spare parts to be built in Australia.

The Australian built Beaufort was built by Australian Department of Aircraft Production (DAP) Beaufort Division at Fishermans Bend near Melbourne and a factory at Mascot in New South Wales. The aircraft was built in section by subcontractors. The front fuselage, undercarriage, stern frames, nacelles built by Chullora Railway Workshops in New South Wales. The rear fuselage and empennage by Newport Workshops in Victoria. The mainplane and center section was built by Islington Railway Workshops in South Australia. The DAP built Beaufort was powered by Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp engines with 1,200 horsepower each.

The first ninety Beauforts (Beaufort Mark V A9-1 to Beaufort Mark VI A9-90 were allocated Royal Air Force (RAF) serial numbers and were intended for Singapore. Only a small number entered service before the fall of Singapore and the surviving bombers were transfered to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

A total of 700 DAP Beauforts were built until production ended in August 1944.

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

Production
A total of 1,380 Beauforts were built including 680 by Bristol in the United Kingdom and 700 by Department of Aircraft Production (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