Gloster Gladiator

The Gloster Gladiator is a biplane fighter aircraft designed and produced by the British aviation firm Gloster Aircraft Company, Ltd.. It was the last biplane fighter to be flown by the Royal Air Force (RAF) as well as being the first to be provisioned with an enclosed cockpit; it was also operated by the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) (as the Sea Gladiator variant) as well as being exported to numerous other air services during the late 1930s.

The Gladiator was developed during the mid 1930s as a private venture, being initially referred to the Gloster SS.37 and derived from the Gloster Gauntlet. Mid-way through development, it was decided to adapt the aircraft towards fulfilling Air Ministry Specification F.7/30. Changes over the Gauntlet included the use of wing-design techniques developed by Hawker Aircraft, the adoption of the Bristol Mercury M.E.30 radial engine, and the fitting of a cantilever main undercarriage. First flown on 12 September 1934 and entering service with the RAF in 23 February 1937, the Gladiator was quickly rendered obsolescent by newer monoplane designs even as it was being introduced. While frequently pitted against more advanced fighters during the early days of the Second World War, it acquitted itself reasonably well in combat.