Hawker Tempest flies

[Archer]

I guess this fits in here.... Hawker Tempest MW763 has made its first post-restoration flight today, from Sywell Airfield in the hands of Pete Kynsey. According to a post on UKAR it is now safely hangared at Duxford. There is a photo here:

[Boac]

Isn't that beautiful?

[CharlieOneSix]

What a stunning photo! I wonder how many man hours went into that project.

[tango15]

What a stunning photo! I wonder how many man hours went into that project.

There's some good work going on (quietly) at Sywell. They recently put the Electra G-AFTL back into the air, and now this, plus a number of Spits and at least one Hurricane. They're all hidden away in a hangar that I am told is guarded 24 hours a day. I live quite close to Sywell and have visited it a couple of times recently, but I had no idea about the Tempest.

[CharlieOneSix]

[CharlieOneSix]

...and a second one starts restoration in Wales!

[Archer]

That first flight video is very nice! Thanks for sharing that!

[OneHungLow]

Good excuse to fly, or drive up to Duxford (weather dependent) this weekend, to have a look at this beautifully restored aircraft.

A very interesting thread and thanks for pointing this out Archer.

Flown by noted warbird pilot Pete Kynsey, is the first time that an example of the Bristol Centaurus-powered fighter has flown in the 21st century, and for almost 70 years. Taking off from Sywell, the Tempest landed at Duxford in Cambridgeshire.

The first flight is a major milestone in what has become an exhaustive ground-up restoration that can trace its roots back to the early 1980s. It has since passed through several hands before being acquired by its current owner, Graham Peacock of Fighter Aviation, in 2016.

During the flight the Tempest II was accompanied by Dave Puleston and Air Leasing engineer Wade Hammond in North American TF-51D Mustang G-TFSI (c/n 124-44703) ‘Contrary Mary’ flying as flight test observers.

The aircraft represents a 33 Squadron machine during Operation Firedog - the airborne response to the 1948 and 1960 Malayan Emergency - and has been restored in the high speed silver colours worn during this time. Surplus to the RAF's requirements, the aircraft was one of ten Tempests sold to the Pakistan Air Force in 1951. In all, Pakistan would operate 24 Tempests while neighbouring India would fly 89. Both air arms would retire the type in 1953.

The aircraft, now the only airworthy example of the type, was rolled out for the first time on May 24, 2021 and numerous hours of engine runs have been conducted since April of this year. An initial taxi test took place on June 29, the day after North Weald Heritage Aviation confirmed G-TEMT's Centaurus VI had completed five hours of ground running.

As pointed out by C16.

The fuselage and other major assemblies from a second Tempest, Mk.II MW758/HA580, were placed on display at South Wales Aviation Museum in February of this year. It is reported that this aircraft is also subject to a long-term restoration to flight effort.

https://www.key.aero/article/world-excl ... estoration

[Karearea]

[Hawker Tempest Mk.II MW763 | The First Flight]

Splendid to see. Thank you for that video.

[tango15]

I hadn't realised they were so big - it's a beast!