The Gloster Gladiator 

Not fully happy with the Gauntlet, and feeling there was more to it, Gloster decided to further develop it's Gauntlet design to produce a better aircraft (also bi-wing). The result turned out one of the best bi-planes of the war, with advanced features such as an enclosed cockpit and trailing-edge flaps. It's performance was enough to convince the British Air Ministry that this aircraft could handle itself as an interim, while waiting for the more advanced monowing planes.

Versions:

• Gloster Gladiator Mk I
• Other Gloster Gladiator versions
• Gloster Sea Gladiator versions
• Gloster J8 versions

Further pictures:

The Gloster Gladiator in full flight

Technical data on the Gloster Gladiator Mk I

Powerplant	1 × Bristol Mercury IX radial, rated at 830 hp (618.76 kW)		Role during war	Fighter
Length	27 ft 5 inch		Height	10 ft 7 inch with tail down
Empty weight	3450 lb		Operational weight	4750 lb max
Wing Span	32 ft 3 inch		Wing Aspect ratio	Bi-plane
Wing Area	323 sq ft		Service ceiling	32800 ft
Maximum speed	253 mph at 14600 ft		Cruising speed	225 mph at 14500 ft
Initial climb rate	2,300 ft per min, Climb to 15,000 ft in 5 min 40 sec		Range	428 miles max
Fuel capacity internal	70 Imp gal (84,06 US gal)		Fuel capacity external	-
Machine guns	2 × 0.303 inch Browning fixed forward firing in the sides of the nose, 600 rounds each 2 × 0.303 inch Browning trainable rearward-firinggun in the leading edge of the lower wings, 400 rounds each		Cannons	-
Bomb load	-		Torpedoes/rockets	-
Crew	1		Naval or ground based	Ground
First flight (prototype)	12 September 1934		Operational Service	February 1937 - 1949
Manufacturer	Gloster Aircraft Co. Ltd.		Number produced	932 total, 378 this version

Metric system

Length	8.36 m		Height	3.23 m with tail down
Empty weight	1565 kg		Operational weight	2155 kg max
Wing Span	9.83 m		Wing Aspect ratio	1
Wing Area	30.01 m²		Service ceiling	9997 m
Maximum speed	407 km/h at 4450 m		Cruising speed	362 km/h at 4420 m
Initial climb rate	701 m per min, 4.572 m in 5 min 40 sec		Range	689 km max
Fuel capacity internal	318 liters		Fuel capacity external	-
Machine guns	2 × 7,7 mm Browning fixed forward firing in the sides of the nose, 600 rounds each 2 × 7,7 mm Browning trainable rearward-firinggun in the leading edge of the lower wings, 400 rounds each		Cannons	-
Bomb load	-		Torpedoes/rockets	-

Here is a quick overview of all different versions, without the full technical specifications:

Remarks:

The Gloster saw action over France and Norway were they suffered heavy losses. After that the remaining aircraft were sent to the Mediterranean Middle East, and to the North African Theatre. There they achieved successes over the Italian airforce that was equiped with bi-planes as well as first generation monowing planes. It was not until the Germans came to the aid of the Italians that the Gladiators were finally outclassed.

Strengths:

• Good handling
• Excellent agility
• Good performance for a bi-plane

Weaknesses:

• Insufficient performance against single engine monowing fighters.
• Propeller problems with the Mk I type causing heavy vibrations in a dive.

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