J.A.W. said:
In this Sabre Tempest recognition film (featuring an early build 486 NZ Sqdn machine),
- the characteristic high rpm capability is clearly apparent, an advantage for high speed fighter flight.
Jim Sheddan, long serving 486 NZ pilot ( he made C.O.) on Typhoons & Tempests put it thusly..
"Of all the Allied fighters in action in the last 12 months of the war, the Hawker Tempest, powered by a
Napier Sabre sleeve valve engine was in a class of its own.
In the hands of an experienced pilot, it was more than a match for any aircraft flying on either side...
...A Merlin by comparison, was a slow revving motor, cruising revs being in the vicinity of 1,800 rpm
while maximum revs were in the 3,000 range. Thus there was a flat spot between when the pilot asked for
maximum effort...& received it. This time lag could be crucial when bounced by the enemy.
The Napier Sabre, by comparison, cruised at 3,500 rpm & had a maximum of 3,850.
There was so little difference between cruising & flat out that it could be claimed that a Tempest was almost
operating at its maximum performance at all times.
This had an advantage in that it was difficult for enemy fighters to position themselves to bounce..."
