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Post by ErrolC on Mar 12, 2012 20:10:44 GMT 12
Found these: www.pilotfriend.com/photo_albums/timeline/ww2/Hawker%20Tempest.htmIn the event, the Tempest I was later abandoned while the Mark II was allowed to proceed to the production stage following the successful flight trials with the prototype, LA602, which commenced on June 28, 1943. The first production Tempest II flew fifteen months later, but the first unit, No. 54 Squadron, was not equipped with this fighter until November 1945, and was thus too late to participate in the war. cammfollowers.org/aircraft/tempest.htmlThe Tempest Mark II entered RAF service with number 54 squadron at Chilbolton in November 1945 and the only other home based squadron was number 247 which relinquised its Tempests in April 1946. From 1946 to 1949, numbers 16, 26 and 33 squadrons were based in Germany and from 1946 to August 1947 numbers 5, 20, 30 and 152 squadrons were based in India. In July 1949, number 33 squadron moved to the Far East and was originally based at Hong Kong and later in Malaya where it was used against the communist terrorists until June 1951. It was the last RAF Tempest squadron. Note also Indian and Pakistani wartime (vs each other) service.
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Post by Bruce on Mar 12, 2012 20:44:53 GMT 12
Would be good to have another big Hawker fighter back in NZ, I've missed the Centaurus whistle since SFR went West.
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Post by Radialicious on Mar 12, 2012 21:23:30 GMT 12
Sleeve-valve sweetness!! Very exciting news and great to see she will stay in NZ afterwards.
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Post by vs on Mar 13, 2012 4:59:04 GMT 12
Very cool!, I think I may have posted a picture of one retored and on display at the RAF museum a few years ago
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Post by Damon on Mar 13, 2012 9:00:22 GMT 12
I believe that Ray Hanna flew the Tempest II in his early years in the RAF. Did they have the Napier Sabre engined versions still flying in the late 1940's to 50's ?
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Post by flyjoe180 on Mar 13, 2012 9:06:36 GMT 12
Amazing news, another fantastic Pioneer project to come. Are there no Tempest V flying projects in the world?
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Post by flyjoe180 on Mar 13, 2012 9:07:53 GMT 12
I remember being impressed by the sheer size of the Tempest V example at the RAF Museum in Hendon.
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Post by thebrads on Mar 13, 2012 9:22:24 GMT 12
No Tempest V's flying, and not likely to be any either. Is one with a faint possibility in future, being Kermit Weeks example, which is ex 486 Sqn. www.hawkertempest.se/EJ693.htmUnfortunately, Typhoons are in a similar (if not worse) position, with there being only one known complete example in existance. (RAF Museum).
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Post by flyjoe180 on Mar 13, 2012 9:25:32 GMT 12
So one possible Tempest V flier then, there is hope at least. I love Hawker fighters, everything up to and including the Hunter all looked the part. I would love to see and hear a Tempest V flying some day in the future.
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Post by angelsonefive on Mar 13, 2012 14:00:33 GMT 12
I believe that Ray Hanna flew the Tempest II in his early years in the RAF. Did they have the Napier Sabre engined versions still flying in the late 1940's to 50's ? As far as I can tell the last RAF unit flying Tempests was No.233 OCU, which relinquished its TT ( Target Towing ) Mk Vs in July 1955.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 13, 2012 14:33:59 GMT 12
A web search proves that Ray Hanna certainly flew the Tempest V but not sure about the Tempest II.
I have had the pleasure of interviewing some interesting Tempest pilots, the late Jim Sheddan, Jack Stafford, Harvey Sweetman and Wally May who all flew them with No. 486 (NZ) Squadron. Some great stories among those guys. I think some of the Spitifre guys I've interviewed also flew the Tempest late war and post-war. I don't think any got their hands on the Tempest II though.
Am I right inthinking that despite the similarity in looks, the Tempest II is actually a fair bit smaller than the Hawker Fury/Sea Fury?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 13, 2012 14:41:55 GMT 12
By the way, does anyone have any leads that might help the Pioneer team find parts that could assist the restoration of this aeroplane?
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Post by nuuumannn on Mar 13, 2012 14:53:40 GMT 12
This isn't strictly true, the first Tempest II squadron was 183 Squadron at Chilbolton in August 1945 as part of a new Wing led by Roland Beamont, who had returned from a spell in a German POW camp. 183 was renumbered 54 Sqn in November 1945 with Sqn Ldr Frank Jensen as CO - hence the confusion. 247 Sqn was formed in late August 1945 as the second Tempest II unit. This Wing was being formed as part of the Tiger Force heading off to do battle against Japan. A couple of piccies of Hendon's Tempests as a taster. PR536. NV778. Looking forward to seeing a Tempest fly here!
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Post by nuuumannn on Mar 13, 2012 15:01:46 GMT 12
Not by much at all. The Fury's fuselage was deeper and with the big five bladed prop made it look big, but the Tempest II was only a few inches shorter than the Sea Fury FB.11 (34 ft 8 in) at 34 feet 5 inches, the Tempests had a longer span at 41 feet than the Sea Fury at 38 feet 4 3/4 inches.
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Post by thebrads on Mar 13, 2012 15:49:28 GMT 12
(Sea)Fury originally designed as a lightweight replacement for the Tempest. Utilised shortened Tempest wings, compare with
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 13, 2012 15:51:38 GMT 12
Oh ok, cheers. I wonder if many parts would be interchangable between the two types.
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Post by ZacYates on Mar 13, 2012 16:34:12 GMT 12
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Post by Damon on Mar 13, 2012 16:41:26 GMT 12
I spoke to Bruce Coulter about restoring the Sea Fury ay Gulf Aeronautics .He explained that restoring the Sea Fury or Bagdad Fury was quite challenging.Typicaly British ,everything hand made and customed fitted to that particular aircraft exp .wing and fuse panels etc. Similar to the way a Spitfire was built . I guess some parts have a common history and can be used between Sea Fury and Tempest II. I would imagine that lots of hand made items will need to be created. What would be the anticipated time for the Pioneer guys to get the Tempest II out the door, about 4-5 years?
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Post by John L on Mar 13, 2012 16:57:06 GMT 12
Ah yes, but how expensive will that be to rebuild even 1! It won't be impossible, but it sure will be expensive!
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Post by Bruce on Mar 13, 2012 16:58:56 GMT 12
The big difference between a tempest and Sea fury is the forward fuselage, which is a monocoque structure throughout on the sea Fury, but is a Tubular structure with removable panels on the tempest. The Fury has some commonality but only as an evolution from the Tornado - Typhoon - Tempest line (you could continue the evolution through the Seahawk to the Hunter too!). Having worked on the Sea Fury, I can confirm the joys of off British engineering - It wont be a quick and easy job!
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