Tempest
Hawker · United Kingdom · first flew 1942 · fighter
The Hawker Tempest was a powerful late-war British fighter, prized for its low-altitude speed and used to chase down V-1 flying bombs and Luftwaffe jets.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Long fuselage, tailwheel, and four-cannon armament |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Thin, elliptical-edged low wing with a long chin radiator
- Big Napier Sabre inline radial behind a deep nose
- Long fuselage, tailwheel, and four-cannon armament
Identify it by the thin low wing with near-elliptical edges and the prominent chin radiator under the nose. The deep cowling housing the Sabre engine and the long fuselage are distinctive. Four wing cannon and a tailwheel stance complete the picture.
Specifications
- The Tempest has a length of 10.26 m (34 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.5 m (41 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 700 km/h (435 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Evolved from the Typhoon to cure its thick-wing high-altitude shortcomings, the Tempest received a new thin laminar-flow wing and first flew in 1942. The Mk V with the Napier Sabre entered service in 1944. It became one of the RAF's most effective fighters in the closing year of the war.
Variants
The Sabre-powered Mk V was the principal wartime version, joined by the Mk VI. The Centaurus-radial Tempest II arrived too late for the war and led toward the Sea Fury. The line traces directly into Hawker's later piston fighters.
Where you'll see it
Surviving Tempests are rare in the UK, with restoration and static examples cared for by enthusiasts and museums. The type is honoured in RAF heritage alongside its Typhoon ancestor. Airworthy examples are exceptionally scarce worldwide, making display appearances notable events.
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