TWIN-ENGINED BRISTOL BEAUFORT TORPEDO-BOMBERS, THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AIRCRAFT OF THEIR TYPE, ARE ...

Accession Number 009664
Collection type Photograph
Object type Negative
Maker Unknown Australian Official Photographer
Place made Australia: Victoria, Melbourne, Fishermans Bend
Date made c September 1941
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

TWIN-ENGINED BRISTOL BEAUFORT TORPEDO-BOMBERS, THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AIRCRAFT OF THEIR TYPE, ARE NOW BEING PRODUCED IN AUSTRALIA. THOUSANDS OF AUSTRALIAN WORKERS ARE ENGAGED IN THE MASS PRODUCTION OF THESE PLANES, WHICH ARE CAPABLE OF LAUNCHING TORPEDOES HUNDREDS OF MILES FROM THE COAST. NOTABLE FACTOR IN THIS TREMENDOUS FEAT OF AUSTRALIAN WARTIME PRODUCTION WAS THE LOCAL MANUFACTURE OF 26,000 OF THE 33,000 JIGS, TOOLS AND FIXTURES REQUIRED FOR CONSTRUCTION OF BEAUFORT. THE 1200 H.P. PRATT AND WHITNEY TWIN ROW WASP ENGINES WITH WHICH THE AUSTRALIAN BEAUFORT IS EQUIPPED, ARE NOW BEING MADE IN AUSTRALIA. ORIGINALLY IT WAS INTENDED TO USE BRITISH TAURUS ENGINES, BUT BECAUSE OF WAR DEMANDS ON BRITISH FACTORIES, THESE WERE UNOBTAINABLE. THE TWIN ROW WASP IS SLIGHTLY HIGHER POWERED THAN THE TAURUS. CHANGE NECESSITATED EXTENSIVE MODIFICATION TO AIRFRAME AND THE AUXILIARY SYSTEMS WORKING IN RELATION TO THE ENGINES. ADJUSTING A PRATT AND WHITNEY TWIN ROW WASP ENGINE.

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