Gloster Aircraft Company
Gloster Gauntlet Mk.II
First flight 1933
Produced 1933–1936
General Info
Gloster Aircraft
Gloster Aircraft
Gloster Gauntlet Mk.II
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| An ex-Finnish Air Force Gloster Gauntlet Mk II, GT-400, taking off at Selänpää Airfield, 2008 | |
| Role | Fighter |
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| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | Gloster Aircraft |
| First flight | 1933 |
| Introduction | 1935 |
| Retired | 1943 |
| Primary users | Royal Air Force Finland Denmark |
| Produced | 1933–1936 |
| Number built | 246 |
| Developed from | Gloster S.S.18/19 |
| Variants | Gloster Gladiator |
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History Gloster Aircraft Company
Gloster Gauntlet Mk.II First flight 1933
Produced 1933–1936
The Gauntlet had a somewhat lengthy development process, linking back to the S.S.18 prototype of 1929. Extensive modifications, including multiple engine changes and changes to suit varying specifications, resulted in a relatively fast fighter aircraft for the era as well as a heavy armament and favourable manoeuvrability. By mid-1933, the Gauntlet name had been applied to the type and the Air Ministry placed an initial order for 24 aircraft during September of that year. It was procured as a replacement for the Bristol Bulldog, being roughly 50 MPH faster while also being more heavily armed. In May 1935, No. 19 Squadron became the first unit to receive the Gauntlet I.
The Gloster Gauntlet was a single-seat biplane fighter designed and produced by the British aeroplane manufacturer Gloster Aircraft in the 1930s. It was the last fighter to be operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) to have an open cockpit, and also the penultimate biplane fighter in its service..
Variants
- SS.18 : Single-seat prototype (J9125). The aircraft was fitted with a 450-hp (336-kW) Bristol Mercury IIA radial piston engine, which proved unreliable.
- SS.18A : The SS.18 was fitted with a 480 hp (358 kW) Bristol Jupiter VIIF radial piston engine.
- SS.18B : The SS.18, testfitted with a 560 hp (418 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Panther III radial piston engine.
- SS.19 : Single-seat prototype, still on airframe J9125; fitted with a Bristol Jupiter VII radial piston engine and a Townend ring.
Gloster SS.19 photo from L'Aerophile May 1932 - SS.19A : The SS.19 was later fitted with a Jupiter VIIFS and was given the SS.19A designation for the official trials, which began in September 1930. Numerous running changes were made to fin and rudders and elsewhere; eventually a tailwheel replaced the rear skid.
- SS.19B : The SS.19A was fitted with a 536 hp (400 kW) Bristol Mercury VIS radial piston engine in February 1933; this was upgraded to produce 570 hp (425 kW) by mid-1933. By April 1935 it had been modified again, now with the production-spec VIS2 engine, and underwent acceptance trials.
- Gauntlet Mk I : Single-seat fighter aircraft for the RAF; 24 built.
- Gauntlet Mk II : Single-seat fighter aircraft; modified version of the Gauntlet Mk I incorporating Hawker production methods; 221 built.
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Photo Gallery
Gloster Aircraft Company
Gloster Gauntlet Mk.II First flight 1933
Produced 1933–1936
Gloster Aircraft Company
Gloster Gauntlet Mk.II
Gloster Aircraft Company
Gloster Aircraft Company
Gloster Gauntlet Mk.II
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General Info 1
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- Crew: 1
- Length: 26 ft 5 in (8.05 m)
- Wingspan: 32 ft 9.5 in (9.995 m)
- Height: 10 ft 3 in (3.12 m)
- Wing area: 315 sq ft (29.3 m2)
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General Info 2
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- Empty weight: 2,770 lb (1,256 kg)
- Gross weight: 3,970 lb (1,801 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Bristol Mercury VI S2 nine-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 645 hp (481 kW)
- Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller
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General Info 3
- Maximum speed: 230 mph (370 km/h, 200 kn) at 15,800 ft (4,800 m)
- Range: 460 mi (740 km, 400 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 33,500 ft (10,200 m)
- Rate of climb: 2,300 ft/min (12 m/s)
- Time to altitude: 20,000 ft (6,100 m) in 9 minutes
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The Gloster Gauntlet can be traced back to the S.S.18 prototype, which made its maiden flight during January 1929.
Gloster Aircraft
Gloster Gauntlet Mk.II
The airplane was the Gloster-Whittle E.28/39, registration W4041/G, the first of two prototype fighters powered by a turbojet engine.
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On 25 May 1935, the first two aircraft were delivered to No. 19 Squadron, while 20 of the first 24 Gauntlets had been completed by the end of the following month,
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