Tempests moving on

摘要

It is hoped that the restoration of Hawker Tempest Mk Ⅱ MW376 at Pioneer Aero Ltd, near Auckland, New Zealand, to flying condition will resume, following the tragic deaths of previous owner Eric Hertz and Kathy in the crash of their Beechcraft Baron off the coast of Kawhia on March 30. Eric Hertz, a mobile phone entrepreneur who had New Zealand residency, had acquired the former Indian Air Force fighter in 2012 and contracted Pioneer Aero to restore the fighter to represent the gallant New Zealanders who flew and fought in the Hawker Typhoons and Tempests with 486 (NZ) Sqn. Work at Pioneer had been progressing quickly, and MW376 was well on track to becoming the first Hawker Tempest to fly anywhere in the world since the 1950s.