Bristol Beaufighter Hercules Engine Restoration Update – June 2022

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With much thanks to our good friend John Parker at WarbirdsOnline in Australia, we can bring a status update on the restoration of correct-series Bristol Hercules engines for the restoration of a very rare Bristol Beaufighter ground attack aircraft to airworthy condition. Parker paid a visit to Peter Brooke’s workshop, Historical Aircraft Engines, in Brisbane, Australia this June to catch up with progress on these engines. These early-series Hercules are as rare as hens teeth; they will eventually go in Beaufighter Mk.If X7688 which Rob Greinert is restoring at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society’s museum in Albion Park, Australia. We will let John pick up the story from here…


Bristol Beaufighter Mk 1f Ex X7688 RAF nose cockpit restoration
The cockpit of Bristol Beaufighter Mk.1f X7688 coming together at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society. (photo by John Parker)

One of the most interesting and significant vintage aviation restoration projects is the task which Peter Brooke and Historical Aircraft Engines are undertaking for the various Bristol Beaufighter restorations currently underway in Australia and Europe. Unfortunately, the disruption of the COVID pandemic has complicated our ability to revisit and report on progress which Peter has been making over the past two years. However, since our last visit, Peter has completed significant work on this project to rebuild several Bristol Hercules engines.

Bristol Hercules core in engine stand components secured prior to separation
Bristol Hercules core in engine stand. (photo by John Parker)

Bristol Hercules engine placed in stand for stripping before removal of external gears
Bristol Hercules engine No 2 in stand. (photo by John Parker)

Bristol Hercules engine in stand for stripping before removal of external gears front view
Front view Bristol Hercules engine in stand. (photo by John Parker)

The huge holding of spare parts acquired in New Zealand (in excess of 16 tons) has now been fully sorted and identified, catalogued and stored in an appropriate manner to allow easy access when required. There were many thousands of components in this holding, so cataloguing it all was a mammoth, but essential undertaking. The task required many months of work, but was well worth the effort as Brooke has been able to determine that all of the required components to rebuild the Bristol Hercules Mk. XVII engines for the later series Beaufighters are on hand.

Stored Bristol Hercules engines before use in rebuild project
Stored Bristol Hercules engines. (photo by John Parker)

Workshop parts storage area with fully catelogued spare parts holding now in place a huge effort
The massive collection of Hercules parts, all neatly catalogues, in Peter Brooks workshop. (photo by John Parker)

Following on from parts cataloguing, work has turned to the design and methodology for the actual Hercules rebuilds. Peter is a master engineer, and has undertaken many hours of research and development regarding the overhaul of these complex, sleeve-valve engines. This work has included a detailed study of the available technical documentation and manuals. Peter has also dismantled several of the engines to confirm their condition and configuration. Now that all of the necessary preparatory work is complete, Peter has commenced the actual rebuilds – a very exciting time. Two engines are now in engine rebuild stands and “bulk stripping” has begun.

Specialised tooling fitted to engine core to facilitate safe seperation of crankcase components
Some of the simpler specialized tooling in action. (photo by John Parker)

Stripping a Bristol Hercules is a complex exercise and requires a lot of care and concentration as it is easy to cause damage if the correct procedures and sequences are ignored. This process requires specialist tooling, such as “pullers” and part-specific spanners. Furthermore, some tasks have even required the manufacture of tools when original examples are unavailable; a time-consuming task.

Bristol Hercules engine view of crankcase internals after cylinder and sleeve removal
A view inside a Hercules crank case. (photo by John Parker)

Special Bristol manufactured tooling for pulling bearings and other components in engines
Some of the Hercules-specific tooling required to work on the engine. (photo by John Parker)

Once the cylinders and pistons have all been removed, various components, such as connecting rods have to be secured in place before the core crankcase can be separated; this is the current stage of the process. Once all is ready, each segment of the crankcase can be separated; this has to be performed carefully so as to not distort the castings. Following this, the complex gear shafts, bearings and the crankshaft and connecting rods can be removed for examination, repair/restoration – then the long process of building the engine back up can commence.

The rebuild phase will be complex and difficult as each task presents its challenges. Nobody has attempted these types of rebuilds in many years, so Peters skills and knowledge will be invaluable as he moves through each phase of the work.


We wish to thank John Parker, Peter Brooke and Historical Aircraft Engines for this news article. We look forwards to further news regarding the restoration of these rare Bristol Hercules engines!

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Richard Mallory Allnutt's aviation passion ignited at the 1974 Farnborough Airshow. Raised in 1970s Britain, he was immersed in WWII aviation lore. Moving to Washington DC, he frequented the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum, meeting aviation legends.

After grad school, Richard worked for Lockheed-Martin but stayed devoted to aviation, volunteering at museums and honing his photography skills. In 2013, he became the founding editor of Warbirds News, now Vintage Aviation News. With around 800 articles written, he focuses on supporting grassroots aviation groups.

Richard values the connections made in the aviation community and is proud to help grow Vintage Aviation News.

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About Richard Mallory Allnutt (Chief Editor) 1060 Articles
Richard Mallory Allnutt's aviation passion ignited at the 1974 Farnborough Airshow. Raised in 1970s Britain, he was immersed in WWII aviation lore. Moving to Washington DC, he frequented the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum, meeting aviation legends. After grad school, Richard worked for Lockheed-Martin but stayed devoted to aviation, volunteering at museums and honing his photography skills. In 2013, he became the founding editor of Warbirds News, now Vintage Aviation News. With around 800 articles written, he focuses on supporting grassroots aviation groups. Richard values the connections made in the aviation community and is proud to help grow Vintage Aviation News.

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