Warplanes of the UK: Gloster Javelin

Gloster Javelin

(RAF Photo)

Gloster Javelin.

The Gloster Javelin is a twin-engined all-weather interceptor aircraft that served with Britain's Royal Air Force from the mid-1950s until the late 1960s. It was a T-tailed delta-wing aircraft designed for night and all-weather operations and was the last aircraft design to bear the Gloster name. Introduced in 1956 after a lengthy development period, the aircraft received several upgrades during production to its engines, radar and weapons, including support for the De Havilland Firestreak air-to-air missile.

The Javelin was succeeded in the interceptor role by the English Electric Lightning, a supersonic aircraft capable of flying at more than double the Javelin's top speed, which was introduced into the RAF only a few years later. The Javelin served for much of its life alongside the Lightning; the last Javelins were withdrawn from operational service in 1968 following the introduction of successively more capable versions of the Lightning. (Wikipedia)

Variants
A total of 435 aircraft were built by Gloster (302 built) andArmstrong-Whitworth (133 built); both companies at that time were part of theHawker Siddeley group. Several were converted to different marks (sometimes repeatedly).

Gloster GA.5

Five prototypes GA.5s were built by Gloster, the first order for four aircraft to Specification F.4/48 was placed by the Air Ministry on 17 Jun 1949. Subsequently two aircraft were cancelled but additional prototype aircraft were ordered in 1951:
WD804 - Unarmed first prototype with Sapphire Sa.3 engines first flown fromMoreton Valance on 26 November 1951.
WD808 - Unarmed second prototype first flew on 21 August 1952.
WT827 - First flew 7 March 1953 it was the first armed aircraft and the firstfitted with a radar.
WT830 - First aircraft with powered controls, first flew 14 January 1954. Usedfor aerodynamic and stress trials.
WT836 - Production standard aircraft with improved canopy. first flew 20 July1954

FAW 1
Initial version with Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire Sa.6 engines with 8,000 lbf (35.6 kN thrust) each, British AI.17 radar, four 30 mm ADEN cannon in wings, and electrically operated tail plane. The designation FAW 1, sometimeswritten FAW.1[39] or F(AW) Mk 1,[40] stood for "Fighter, All-Weather Mark 1". First flown on 25 July 1954, forty aircraft were built at Hucclecote, mainly used for trials and the first aircraft to be delivered to 46 Squadron at RAF Odiham.

FAW 2
Replaced the AI.17 radar with U.S.-made Westinghouse AN/APQ-43 radar (known asthe AI.22 in RAF service), hydraulically operated tail; 30 produced.

T 3
Dual-control trainer version with no radar, bulged canopy for improvedinstructor visibility. All-moving tailplane, lengthened fuselage to compensatefor altered centre of gravity, adding additional internal fuel. Retained fourcannon; 22 production aircraft and one prototype.

FAW 4
Similar to FAW 1, with the addition of vortex generators on wings for improvedstall characteristics, as well as an all-moving tailplane. Fitted with theoriginal AI.17 radar of the FAW.1. 50 produced.

FAW 5
Based on FAW 4, with revised wing structure incorporating additional fueltanks, provision for missile pylons (never fitted); 64 produced.

FAW 6
Combined FAW 2's American radar with the revised wing of the FAW.5. 33produced. Snub nosed with AI.22 radar installed.

FAW 7
Introduced new Sa.7 engines with 11,000 lbf (48.9 kN) thrust each, poweredrudder, extended rear fuselage. Armed with two 30 mm ADEN plus four Firestreakair-to-air missiles. FAW 7s equipping two squadrons were armed with four ADENcannon only; 142 produced. AI.17 radar installed.

FAW 8
Upgraded Sa.7R engines with reheat, raising thrust to 12,300 lbf (54.7 kN) thrust above 20,000 ft (6,100 m); at lower altitudes, the limitation of thefuel pump caused a loss of cold thrust. New "drooped" wingleading edge and auto-stabiliser for better handling. Snub nosed with AI.22radar installed.

FAW 9
A total of 118 FAW 7s refitted with the revised wing and engines with reheat, ofthe Mk 8., 44 of these were fitted with refuelling probes as FAW 9F/R. AI.17radar installed.

FAW 9R
R standing for "Range". A total of 40 of the 44 FAW 9F/R wererefitted to carry underwing fuel tanks. (Wikipedia)

(IWM Photo, RAF-T 2151)

Gloster Javelin FAW.9R (Serial No. XH890), No. 23 Squadron RAF, gracefully banking away from the camera, offering a clear view of its distinctive identification markers and its armament of de Havilland Firestreak infra-red homing air-to-air missiles. This Javelin operated from RAF Coltishall, Norfolk in the UK.

(RAF Photo)

Gloster Javelin FAW 7 (Serial No. XH835), coded NP, No. 33 Squadron, c1962.

(BAE systems Photo)

Gloster Javelin (Serial No. WD808). This was the second prototype, which made its debut at the Farnborough show.

(RAF Photo)

Gloster Javelin formation.

(RAF Photo)

Gloster Javelin.

(Tony Hisgett Photo)

Gloster Javelin FAW5, Midland Air Museum, UK.