Gloster Nightjar
Gloster · United Kingdom · first flew 1922 · fighter
The Gloster Nightjar was a British single-seat night-fighter biplane of the early 1920s, developed from the Nieuport Nighthawk to counter airship and aircraft intruders. It was the last rotary-engined fighter to serve with the Royal Air Force.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 5.84 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Early 1920s British night-fighter biplane with no exhaust glare
- Rotary or radial engine with exhaust manifolds shielded for night ops
- Single-bay biplane with compact proportions for a night interceptor
Very compact single-bay biplane with the distinctive Bentley rotary engine and characteristic absence of exhaust stacks visible from outside; the small proportions and round-nosed rotary cowling distinguish it from its contemporaries.
Specifications
- The Gloster Nightjar has a length of 5.84 m (19 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.53 m (28 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 193 km/h (120 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Derived from the wartime Nieuport Nighthawk, the Nightjar was developed by the Gloucestershire Aircraft Company (later Gloster) and entered RAF service in 1922. It used a Bentley BR2 rotary engine with shielded exhausts to reduce glare that would blind the pilot during night operations. Only a small number were built, and it was retired by 1924 as more modern fighters became available.
Variants
The Nightjar was closely related to the earlier Nieuport Nighthawk; no significant production sub-variants were produced.
Where you'll see it
Served with a single RAF squadron as a night-fighter from 1922 to 1924; it represents the end of the rotary-engine era in British military aviation.
Related aircraft
- Gladiator
- Gloster Gladiator I
- Gloster Meteor F.8
- Gloster Meteor T.7
- Curtiss TS-1
- Dewoitine D.1
- Fairey Flycatcher
- Aero A.18
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