Hi folks,
I found this 1970’s piccy whilst browsing through the airliners.net archives,and I’m wondering what has become of the aircraft.This is Tempest Mk.II MW810 which is now apparently in the ownership of Nelson Ezell in the US.Does anyone know what’s been done with this aircraft in the intervening years,how close is she to flying,if at all?
Would be nice to think this rather rough looking collection of bits will become a flyer again in future.
By: Ant.H - 8th March 2003 at 14:34
Hi Lauriebe,
Thanks for the onfo,it’s much appreciated :).Will be good to see that Seafire in the air again too,that contra prop monster is something else!
By: lauriebe - 8th March 2003 at 02:26
Ant,
I have just heard from Ezells regarding the Tempest. The situation is as I mentioned in my last post, still dismantled and stored. There might be progress on the aircraft once the Seafire project is finished. No timeframe for that yet though.
Keep hoping!
By: lauriebe - 6th March 2003 at 12:33
Bentblue is correct. This is Nelson’s personal aircraft. When I visited his facility in Breckenridge in May 2001, I saw the aircraft then. At that stage, it had been dismantled and stored in one of his hangars. At that time he was collecting all the documentation on the type that he could find to help with the project.
I am in fairly regular contact with Nelson’s son regarding the Seafire project that they are currently working on. I’ll see if I can get an update on the Tempest.
By: bentblue - 6th March 2003 at 05:59
I believe the TEMPEST with NELSON EZELL is his own personal aircraft. Which he plans to put together for himself. I am sure he will complete it someday,but running ones business always comes before personal projects.
By: Ant.H - 5th March 2003 at 19:39
Cheers for that info Andrew,that’s just the kinda stuff I was looking for.:)
It does seem a shame that none of these machines have yet made it into the air,but there is one now on the verge of flying with Tempest Two Ltd here in the UK,so it shouldn’t be too long before we see one gracing our skies.With regards to a Tempest for TFC,they actually restored one a few years back for the RAF Museum at Hendon,where it’s displayed to this day.
By: Grant - 5th March 2003 at 13:23
Airworthy Tempests
i think it’s a real shame that after allthese years not one Tmepest has made into the air yet. I know that various projects have been plagued by bad luck etc.
I still live in hope of seeing a Mk2 in the air before too many years. A great addition to OFMC or TFC???
By: A330Crazy - 5th March 2003 at 09:28
MW810 was one of a number shipped to the UK from India by Doug Arnold, then one of 6 acquired by Nick Grace. It was the one in worst condition and was part of a complex deal to enable Grace to get his hands on a Spit 16 owned by a Belfast Museum – basically a 3-wat swap with New England Air Museum (Connecticut USA) getting the Tempest and Belfast the ex-NEAM Short Sealand. MW810 is now owned by and stored at Nelson Ezell, Texas USA.
Sorry Ant this is all I could find on it. Maybe someone else will have a bit of better luck in trying. I far as I can tell though its still in the current state of your picture.
Cheers. 🙂
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March 4, 2003 at 11:42 pm