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G-TEMT (MW763) |
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The restoration of Hawker Tempest II MW763/G-TEMT is now proceeding at a Lincolnshire location, following a move from its former base at Sandtoft aerodrome. The Tempest is one of a cache of seven ex-Indian Air Force Tempests recovered in 1979 by Doug Arnold.
Left: Tempest Mk.II HA586, ex-RAF MW763, as found at Poona in India in 1979.
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Summary of History |
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| Date | Note | Code/Serial |
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1945 |
Built at Hawker Aircraft Ltd at Langley (Contract ACFT/2438/C.23(a) |
MW763 |
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May 1948 |
Bought by Hawker from RAF surplus stocks, refurbished and sold to India. |
MW763 -> HA586 |
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1948 |
Delivered to Indian Air Force. |
HA586 |
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1979 |
Recovered by Warbirds of GB Ltd, Blackbushe. |
HA586 |
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1980 |
E. Nick Grace/Tangmere Flight. |
MW763 |
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1988 |
Brian Angliss/Autokraft Ltd, Brooklands. |
MW763 |
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Oct 9 1989-1992 |
Autokraft Limited, Brooklands. |
G-TEMT/MW763 |
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1995?- |
Tempest Two Ltd |
G-TEMT/MW763 |
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Do you have more information or is something wrong? Any corrections to this list are most welcome. |
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Progress report: |
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In February 2004 Tom Woodhouse reports: |
"MW763 could possibly be ready for Flying Legends 2004 but the last I heard was that Mike Nixon still hadn't even started the engine restoration and he'd had the engine for two years previous to that anyway! The Flypast picture (May 2002 issue) was taken when Gerry and the lads had hung their spare (not overhauled) Centaurus on the airframe to get the cowlings complete and as many systems fitted as possible, otherwise the airframe is ready to go pending the arrival of the engine."
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In November 2005 Tom Woodhouse reports: |
"The Tempest will hopefully be finished later next year (2006), I doubt it'll be ready for Legends as Gerry's got a big job to do overseas this winter with his aerial mapping company. He now has 3 serviceable magnetos and is awaiting the engine back from Nixon."
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In February 2007 Kevin Strickson reports: |
"When I spoke to one of the engineers from Tempest Two Ltd., he said that they had four Tempests in total and they were building two flyers and one static (if possible) out of the bits. As you can see from the photograph, Tempest Two Ltd. has done an excellent job in restoring this particular bird from its original state. It awaits the return of the engine that has been sat with California-based Nixon engines for the past two years being serviced - once this is done it should be a relatively straight forward job of assembly and then it has to have its CAA airworthiness checks."
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Latest "rumours" in April 2008: |
According to FlyPast's "UK WARBIRDS 2008 - The Comprehensive Guide" MW763 is now "undergoing final assembly at a private location in Lincolnshire". There is also a post on Flypast's Forum saying they now have started to renovate the engine in USA!! So is MW763 back in air in 2008 or 2009??!!
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In June 2009 Kevin Strickson reports: |
"Just been over to Wickenby Wheels and Wings and she was outside with an engine in place. Unfortunately not with the renovated engine. She is said to fly in 2010 :) "
Photos:
via Peter Arnold
Kevin Strickson
Text sources:
Kevin Strickson
Tom Woodhouse
FlyPast Nov 2002
Aeroplane Nov 2001
This page was last updated 22 June 2009