Gloster Javelin
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The Gloster Javelin is a twin-engined all-weather
interceptor aircraft An interceptor aircraft, or simply interceptor, is a type of fighter aircraft designed specifically for the defensive interception role against an attacking enemy aircraft, particularly bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. Aircraft that are c ...
designed and produced by the Gloster Aircraft Company. It was operated by the
Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...
from the mid-1950s until the late 1960s and was the final aircraft design to bear the Gloster name. The Javelin was designed in response to specification F.44/46 during the late 1940s and early 1950s as high-performance
night fighter A night fighter (later known as all-weather fighter or all-weather interceptor post-Second World War) is a largely historical term for a fighter aircraft, fighter or interceptor aircraft adapted or designed for effective use at night, during pe ...
capable of all-weather operations. In terms of its basic configuration, it was a T-tailed delta-wing aircraft powered by a pair of Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire turbojet engines. Following a protracted development period, the Javelin was introduced to squadron service during 1956. Throughout its service life, the aircraft received several upgrades, which were typically focused upon its engines, radar and weapons, including support for the De Havilland Firestreak
air-to-air missile An air-to-air missile (AAM) is a missile fired from an aircraft for the purpose of destroying another aircraft (including unmanned aircraft such as cruise missiles). AAMs are typically powered by one or more rocket motors, usually solid-fuel roc ...
. 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 following the former's introduction. Several variants were proposed, including fighter bomber and
aerial reconnaissance Aerial reconnaissance is reconnaissance for a military or Strategy, strategic purpose that is conducted using reconnaissance aircraft. The role of reconnaissance can fulfil a variety of requirements including Artillery observer, artillery spott ...
-oriented models, as well as the supersonic-capable Gloster thin-wing Javelin; however, these were not pursued. The Javelin had a relatively short service life, the last examples were withdrawn from operational service in 1968 following the introduction of successively more capable versions of the Lightning.


Development


F.44/46

In the aftermath of the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, Britain identified a threat posed by the jet-powered
strategic bomber A strategic bomber is a medium- to long-range Penetrator (aircraft), penetration bomber aircraft designed to drop large amounts of air-to-ground weaponry onto a distant target for the purposes of debilitating the enemy's capacity to wage war. Unl ...
and atomic weaponry and thus placed a great emphasis on developing aerial supremacy through continuing to advance its fighter technology, even following the end of the conflict. Initial planning was based on the premise that another war was at least ten years away, and development was limited mostly to paper projects. Several events in the late 1940s led to this timeline being moved up. In 1947, the
Air Ministry The Air Ministry was a department of the Government of the United Kingdom with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force and civil aviation that existed from 1918 to 1964. It was under the political authority of the ...
issued a requirement for a high-performance
night fighter A night fighter (later known as all-weather fighter or all-weather interceptor post-Second World War) is a largely historical term for a fighter aircraft, fighter or interceptor aircraft adapted or designed for effective use at night, during pe ...
under specification F.44/46. It called for a two-seat design that would intercept enemy aircraft at heights of up to at least 40,000 feet. It would also have to reach a maximum speed of 525 kn (973 km/h, 605 mph) at this height, be able to perform rapid ascents and attain an altitude of 45,000 feet within ten minutes of engine ignition. Additional criteria given in the requirement included a minimum flight endurance of two hours, a takeoff distance of 1,500 yards, structural strength to support up to 4g manoeuvres at high speed and for the aircraft to incorporate aircraft interception radar, multi-channel VHF radio and various navigational aids. The aircraft would also be required to be economical to produce, at a rate of ten per month for an estimated total of 150 aircraft.


Gloster designs

Gloster Aircraft developed and produced the only British jet aircraft to be operational during the war, the Gloster Meteor. Through the post-war period, they produced a series of updated versions of the Meteor, including some with delta wing layouts for all or the outer portion of the wings. These were further developed by moving the engines to the fuselage and using a complete delta wing layout, leading to a second series of designs that continued in parallel. P.228, drawn up in 1946, was essentially a two-seat Meteor with slightly swept wings. A similar design was also offered to the
Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...
as the P.231.Derek James
"Gloster Aircraft Company"
Fonthill Media, 2014
The later-issued P.234 and P.238 of early 1947 had adopted many of the features that would be distinctive of the Javelin, including the large delta wing and tailplane, and were based on the Rolls-Royce AJ65 engine (better known as Avon). The two differed primarily in role; P.234 was a single-seat day fighter with a V-tail, while P.238 was a two-seat night fighter with a mid-mounted delta tailplane. Development of both concepts continued. P.240 of April 1947 was Meteor-like in form but moved the engines from the wings to the fuselage, and added a slight sweep to the leading edge of the wing, producing a somewhat delta wing shape. P.240 also replaced the Rolls-Royce Derwent engines with the Metrovick F.9, which would later move companies and become the Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire. The all-delta layout of P.238 was also updated as P.241, which used an all-delta horizontal stabilizer in a T-tail arrangement. P.241 bears a strong resemblance to the final Javelin design. The Air Ministry released more detailed specifications on 17 Jun 1949, as F.4/48. Gloster responded with two further updated designs, P.300, which was essentially a quick update to the Meteor with two seats and newer Derwent engines, and the P.316/P.317, another update to the delta layout mounting the Sapphire engines. The P.316 and 317 differed primarily in role, 316 was a single-seat design lacking radar and mounting up to four bombs in containers under the fuselage, while 317 was a two-seat design with radar and some form of heavy armament to be determined. The RAF requirements were subject to some changes, mainly in regards to radar equipment and armaments; Gloster also initiated some changes as further research was conducted into the aerodynamic properties of the new swept and delta wings, as well as use of the new Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire turbojet engine.


Prototypes

On 13 April 1949, the Ministry of Supply issued instructions to two aircraft manufacturers, Gloster and
de Havilland The de Havilland Aircraft Company Limited (pronounced , ) was a British aviation manufacturer established in late 1920 by Geoffrey de Havilland at Stag Lane Aerodrome Edgware on the outskirts of North London. Operations were later moved to ...
, to each construct four airworthy prototypes of their competing designs to meet the requirement, as well as one airframe each for structural testing. These prototype aircraft were the Gloster GA.5, designed by Richard Walker, and the de Havilland DH.110, the latter of which held the advantage of also being under consideration for the
Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...
. Development was considerably delayed through political cost-cutting measures, the number of prototypes being trimmed down to an unworkable level of two each before the decision was entirely reversed; this led to the unusual situation where the first production Javelin was completed before the prototype order being fulfilled. The first prototype was completed in 1951. An unusual feature of the prototypes was the opaque canopy over the rear cockpit. It had been believed that visibility outside the cockpit was unnecessary and a hindrance to the observer; the only external view available was through 2 small ' portholes'. Following a month of ground testing, on 26 November 1951, the first prototype conducted its first flight at Moreton Valence airfield. Bill Waterton, Gloster's Chief Test Pilot, would later describe the Javelin as being "as easy to fly as an Anson", although also expressing concern over its inadequate power controls. Disaster nearly struck during one test flight when aerodynamic flutter caused the elevators to detach in mid-flight; despite the lack of control surfaces, Bill Waterton was able to land the aircraft using tailplane trimming and engine thrust for pitch control. He was awarded the
George Medal The George Medal (GM), instituted on 24 September 1940 by King George VI,''British Gallantry Medals'' (Abbott and Tamplin), p. 138 is a decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth, awarded for gallantry, typically ...
for his actions to retrieve flight data from the burning aircraft. The second prototype (WD808) received a modified wing in 1953. After initial testing by Waterton, it was passed to another Gloster test pilot, Peter Lawrence for his opinion. On 11 June 1953, the aircraft crashed during testing. Lawrence had ejected from the aircraft, but too late (at about ), and was killed. The Javelin had experienced a " deep stall"; the wing acting like an airbrake had killed forward motion and at the same time degraded the airflow over the elevators, leaving them useless. Without elevator control, Lawrence was unable to regain control and the aircraft dropped from the sky. A stall warning device was later developed and implemented for the Javelin. The third prototype (''WT827''), and the first to be fitted with operational equipment including radar, first flew on 7 March 1953. The fourth prototype (''WT830)'' was passed to the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) for trials and the fifth prototype, ''WT836'', made its first flight in July 1954. On 4 July 1954, a prototype Javelin accidentally achieved
supersonic speed Supersonic speed is the speed of an object that exceeds the speed of sound (Mach number, Mach 1). For objects traveling in dry air of a temperature of 20 °C (68 °F) at sea level, this speed is approximately . Speeds greater tha ...
during a test flight, the pilot having been distracted by an oxygen supply failure.


Production and further development

The official production order for the Javelin was issued in mid-1953; as the Gloster Meteor was still being actively produced by Gloster, considerable elements of the Javelin were subcontracted out to other aviation companies owned by the Hawker Siddeley Group, such as
Armstrong Whitworth Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd was a major British manufacturing company of the early years of the 20th century. With headquarters in Elswick, Tyne and Wear, Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne, Armstrong Whitworth built armaments, ships, locomot ...
. While some delays were incurred, the Javelin's status as a "super priority" for production helped to minimize the time involved in producing each aircraft. On 22 July 1954, XA544, the first production aircraft, took flight at Hucclecote. Production was assisted by a large order placed by the
United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
, purchasing aircraft for the RAF as part of the Mutual Defense Aid Program at a price of £36.8 million. On 21 October 1954, a pilot attached to Gloster from RAE Farnborough was killed while flying Javelin ''XA546'' having entered what appeared to be an intentional spin. On 8 December 1955, a service test pilot S/L Dick was testing ''XA561'' for the A&AEE when the aircraft entered a flat spin at during manoeuvres testing the buffet boundary, which the anti-spin parachute could not stop, and he chose to eject at . Following this, a stall-warning device was developed for the Javelin. By the end of 1956, the Javelin was up to a FAW 7 variant, which was the first to meet the specifications of the original Air Ministry requirement, and which was to become the definitive version of the aircraft (most of which were later altered to the FAW 9 standard). The Javelin was evolving so quickly that deliveries of the FAW 8 began before FAW 7 production had ended. As a result, the final 80 FAW 7 aircraft went straight from the factory into storage, eventually flying after being re-manufactured as FAW 9s. A total of 427 Javelins were produced in all variants, plus seven prototypes. While there had been considerable interest from several
NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO ; , OTAN), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental organization, intergovernmental Transnationalism, transnational military alliance of 32 Member states of NATO, member s ...
air forces, there were no export orders for the Javelin.


Design

The Javelin was the RAF's first purpose-built all-weather interceptor aircraft. Aerodynamic features of the type included its adoption of the new delta wing and a large tailplane. Fuel and armaments were housed in the delta wing, and the engines and crew in the fuselage. The delta wing and tailplane combination had been deemed necessary by Gloster for effective manoeuvrability at high speed and for the aircraft to be controllable at low landing speeds. In one instance during testing, when both elevators had been torn off by elevator flutter, the Javelin remained controllable by using both the trimming capability of the large tailplane and thrust changes to control pitch. Changes from the prototypes included alterations to the rear fuselage and a central "pen nib" fairing extending beyond the engine nozzles, to eliminate buffeting of the rudder by the jet exhaust and increased sweepback of the wing's leading edge to improve high-speed handling. The Javelin was reportedly easy to fly even on one engine. The flight controls were fully power-assisted and production aircraft adopted a hydraulic 'feel' system for the pilot. The Javelin featured an infinitely variable airbrake; the airbrake proved to be extremely responsive and effective, allowing pilots to conduct rapid descents and heavy braking manoeuvres, enabling equally rapid landings to be performed. The turnaround time between sorties was significantly shorter than with the preceding Gloster Meteor, due to improved ground accessibility and engine ignition sequence. Unlike the Meteor, the Javelin was fitted with ejector seats, at the introduction to service of the type. No other operational fighter of the West even to the present day had a bigger wing, in terms of area, than the Javelin, and in the USSR, only the
Tu-128 The Tupolev Tu-28 (NATO reporting name Fiddler) is a long-range interceptor aircraft introduced by the Soviet Union in the 1960s. The official designation was Tu-128, but this designation was less commonly used in the West. It was the largest a ...
had a larger (about 10m2) wing. In spite of the aircraft's unorthodox aerodynamic features, the Javelin had a fairly conventional structure and materials, being mainly composed of an aluminium alloy, with some use of steel edging. The fuselage was composed of four sections, the nose (containing the radar radome), the front fuselage, centre fuselage and rear fuselage; the nose and rear fuselage were removable for servicing and easy replacement. The engines were on either side of the centre fuselage, the internal space in the centre containing the service bay that housed much of the aircraft's electrical, hydraulic, and avionics subsystems. The engine air intakes were placed on the forward fuselage, running directly from beneath the cockpit rearwards into the delta wing. Electricity was provided by a pair of 6,000 watt, 24-volt generators driven by the auxiliary gearbox; inverters provided AC power for equipment such as some flight instruments and the radar.


Variants

A total of 435 aircraft were built by Gloster (302 built) and Armstrong-Whitworth (133 built); both companies at that time were part of the Hawker 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 from Moreton 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 first fitted with a radar. * WT830 - First aircraft with powered controls, first flew 14 January 1954. Used for aerodynamic and stress trials. * WT836 - Production standard aircraft with improved canopy. first flew 20 July 1954 ;FAW 1 : Initial version with Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire Sa.6 engines with 8,000 lbf (35.6 kN thrust) each, British AI.17
radar Radar is a system that uses radio waves to determine the distance ('' ranging''), direction ( azimuth and elevation angles), and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It is a radiodetermination method used to detect and track ...
, four 30 mm ADEN cannon in wings, and electrically operated tail plane;. The designation FAW 1, sometimes written FAW.1 or F(AW) Mk 1, 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 Radar is a system that uses radio waves to determine the distance ('' ranging''), direction ( azimuth and elevation angles), and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It is a radiodetermination method used to detect and track ...
(known as the AI.22 in RAF service), hydraulically operated tail; 30 produced.Patridge 1967, p. 11. ;T 3 : Dual-control trainer version with no radar, bulged canopy for improved instructor visibility. All-moving
tailplane A tailplane, also known as a horizontal stabilizer, is a small lift (force), lifting surface located on the tail (empennage) behind the main lifting surfaces of a fixed-wing aircraft as well as other non-fixed-wing aircraft such as helicopters ...
, lengthened
fuselage The fuselage (; from the French language, French ''fuselé'' "spindle-shaped") is an aircraft's main body section. It holds Aircrew, crew, passengers, or cargo. In single-engine aircraft, it will usually contain an Aircraft engine, engine as wel ...
to compensate for altered centre of gravity, adding additional internal fuel. Retained four cannon; 22 production aircraft and one prototype. ;FAW 4 : Similar to FAW 1, with the addition of vortex generators on wings for improved stall characteristics, as well as an all-moving tailplane. Fitted with the original AI.17 radar of the FAW.1. 50 produced. ;FAW 5 : Based on FAW 4, with revised wing structure incorporating additional fuel tanks, provision for missile pylons (never fitted); 64 produced. ;FAW 6 : Combined FAW 2's American radar with the revised wing of the FAW.5. 33 produced. Snub nosed with AI.22 radar installed. ;FAW 7 : Introduced new Sa.7 engines with 11,000 lbf (48.9 kN) thrust each, powered
rudder A rudder is a primary control surface used to steer a ship, boat, submarine, hovercraft, airship, or other vehicle that moves through a fluid medium (usually air or water). On an airplane, the rudder is used primarily to counter adverse yaw ...
, extended rear fuselage. Armed with two 30 mm ADEN plus four Firestreak
air-to-air missile An air-to-air missile (AAM) is a missile fired from an aircraft for the purpose of destroying another aircraft (including unmanned aircraft such as cruise missiles). AAMs are typically powered by one or more rocket motors, usually solid-fuel roc ...
s. FAW 7s equipping two squadrons were armed with four ADEN cannon only; 142 produced. AI.17 radar installed. ;FAW 8 : Upgraded Sa.7R engines with
reheat An afterburner (or reheat in British English) is an additional combustion component used on some jet engines, mostly those on military aircraft, military supersonic aircraft. Its purpose is to increase thrust, usually for supersonic flight, ta ...
, raising thrust to 12,300 lbf (54.7 kN) thrust above 20,000 ft (6,100 m); at lower altitudes, the limitation of the fuel pump caused a loss of cold
thrust Thrust is a reaction force described quantitatively by Newton's third law. When a system expels or accelerates mass in one direction, the accelerated mass will cause a force of equal magnitude but opposite direction to be applied to that ...
. New "drooped" wing leading edge and auto-stabiliser for better handling. Snub nosed with AI.22 radar installed. ;FAW 9 : A total of 118 FAW 7s refitted with the revised wing and engines with
reheat An afterburner (or reheat in British English) is an additional combustion component used on some jet engines, mostly those on military aircraft, military supersonic aircraft. Its purpose is to increase thrust, usually for supersonic flight, ta ...
, of the Mk 8., 44 of these were fitted with refuelling probes as FAW 9F/R. AI.17 radar installed. ;FAW 9R :R standing for "Range". A total of 40 of the 44 FAW 9F/R were refitted to carry underwing fuel tanks.


Unproduced variants

Several variants were proposed and investigated but not produced, including
aerial reconnaissance Aerial reconnaissance is reconnaissance for a military or Strategy, strategic purpose that is conducted using reconnaissance aircraft. The role of reconnaissance can fulfil a variety of requirements including Artillery observer, artillery spott ...
versions, a fighter bomber version with underwing panniers for bombs, and a supersonic variant with area-ruled fuselage, thinner wings, and a new
tail The tail is the elongated section at the rear end of a bilaterian animal's body; in general, the term refers to a distinct, flexible appendage extending backwards from the midline of the torso. In vertebrate animals that evolution, evolved to los ...
. The "thin-wing Javelin" would have been capable of about Mach 1.6, with a higher ceiling than contemporary US designs. Initial work started with fitting a thinner-section wing to a Javelin fuselage but as the project developed the changes became so great that it would effectively have been a different aircraft albeit having an outward resemblance to the Javelin. The Gloster P.370 to F.153D for "Thin Wing Gloster All Weather Fighter, an update of the initial F.118 specification was ordered in 1954; a prototype ''XG336'' along with two pre-production aircraft. The final incarnation of the thin-wing Gloster (P.376) just before cancellation was a large aircraft carrying two Red Dean all-aspect missiles as a possible contender for Operational Requirement F.155. Both the aircraft, then under construction, and the missile were cancelled in 1957.


Operators

; *
Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...
** Fighter Command *** No. 23 Squadron RAF : April 1957 to September 1964, initially based at RAF Horsham St Faith and then at RAF Coltishall, moving to RAF Leuchars in March 1963. It was equipped with the FAW.4 until April 1959, when it began to receive FAW.7s, which were in turn replaced by FAW.9s from April 1960. It re-equipped with the English Electric Lightning in September 1964. *** No. 25 Squadron RAF : March 1959 to November 1962, based at RAF Waterbeach until October 1961 when it moved to RAF Leuchars. It operated FAW.7s until December 1959 when it received FAW.9s. *** No. 29 Squadron RAF : November 1957 to February 1963 when it transferred to the Near East Air Force. It was based at
RAF Acklington Royal Air Force Acklington, simply known as RAF Acklington, is a former Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force List of former Royal Air Force stations, station located southwest of Amble, Northumberland and north of Newcastle upon Tyne. The a ...
until July 1958 when it moved to RAF Leuchars, moving to Cyprus in February 1963. It operated FAW.6s until April 1961, when it received FAW.9s. *** No. 33 Squadron RAF (1958–1962 disbanded) *** No. 41 Squadron RAF (1958–1963 disbanded) *** No. 46 Squadron RAF (1956–1961 disbanded) *** No. 64 Squadron RAF (1958–1965 transfer to Far East Air Force) *** No. 72 Squadron RAF (1959–1961 disbanded) *** No. 85 Squadron RAF (1958–1963 disbanded) *** No. 89 Squadron RAF (1958 re-numbered 85 Squadron) *** No. 141 Squadron RAF (1957–1958 re-numbered 41 Squadron) *** No. 151 Squadron RAF (1957–1961 disbanded) ** RAF Germany *** No. 3 Squadron RAF : January 1959 to December 1961, based at RAF Geilenkirchen and equipped with FAW.4s - re-equipped with the English Electric Canberra. *** No. 5 Squadron RAF : January 1960 to October 1965, based at RAF Laarbruch until December 1962, and then at RAF Geilenkirchen. Equipped with FAW.4s until November 1962 and then FAW.9s. It returned to Fighter Command in the UK in October 1965 when it re-equipped with the Lightning. *** No. 11 Squadron RAF : October 1960 to January 1966, based at RAF Geilenkirchen. Equipped with FAW.4s, initially, it was re-equipped with FAW.5s from March 1962 and FAW.9s from December 1962. *** No. 87 Squadron RAF (1957–1961 disbanded) *** No. 96 Squadron RAF ** Near East Air Force *** No. 29 Squadron RAF : February 1963 to May 1967, equipped with FAW.9s. It was based at RAF Nicosia, Cyprus until March 1964 when it moved to RAF Akrotiri. The squadron returned to Fighter Command and re-equipped with the Lightning in May 1967. ** Far East Air Force *** No. 60 Squadron RAF (1961–1968 disbanded) *** No. 64 Squadron RAF (1965–1967 disbanded) ** No. 1 Guided Weapons Development Squadron RAF Valley (Firestreak Trials) ** No. 226 Operational Conversion Unit RAF ** No. 228 Operational Conversion Unit RAF


Aircraft on display


Italy

* Javelin FAW9 ''XH768'' as ''XH707'' at the Parco Tematico & Museo dell'Aviazione " G. Casolari",
Rimini Rimini ( , ; or ; ) is a city in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy. Sprawling along the Adriatic Sea, Rimini is situated at a strategically-important north-south passage along the coast at the southern tip of the Po Valley. It is ...
.


South Africa

* Javelin FAW1 ''XA553'' gate guard at Thunder City,
Cape Town Cape Town is the legislature, legislative capital city, capital of South Africa. It is the country's oldest city and the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. Cape Town is the country's List of municipalities in South Africa, second-largest ...
(former gate guardian at RAF Stanmore Park) *Removed and scrapped 28 April 2024.


United Kingdom

* Javelin FAW1 ''XA564'' at the National Cold War exhibition at the Royal Air Force Museum, Cosford, England. * Javelin FAW4 ''XA634'' at Gloucestershire Jet Age Museum, England in No. 228 Operational Conversion Unit RAF markings coded ''L''. (Former gate guardian at RAF Leeming). * Javelin FAW5 ''XA699'' in No. 5 Squadron RAF markings at the Midland Air Museum,
Coventry Coventry ( or rarely ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands county, in England, on the River Sherbourne. Coventry had been a large settlement for centurie ...
, England. * Javelin FAW9 ''XH767'' in No. 23 Squadron RAF markings at the Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, England. * Javelin FAW9R ''XH892'' at the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum Flixton, Suffolk, England. * Javelin FAW9 ''XH897'' at the
Imperial War Museum Duxford Imperial War Museum Duxford, also known as IWM Duxford or simply Duxford, is a branch of the Imperial War Museum near Duxford in Cambridgeshire, England. Duxford, Britain's largest aviation museum, houses exhibits, including nearly 200 aircraf ...
, England * Javelin FAW9 ''XH903'' in No. 33 Squadron RAF markings coded ''G'' at the Jet Age Museum, Gloucestershire Airport, England on loan from the RAF Museum. * Javelin FAW8 ''XH992'' in No. 85 Squadron RAF markings coded ''P'' at the Newark Air Museum, Newark, England.


Specifications (Gloster Javelin FAW Mk 9)


See also


References


Notes


Citations


Bibliography

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *


External links


Ejection history of Gloster Javelin


* ttp://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/javelin/ Thunder and Lightnings {{Authority control 1950s British fighter aircraft
Javelin A javelin is a light spear designed primarily to be thrown, historically as a ranged weapon. Today, the javelin is predominantly used for sporting purposes such as the javelin throw. The javelin is nearly always thrown by hand, unlike the sling ...
Twinjets Delta-wing aircraft T-tail aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1951 Mid-wing aircraft Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear