Aircraft in Action n187 - Gloster Gladiator

Always overshadowed by its successor, the Gladiator, the Gloster SS.19 (Gauntlet) prototype (J9125) emanated from a 1926 British Air Ministry specification for a new RAF fighter. It was not until 1932 that a suitable powerful engine became available for the proposed fighter. J9125 was fitted with a 536 HP Bristol Mercury VIS nine-cylinder, air-cooled, radial engine. It was then sent to the Aircraft & Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) at Martlesham Heath, England for service evaluation in February of 1933. Its performance figures included a rate of climb of over 2000 feet (609.6 M) per minute at sea level where it attained a speed of 163 MPH (262.3 KMH). The speed rose to 210 MPH (338 Kmh) at 14,000 feel (4267.2 M). The Gauntlet's performance was only marginally improved by fitting a 570 HP Mercury VIS2, removing the wheel spats. and replacing the tail skid with a wheel. Its maximum speed only increased to 214 MPH (344.4 kmh) at 15,000 feet (4572 m). These figures included the weight of two .303 caliber (7.7mm) Vickers Mk V machine guns with 600 rounds per gun, a radio, and oxygen and night flying equipment.
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