Hawker Tempest TT.5

The Tempest was one of the last piston-engined front line fighters demonstrating the maximum performance that could be achieved with a piston engine and propeller combination.

The Tempest was one of the most powerful high performance fighters to see operational service in the Second World War and extended the boundaries of piston-engined powered flight. Built on lessons learned earlier in the conflict it was designed to be a fast, manoeuvrable, heavily armed, high altitude interceptor. It became a highly successful against ground targets and V1 Flying Bombs. This airframe spent its operational life towing targets for air-to-air gunnery practice. The undersides are painted with black and yellow stripes to aid identification.