Hawker Tempest V
Serial Number: NV778
Period: WWII
Collection Ref: 72-A-571
Location: RAF Museum London, Milestones of Flight
The Tempest was one of the most powerful high performance
fighters to see operational service in World War II and extended the boundaries
of piston-engined powered flight. Built on lessons learned earlier in
the conflict it was designed to be a fast, manoeuvrable, heavily armed,
high altitude interceptor. By the time it came into service, towards the
end of the war, the German fighter forces had been decimated and it became
a highly successful adversary of enemy ground troops and V1 Flying Bombs.
This particular aircraft was too late for active service and spent its
operational life towing targets for air-to-air gunnery practice. The undersides
are painted with black and yellow stripes to make it obvious that it was
the tug not the target!
What makes this a Milestone Aircraft?
The Tempest was one of the last
piston-engined front line fighters demonstrating the maximum performance
that could be achieved with a piston engine and propeller combination.
Coloured like a wasp, this
Hawker Tempest was used for towing
targets, not for stinging the enemy.
Tempest at War
This film provides a superb and totally unique portrait of this now largely overlooked RAF warhorse.
Buy this DVD online!
