Showing 1 to 8 of 8 search results

Sopwith Triplane

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1917-1937, London, Hangar Two, 74/A/19

The Triplane was a highly manoeuvrable single-seat scout with phenomenal rates of climb and roll. The arrival of the Triplane on the Western Front in early 1917 made such an impression on the Germans that they asked their manufacturers to produce triplane fighters, leading to the Fokker Dr1 of 'Red Baron' fame.

Triplane with grey body and wings and wooden struts, © RAF Museum / RAF Museum

Gloster Gladiator Mark I

Aircraft & Exhibits, AUG 1937-MAR 1948, Cosford, Hangar Two, 74/A/17

The Gloster Gladiator was the RAF's last biplane fighter and the first to feature an enclosed cockpit for the pilot. Deliveries began in 1937, with Gladiators continuing to serve in the early years of the Second World War.

Biplane with propeller and silver body and wings, © RAF Museum

Hawker Hurricane Mark I

Aircraft & Exhibits, JAN 1940-MAY 1972, London, Hangar Three/Four, 72/A/1404

The Hawker Hurricane Mk I entered service in 1937 as the RAF's first eight-gun monoplane. During the Battle of Britain Hurricanes were more numerous than Spitfires and shot down over 60% of all German aircraft destroyed.

Single engine aircraft with propeller and camouflage pattern, © RAF Museum

Hawker Tempest TT.5

Aircraft & Exhibits, JAN 1945-1972, In Storage, 72/A/571

The Tempest was one of the last piston-engined front line fighters demonstrating the maximum performance that could be achieved with a piston engine and propeller combination.

Hawker Tempest on display at the RAF Museum, © RAF Museum/Iain Duncan / RAF Museum

De Havilland Vampire F3

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1947-1964, London, Hangar Three/Four, 78/A/873

This aircraft entered RAF service in 1947 as a fighter interceptor. Initially based in Cyprus it was badly damaged in a landing accident when with No. 601 (County of London) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force.

Image pending

Gloster Meteor F.8

Aircraft & Exhibits, NOV 1951-FEB 1967, London, Hangar Three/Four, 67/A/208

The Gloster Meteor was the only allied jet to see combat in the Second World War and in its various marks served in day, night and training operations. Its sturdy construction also made it an ideal test bed for a variety of products which followed it. Between 1950 and 1955 the Meteor F8 provided the backbone of Britain’s air defence capability. By the end of the 1947 the British Meteor fighter had fallen behind its contemporaries in efficiency and performance. In an effort to redress the balance the Gloster design office produced a re-design which was a marked improvement while retaining as much of the structure of the earlier aircraft as possible for production purposes.

Silver-coloured aircraft with twin jet engines embedded in wings, (C) RAF Museum/Iain Duncan / (c) RAF Museum/ Iain Duncan

Canadair Sabre F4 XB812

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1953-1991, Cosford, Hangar Four, 1994/1350/A

The Sabre had been introduced as a result of the Korean War of 1950-53, which had pushed further advancement in the design of combat jet aircraft.

Canadair Sabre F4 on display at Cosford, © RAF Museum/Iain Duncan

Hawker-Siddeley Hunter F.4, Cockpit Section

Aircraft & Exhibits, JUN 1955-JUL 1995, Cosford, Hangar Four, 1995/1005/A

The Hunter was the first high-speed jet fighter with radar and fully-powered flying controls to go into widespread service with the Royal Air Force.

Image pending