Editing Hawker Tempest (section)

== Design ==
[[File:Hawker Tempest V from below 1944.jpg|thumb|A Tempest Mk. V flying overhead, marked with black and white stripes used for the easier identification of [[Hawker Typhoon]] and Tempest aircraft. These stripes, similar to the later [[Invasion stripes]], were used until 20 April 1944.]]
The Tempest was a single engine fighter aircraft that excelled at low-level flight. In service, its primary role soon developed into performing "armed reconnaissance" operations, often deep behind enemy lines. The Tempest was particularly well suited to the role because of its high speed at low to medium altitudes, its long range when equipped with two 45-gallon drop tanks, the good firepower of the four 20mm cannon and the good pilot visibility.<ref>Thomas and Shores 2008, p. 584.</ref> The three-piece windscreen and side windows of the Tempest had directly benefited from examination of captured [[Focke-Wulf Fw 190]]s, improvements included the careful design and positioning of the frame structure, blind spots being reduced to an absolute minimum. It had a bullet-resistant centre panel made up of two layers, the outer {{convert|1.5|in|mm|abbr=on}} thick and the inner {{convert|0.25|in|mm|abbr=on}}.<ref>Ovčáčík and Susa 2000, p. 3.</ref>

The majority of production Tempests were powered by a single high-powered Napier Sabre II 24-cylinder engine. All versions of the Sabre drove either a four-bladed, {{convert|14|ft|m|abbr=on}} diameter [[de Havilland Propellers|de Havilland]] Hydromatic or [[Dowty Rotol|Rotol]] propeller. Starting with EJxxx series, on the Tempest V, both the improved Sabre IIB and IIC were used, these engines were capable of producing over {{convert|2,400|hp|kW|abbr=on}} on emergency boost for short periods of time.<ref name=Ovc4/><ref name=Performance>[http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/tempest/material-command-tempest.pdf "Tempest MK V Performance."] ''wwiiaircraftperformance.org.'' Retrieved: 10 August 2010.</ref> Alternative engines were used on some production variants, such as the Tempest II, for which a single [[Bristol Centaurus]] 18 cylinder [[radial engine]] was adopted, or the final Tempest VI, upon which a Napier Sabre V was used. Early on in development, the adoption of several other engines was proposed, some of which were tested upon multiple prototypes.<ref name=Mason67_4_6/>

The wing of the Tempest was one of its more significant design features, having been developed from the Typhoon to use a thinner laminar flow design approach. The wing [[planform (aeronautics)|planform]] was of a near-[[elliptical wing|elliptical]] shape; the aircraft's armament of four 20&nbsp;mm Hispano cannons with 800 rounds of [[ammunition]] was also embedded into the wing.<ref name=Thomas105/> The [[ailerons]] were fitted with spring-loaded [[Trim tab|tabs]] which lightened the aerodynamic loads, making them easier for the pilot to use and dramatically improving the [[Yaw, pitch, and roll|roll]] rate above {{convert|250|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Thomas107/><ref name=Mason67_7/> The spar structure of the Tempest V also allowed the wings to carry up to {{convert|2,000|lb|kg}} of external stores. Also developed specifically for the Tempest by Hawker was a streamlined 45&nbsp;gal (205&nbsp;L) "drop tank" to extend the operational radius by {{convert|500|mi|km|abbr=on}} and carrier fairing; the redesigned wing incorporated the plumbing for these tanks, one to each wing.<ref name=Thomas107/><ref name=Mason91_342>Mason 1991, p. 342.</ref>

[[File:15 Hawker Tempest (15650618428).jpg|thumb|left|LA602, a prototype Bristol Centaurus-powered Tempest.]]
The main undercarriage was redesigned from the Typhoon, featuring lengthened legs and a wider track ({{convert|16|ft|m|abbr=on|disp=semicolon}}) to improve stability at the high landing speed of {{convert|110|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, and to allow [[tip clearance]] for a new de Havilland {{convert|14|ft|m|abbr=on}} diameter four-blade propeller. The main undercarriage units were [[Dowty Group|Dowty]] levered suspension units incorporating [[trunnions]] which shortened the legs as they retracted.<ref name=Ovc4>Ovčáčík and Susa 2000, p. 4.</ref><ref>[http://www.hawkertempest.se/detailmkiigear.htm "Undercarriage blueprint."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080326214506/http://www.hawkertempest.se/detailmkiigear.htm |date=2008-03-26 }} ''hawkertempest.se.'' Retrieved: 1 January 2012.</ref> The retractable tailwheel was fully enclosed by small doors and could be fitted with either a plain [[Dunlop Rubber|Dunlop]] manufactured tyre, or a Dunlop-Marstrand "twin-contact" anti-shimmy tyre.<ref name=Ovc4/>

During development, Camm and the Hawker design team had placed a high priority on making the Tempest easily accessible to both air and ground crews; to this end, the forward fuselage and cockpit areas of the earlier Hurricane and the Tempest and Typhoon families were covered by large removable panels providing access to as many components as possible, including [[Aircraft flight control system|flight controls]] and engine accessories. Both upper wing roots incorporated panels of non-slip coating. For the pilot a retractable foot stirrup under the starboard root trailing edge was linked to a pair of handholds which were covered by spring-loaded flaps. Through a system of linkages, when the canopy was open the stirrup was lowered and the flaps opened, providing easy access to the cockpit; as the canopy was closed, the stirrup was raised into the fuselage and the flaps snapped shut.