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By: - 13th November 2019 at 19:01 Permalink
Hi All,
Thanks for the info JBoyle...?
Ex IAF HM557 according to Tempest survivors web page (Link below)
MW404 was built in 1945 and served with No. 247 Squadron in Chilbolton in Hampshire, England. After it had been in service for two years the plane was bought back by the manufacturer, refurbished and sold to the Indian Air Force (IAF), entering active duty in 1948. After the type was retired from front line service in 1954, MW404 was assigned decoy duties at Poona Air Force Base, along with at least a dozen other Tempest IIs. In 1979 MV404 was bought by Doug Arnold, who had it shipped to the UK.
Chris Miller, Texas, USA, bought MW404 in 2012. Chris intends to restore the Tempest to an airworthy state. A rebuilt Curtiss-Wright R-3350 radial engine and propeller from a Douglas Skyraider has been acquired, less expensive to purchase and maintain than the original Bristol Centaurus engine and Rotol propeller.
Lots more pictures here and some more history of the aircraft:- http://www.hawkertempest.se/index.php/survivors/2015-01-19-19-22-20/mw4043
Geoff.
By: - 13th November 2019 at 21:22 Permalink
I really hope the new owner enjoys better fortune than the previous ones, and gets to see it through to completion.
1) fatal car crash 2) murder (!), 3 ) fatal flying accident 4) fatal flying accident
By: - 13th November 2019 at 23:41 Permalink
I’d be surprised if the project was physically in Argentina. They are probably acting as a broker? I have come across this company recently - US1 exports, they were selling an AS Cheetah - I rang the guy - he wanted $14k for it!! My antenae went up at that point.
By: - 14th November 2019 at 06:59 Permalink - Edited 14th November 2019 at 07:00
Okay Hawker experts, just how viable of a project is it?
It seems to have a lot of components and appears to be an easier project (especially the powerplant) than the Typhoon project currently underway.
I'm not sure the Argentina address would be a broker, in these days of internet scams and cons, I'd think a unexpected address would scare potential buyers.
Perhaps it was sent there to take advantage of lower labour costs?
Remember, the high quality Bugatti replicas are produced there...so they must have a skilled workforce for such work.
By: - 14th November 2019 at 09:13 Permalink
Search for the owner on WIX, it tells you all you need to know
By: - 14th November 2019 at 13:30 Permalink
^^^ So who is it and what does it tell us :)
By: - 14th November 2019 at 20:03 Permalink
Whatever its history, the vendor's webpage gives us a seldom seen good look at a project of a rare type.
By: - 15th November 2019 at 01:59 Permalink
I just heard from the owner. It’s still in Texas. The Argentinian guys are brokers.
By: - 16th November 2019 at 01:45 Permalink
Would love to see it finished in a mirror polish with IAF markings ?
Posts: 9,823
By: J Boyle - 13th November 2019 at 18:16 - Edited 13th November 2019 at 18:18
I was sent a very impressive magazine published by the Military Vehicles Preservation Association in the U.S..
In a full page ad for a Colorado-based MV dealer is a photo and mention of a Tempest project for sale. The project is in Argentina (I've never heard of a Tempest in South America, but I'm no Hawker expert). Apparently an engine is included.
Here is the dealers website, scroll down for several photos.
https://vintagemilitaryvehicles.com/parts-and-miscellaneous/