Gloster Goldfinch
Gloster · United Kingdom · first flew 1927 · fighter
The Gloster Goldfinch was a single-engined, single-seat, high-altitude biplane fighter of all-metal construction from the later 1920s. It did not reach production and only one was built.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.7 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-bay biplane with unequal span wings of marked stagger
- Supercharged Bristol Jupiter VIIF radial driving a two-bladed propeller
- Narrow-chord ailerons, strongly resembling the Gamecock II
It is a single-bay biplane with marked stagger and a fuselage longer forward of the cockpit than the Gamecock. It has a supercharged radial engine.
Specifications
- The Gloster Goldfinch has a length of 6.7 m (22 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.14 m (30 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 276 km/h (171 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
In January 1926 the Air Ministry funded Gloster to produce an all-metal version of the Gamecock for a high-altitude fighter role. The Goldfinch first flew in May 1927 and went to RAF Martlesham Heath for trials in December.
Variants
Only one Goldfinch was built but it existed in two rather different versions. The fuselage was rebuilt entirely of metal and lengthened, with a revised fin and rudder.
Where you'll see it
It was submitted for Air Ministry specification F.9/26 but failed to meet the load and fuel requirements. The Bristol Bulldog won, and the Goldfinch was used for trials until October 1928.
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- Gloster Sparrowhawk
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- Gloster Gladiator I
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- Avia BH-33
- Avro 584 Avocet
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