X-Nico

14 unusual facts about Gloster Aircraft Company


De Havilland DH.72

The aircraft was completed by Gloster's at Brockworth, with whom de Havilland had a military aircraft manufacturing agreement, fitted with three 595 hp (444 kW) Bristol Jupiter XFS radial engines.

Fiat AS.5

For the 1929 Schneider Trophy contest Fiat planned a new seaplane to counter the British challengers from Gloster and Supermarine.

General Aircraft Monospar

Based on this design, The Monospar Company designed a twin-engined low-wing aircraft designated the Monospar ST-3, that was built and flown in 1931 by the Gloster Aircraft Company at Brockworth, Gloucestershire.

Gloster Gannet

The Gloster Gannet was a single-seat single-engined light aircraft built by the Gloucestershire Aircraft Company Limited of Cheltenham, United Kingdom, to compete in the 1923 Lympne Trials.

Gloster Goldfinch

In January 1926 the Air Ministry funded Gloster Aircraft to produce an all-metal version of their Gamecock for a high altitude fighter role, hence requiring a supercharged engine.

Gloster Nightjar

Nieuport & General closed down in August 1920, and the rights to the Nighthawk were purchased by the Gloster Aircraft Company, who hired Folland as chief designer.

Gloster Sparrowhawk

A development by Gloster Aircraft Company of the earlier Nieuport Nighthawk fighter, 50 aircraft were built by Gloster for the Imperial Japanese Navy, with a further 40 being assembled in Japan, being operated from 1921 to 1928.

When the British aircraft manufacturer Nieuport & General closed down in 1920, the services of its chief designer, Henry Folland were hired by the Gloster Aircraft Company, who also acquired the rights for Nieuport's Nighthawk fighter, a promising design that had been ruined by the use of the unreliable ABC Dragonfly radial engine.

Gloster Survey

Moth and in November 1928 it transferred the project to Gloster Aircraft Company.

Gloster TC.33

The Gloster (previously Gloucestershire) Aircraft Co.

Hawker Henley

Fairey, Gloster and Hawker all rushed to fulfill this need, and competition was tight to attain the highest performance possible.

Hawker P.V.3

While the P.V.3 was praised for its handling and performance during testing at RAF Martlesham Heath, no order resulted, as in the mean time Gloster's Gladiator, another Private Venture design, had been ordered into production.

Nieuport Nighthawk

Seventy Nighthawks were completed by Nieuport and the Gloucestershire Aircraft Company, with a further 54 airframes without engines being completed.

Nieuport & General closed down in August 1920, and the rights to the Nighthawk were purchased by the Gloster Aircraft Company, who also hired Folland as chief designer.


Brockworth, Gloucestershire

During World War II its Gloster Aircraft Company produced the famous Hawker Hurricane fighter, and following the war it gained renewed fame for producing several notable aircraft, including Britain's first jet aircraft, which was test flown here.