la610 2

 The Tempest Mk III and IV, both earmarked for installation of Rolls-Royce Griffon engines, diverged significantly from the Sabre engined Tempest program. Only the Mk III prototype (LA610) was actually converted (Mk IV prototype LA614 was cancelled in Feb 1943). The aircraft was test flown during September 1944 as a "lightweight" Tempest powered by a Griffon 85 engine. Later it was re-engined with the final version of the Sabre, the Mk VIII, which developed over 3000hp, and in this form it achieved 483mph making it the fastest of the Hawker piston-engined fighters.


The Tempest Mk III was the last of the Tempest line and led to the RAF Fury and Royal Navy Sea Fury.

 la610 1

 

Sources:
Hawker Tempest (4+ Publication)
Typhoon/Tempest in action (Squadron/Signal Publications No 102)
The Typhoon & Tempest Story (Chris Thomas & Christopher Shores)



Latest updates:

RC Tempests

17 Sept 2023
Stephan Frappier's 1/5-scale Hawker Tempest Mk. II, Vailly Aviation design.

Read more

Latest story

13 Sept 2023
Gordon Mellis' article about the loss of F/O Marshall and NV709 on the outskirts of the village Birgham in 1945.

Read more >>

Latest photos

11 Sept 2023
Paul Germain shares his late father's photos. He was stationed at Gutersloh with No. 16 Squadron in approx' 1948.

Read more

MW376

9 Sept 2023
Avionics update. The KF Aerospace team have been progressing well with avionics work over the past few weeks.

Read more

MW763

29 June 2023
Another step closer to flight! Extensive engine running during the summer including taxing.

Read more