Editing Hawker Tempest (section)

=== Tempest Mk.VI ===
[[File:Tempest-rafhist.jpg|thumb|left|A Tempest Mk. VI.]]
Various engineering refinements that had gone into the Tempest II were incorporated into the last Tempest variant, designated as the ''Tempest VI''. This variant was furnished with a Napier Sabre V engine with {{convert|2,340|hp|kW|abbr=on}}. The more powerful Sabre V required a bigger radiator which displaced the oil cooler and carburettor air intake from the radiator's centre; air for the carburettor was drawn through intakes on the leading edge of the inner wings, while the oil cooler was located behind the radiator. Most Tempest VIs were tropicalised, the main feature of this process being an air filter which was fitted in a fairing on the lower centre section.<ref name=Mason67_12/> Other changes included the strengthening of the rear spar and the inclusion of spring tabs, which granted the variant superior handling performance.<ref name=Mason67_12/>

The original Tempest V prototype, ''HM595'', was extensively modified to serve as the Tempest VI prototype.<ref name=Mason67_12/> On 9 May 1944, ''HM595'' made its first flight after its rebuild, flown by Bill Humble. In December 1944, ''HM595'' was dispatched to [[Khartoum]], [[Sudan]] to conduct a series of tropical trials. During 1945, two more Tempest V aircraft, ''EJ841'' and ''JN750'', were converted to the Tempest VI standard in order to participate in service trials at RAF Boscombe Down.<ref name=Mason67_12/>

At one point, 250 Tempest VIs were on order for the RAF; however, the end of the war led to many aircraft programs being cut back intensively, leading to only 142 aircraft being completed.<ref name=Mason67_12/> For a long time, it was thought there were Tempest VIs that had been converted for [[target tug|target tow]]ing purposes; however, none of the service histories of the aircraft show such conversions and no supporting photographic evidence has been found. The Tempest VI was the last piston-engined fighter in operational service with the RAF, having been superseded by jet propelled aircraft.