Gloster Gamecock
Gloster Aircraft Company · United Kingdom · first flew 1925 · fighter
The Gloster Gamecock was a single-seat biplane fighter that succeeded the Grebe in RAF service during the mid-to-late 1920s. Powered by the Bristol Jupiter radial, it was highly manoeuvrable but suffered from poor spinning characteristics.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 5.99 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
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Spot it by:
- RAF fighter biplane succeeding the Grebe, 1925
- Bristol Jupiter VI radial in narrow-chord cowling
- Narrow-chord ailerons on lower wing only
A compact equal-span biplane with a large Jupiter radial mounted in a distinctive narrow-chord cowling that exposes the cylinder heads. The single-bay wing cellule and small overall dimensions give it an agile, nimble appearance typical of mid-1920s RAF fighters.
Specifications
- The Gloster Gamecock has a length of 5.99 m (20 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.08 m (30 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 250 km/h (155 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Entering RAF service in 1926, the Gamecock equipped five fighter squadrons and was known for its aerobatic capability and impressive rate of climb. Its tendency to enter flat spins led to a number of accidents, and it was replaced by the Siskin by the end of the decade. Finland purchased a small number and licence-built additional examples.
Variants
The Mk I was the primary RAF version; the Mk II had a minor structural revision. Finnish aircraft were modified versions with different armament.
Where you'll see it
The Gamecock served with the RAF from 1926 to 1931, and the Finnish Air Force operated Finnish-built examples into the 1930s. It never saw combat with the RAF.
Related aircraft
- Gloster Grebe
- Gloster Gnatsnapper
- Gloster AS.31 Survey
- Gloster VI
- Armstrong Whitworth Siskin IIIA
- Avia BH-21
- Blackburn Velos
- Curtiss F6C Hawk
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