Kermit Weeks' Hawker Typhoon
Kimble D. McCutcheon
Anyone know the status of the Hawker Typhoon that Kermit Weeks is
supposed to get for "Fantasy of Flight"? I spoke with someone at
Duxford last spring who told me that a Napier Saber engine was being
restored for use in the aircraft. Any information greatly appreciated.
Kim McCutcheon
Ronald J. Bokleman, Jr.
Kim,
If you check out http://www.fantasyofflight.com/ you won't even find this
aircraft listed as part of his collection. Are you sure he owns one?
Ronald J. Bokleman, Jr., Aviation Photo Journalist /
webm...@the-hangar.com
http://www.the-hangar.com/ - The Hangar - YOUR Aviation Encyclopedia! (SM)
Eric Hammel, The author of more than twenty combat history books. /
ham...@hooked.net
http://www.wenet.net/~hammel/history.htm - Pacifica Press
John Mollison, OddBird Aviation Artist / pi...@iw.net
Eric Dumigan, Aviation Photo Journalist / ai...@sprint.ca
KJKimball
Kermit owns hundreds of aircraft of all types that are not list on the web
site. Heck, I've seen a lot of them in storage. The ones listed are ones which
can be seen at one of his facilities, for the most part.
KJKimball
Mark Ansell
I believe you might be thinking of the Hawker Tempest V. I think this is being
restored by PPS at Booker Airfield. They have a few of his aircraft under
restoration. We don't usually get to see them, as they are crated and shipped soon
after completion. Not sure where the Napier Sabre engine is being worked on.
Mark Ansell
Michel Lemieux
I remember reading an article in FLY PAST magazine
a little while ago. As i remember.
The airplane is a Tempest but with a
radial Bristol Centaurus engine
Will be a bit more reliable than the Napier Saber
The plane is being rebuilt to be airworthy
With that engine, it looks a lot like a Sea Fury,
Kimble D. McCutcheon
Chris Hinch wrote:
>
> The aircraft is a Hawker Tempest Mk V, with a Napier Sabre II engine. It's
> the only Mk V listed in Warbirds Directory 3rd Edition. It is being restored
> to flying condition, the grapevine has it that it will be about the turn of
> the century. The aircraft flew with NZ 486 squadron, so the restoration
> project is being watched with keen interest by the New Zealand Fighter
> Pilots Museum (http://www.nzfpm.co.nz).
>
> He also has a Mk II, if that could be causing some confusion. Certainly only
> the Mk V will use the Sabre.
>
> I'll see if I can find out any more recent news - if so, I'll post it to the
> group.
>
> Heres the text of posting I made a year ago.
>
> "Kermit Weeks in Florida, United States of America has a Tempest Mk V
> under restoration to airworthy condition, estimated time "when it's
> finished" :-)
>
> The aircraft in question is EJ693, ex RNZAF 486 Squadron
> and saw action in Europe during 1944 as SA-I.
>
> First operational flight 6th September 1944, a 2 hour fighter sweep
> bomber support target Emden flown by Flt Lt Harvey Sweetman, DFC. Force
> landed on this flight.
>
> Last operational flight 1st October 1944, 1 hr 40 minute patrol in
> Holland, operating from airfield B60, Grimbergen. Forcelanded in
> Holland, then used as a testbed for Napier Sabres.
>
> It flew 22 operational sorties, including escort of bombers to the Ruhr
> out of Newchurch, Southern England, also of note are 2 sorties out of
> Newchurch in support of Operation Market Garden.
>
> There is another Mark V resident at RAF Hendon. It has just come out of
> a four year restoration, but will not fly again (museum policy?).
>
> These are the only two Mk V's in existence (or that anyone is aware of).
>
> There are several Tempest II's extant, and two are currently for sale by
> Autokraft? But what's a Tempest without a Sabre? *grin*."
>
> I'll see if I can find out any more recent news and post it to the group.
>
> Chris Hinch
> chi...@arl.please-no-spam.co.nz
Thanks, Chris-
This was the information I was looking for. And thanks to the other
repondants as well.
Best,
Kim McCutcheon