About This Aircraft
The Gloster Gladiator was the last biplane fighter to serve with the Royal Air Force and represented the pinnacle of biplane design. This example, K8042, is a Mk I variant. Powered by a Bristol Mercury IX radial engine, the Gladiator was capable of speeds up to 253 mph. A significant advance over its predecessors, it featured an enclosed cockpit and an armament of four .303 Browning machine guns. Although it was being replaced by monoplane fighters like the Hurricane and Spitfire at the outbreak of WWII, the Gladiator saw distinguished service in the early stages of the war, most famously during the defence of Malta and in the Norwegian campaign, embodying the plucky spirit of the RAF during those perilous years.
Museums Featuring This Aircraft
Exhibits can change. To avoid disappointment, before visiting, please check the museum website for up-to-date exhibit listings.