Gloster Gauntlet

The Gloster Gauntlet ( " gauntlet " ) was a British biplane fighter aircraft of the 1930s.

History

The Gauntlet was in the 1930s, the dominant fighter plane pattern of the Royal Air Force. 1937 were equipped with it not less than 14 squadrons of the Royal Air Force. The development history of the aircraft is quite complicated. There were three calls necessary until the machine was delivered as a production model. When the first call, a complicated all-metal construction was presented. She did not find the hoped-for approval. In the second call, the Gloster Gauntlet was not convincing. When she finally successful the third call by standing and an order of 24 aircraft was issued for the RAF Gloster was already part of the Hawker Siddeley group.

This first aircraft models were named Gloster Gauntlet MkI. They had a two-bladed Watts propeller. The main model, however, the Gloster Gauntlet MkII was a three-blade Fairey Reed metal propeller. The Gloster Gauntlet was the last RAF fighter plane with an open cockpit. A total of 24 MkI and MkII 204 were produced. These aircraft were used until 1940, especially in the Middle East.

Specifications

Bristol Mercury VI S2, 640 hp ( 477 kW)

Users countries

The Gauntlet was made ​​among others in Denmark under license.

Australia Australia

  • Royal Australian Air Force No.3 Sqn

Denmark Denmark

  • Danish Air Force No. 1 Squadron Royal Danish Air Force

Finland Finland

  • Suomen ilmavoimat Lentolaivue 30
  • Lentolaivue 34
  • Täydennyslelentolaivue 25
  • T- LLv 17
  • T- LLv 35

Rhodesia Southern Rhodesia Sud 1923

  • Royal Rhodesian Air Force No. 1 Squadron SRAF

South Africa 1961 South Africa

United Kingdom United Kingdom

  • Royal Air Force No. 6 Squadron RAF
  • No. 17 Squadron RAF
  • No. 19 Squadron RAF
  • No. 32 Squadron RAF
  • No. 33 Squadron RAF
  • No. 46 Squadron RAF
  • No. 47 Squadron RAF
  • No. 54 Squadron RAF
  • No. 56 Squadron RAF
  • No. 65 Squadron RAF
  • No. 66 Squadron RAF
  • No. 73 Squadron RAF
  • No. 74 Squadron RAF
  • No. 79 Squadron RAF
  • No. 80 Squadron RAF
  • No. 111 Squadron RAF
  • No. 112 Squadron RAF
  • No. 151 Squadron RAF
  • No. 213 Squadron RAF
  • No. 234 Squadron RAF
  • No. 237 Squadron RAF
  • No. 504 Squadron RAF
  • No. 601 Squadron RAF
  • No. 602 Squadron RAF
  • No. 615 Squadron RAF
  • No. 616 Squadron RAF

Aircraft received

The world's only airworthy Gauntlet Mk II is the OH - XGT in Finland. She is at the airfield Kymi stationed at Kotka and is shown regularly at air shows. The original engine was replaced by a Alvis Leonides 520 hp.

Gloster Aircraft Company Gauntlet (glove)#.22Throw down the gauntlet.22 No. 54 Squadron RAF No. 74 Squadron RAF Gloster Gladiator Gloster E.28/39 Gloster Meteor Gloster Javelin
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