Hawker Tempest Recognition Film

[J.A.W.]

In this Sabre Tempest recognition film (featuring an early build 486 NZ Sqdn machine),
- the characteristic high rpm capability is clearly apparent, an advantage for high speed fighter flight.



Jim Sheddan, long serving 486 NZ pilot ( he made C.O.) on Typhoons & Tempests put it thusly..

"Of all the Allied fighters in action in the last 12 months of the war, the Hawker Tempest, powered by a
Napier Sabre sleeve valve engine was in a class of its own.
In the hands of an experienced pilot, it was more than a match for any aircraft flying on either side...
...A Merlin by comparison, was a slow revving motor, cruising revs being in the vicinity of 1,800 rpm
while maximum revs were in the 3,000 range. Thus there was a flat spot between when the pilot asked for
maximum effort...& received it. This time lag could be crucial when bounced by the enemy.
The Napier Sabre, by comparison, cruised at 3,500 rpm & had a maximum of 3,850.
There was so little difference between cruising & flat out that it could be claimed that a Tempest was almost
operating at its maximum performance at all times.
This had an advantage in that it was difficult for enemy fighters to position themselves to bounce..."

From the USAAF Air Intel Summary dated 18 March `45, an interrogation of a LW pilot gives his views
on the Tempest.. ..reckoning it..

"...had superior speed & climbing ability which made it extremely formidable.
The apparently excellent field of vision afforded the Tempest made it very difficult to surprise."