United Kingdom's Hawker Tempest fighter1
Hawker Tempest fighter:
Hawker Tempest fighter:
Hawker Tempest Mk V B fighter:
Hawker Tempest fighter. captured by Germans:
Design
The Hawker Tempest was to be an improved Hawker Typhoon.1 It was to have a new wing and more powerful engine.1
Wings
The designer of the Hawker Tempest, Sydney Camm, said that he designed the Tempest's particular wing shape because of the RAF's fixation with the Spitfire.1 The wing was a thin elliptical, laminar flow design.1
Fuselage
The forward fuselage contained the Tempest's engine and fuel tanks.1 It also was formed from a rigid rectangular tubular structure.1 The rear fuselage was a monocoque structure with oval frames, longitudinal stringer, and stressed skin.1
Propeller
The four bladed propeller, a de Havilland Hydromatic constant speed, was on a large spinner.1
Cockpit
The cockpit was a single piece bubble canopy that had bulletproof glass.1 There was armor plating in front of and behind the pilot.1
Tail
The tail was a cantilever all metal unit with a dorsal fin extension.1 The rudder was fabric covered and the tail plane and fin were stress skin covered.1 All the control surfaces had trim tabs.1
Prototype
The first Hawker Tempest to fly, the Mk V, was converted from a Hawker Typhoon.1
Production
Over 1,400 Tempests were produced.1
Variants
- Tempest Mk II: Had Bristol Centaurus engine.1 Was intended to fight the Japanese, but the war ended before it was ready for operational use.1 Entered service in 1946.1
- Tempest Mk V: The first to be produced.1
- Tempest Mk VI: Had a Sabre V engine and a bigger radiator for use in the tropics.1
Usage
Pilots said that the Tempest was maneuverable, pleasant to fly, with no major handling faults.1
It was found that the Tempest could take a lot of hits and would still be flyable.1
The Tempest started service in April 1944.1
The top Tempest ace, with 11 aircraft kills, was the American D. C. Fairbanks who was a member of the RAF.1
Total aircraft kills for all Tempests were 240 German planes, 80 Messerschmitt Bf 109s, 115 Focke-Wulf Fw 190s, and 11 Messerschmitt Me 262s.1
Tempest were used for taking down German V-1 rockets and are credited with 638.1 On Tempest pilot shot down 60.1
After War Use
The Tempest was in service with the RAF until July 1955, as target tugs.1
| Hawker Tempest Mk II1 | Hawker Tempest Mk V1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Fighter1 Fighter-bomber1 |
|
| Crew | 11 | |
| Engine (Type) | Bristol Centaurus Mk V piston1 | Napier Sabre IIA/B "H" piston1 |
| Cylinders | 241 | 241 |
| Cooling | ||
| HP | 2,3661 | 2,1801 |
| Propeller blades | 41 | 41 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Span | 41'1 12.5 m1 |
|
| Length | 34'1 10.26 m1 |
|
| Height | 16'1 4.9 m1 |
|
| Wing area | 302 ft2 1 28.06 m2 1 |
|
| Weight | ||
| Empty | 8,980 lb1 4,082 kg1 |
|
| Loaded | 13,412 lb1 6,142 kg1 |
|
| Performance | ||
| Speed | ||
| Climb to 18,500' / 5,640 m |
425 mph1 686 kph1 |
|
| Service ceiling | 36,500'1 11,125 m1 |
|
| Range | 740 miles1 1,191 km1 |
|
| Armament | ||
| Wings | 4: 20 mm Hispano Mk V1 | |
| Bombs - wing racks | 2: 500 lb1 2: 227 kg1 |
|
| OR | 2: 1,000 lb1 2: 454 kg1 |
|
| OR | ||
| Rockets | 8: 60 lb1 8: 27 kg1 |
|
| Production |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
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