Replica E28/39 Whittle Jet Moves

While discussing the E28/39 and the Meteor with a chap at work today,he asked me why wasn’t the earlier Gloster type wasn’t developed into a more practicle fighter rather than just used as a development machine?
I said I didn’t know but I would ask the question ! Any takers !
Alan

Also, getting back to the Gloucester E28/39. Did the original use meteor type undercarriage. Or conversley, did the meteor use E28/39 type undercarriage, as they look very similar.

They do indeed. Roger’s answer is very illuminating. As to the original E28/39 main undercarriages, the Meteor type do look very similar, and both are the ‘kneeling’ type with a mudguard. That said I’d assume the Meteor undercarriage was a bit more robust, perhaps larger due to the heavier machine. The unsuccessful Gloster E1/44 ‘donated’ its tail type to the later Meteors (F-8 onward) so a degree of interchange did happen at Gloster.

As to the undercarriage, I’m wondering if they were Lockheed or Dowty units? Anyone know?

Sea Hawk

Yes, I can add a little info for you. I met Ron Murphy a few years ago. He did indeed recover a lot of Typhoon remains, of which much is still around. Last I heard of Ron, he was looking into underwater wrecks in the far east. Anyone hear from him recently?

Roger Marley got the lions share of it, and hence see his substantial typhoon exhibit. Some went to the museum at Shoreham (by the sea) into their cockpit. I believe this has now been sold to France. Aeroventure has one, museum of Jet Age has another. A private collector had his in store at the museum at Coventry airport, and I know of atleast one other under re-build in a private UK collection.

That makes 6. As for the remainder, I don’t know, but these may have been consumed by the ones I have mentioned. Two more are owned by Pete Smith in Kent, but these originally came from another yard altogether (Brownhills?) I wonder how these projects are progressing?

Thanks very much – most interesting.

Thanks for posting the photos of the E28/39 replica. We are looking forward to having it as the centrepiece for our Whittle Centenary Event on 26 June, especially as the original made its first flight (officially!) from RAF Cranwell in May 1941. We will have a FSM of a more modern military aircraft there as well.

Also, getting back to the Gloucester E28/39. Did the original use meteor type undercarriage. Or conversley, did the meteor use E28/39 type undercarriage, as they look very similar.

When I looked at the replica at JAM’s open day on 2nd June I wondered that – and asked. The answer went something like that scrutiny of Gloster E28/39 drawings and photos of the survivor hanging in South Kensington (when it had it’s u/c down) showed that the nearest units to original main u/c are Hunter nose leg and that is what was used. There is no suggestion that the originals were related to each other. The nose undercarraige was scratch-built.

Apparently in 1941 the nose leg had to be extended which meant lengthening the nose u/c bay.

Roger Smith.

Feedback

Sea Hawk

Yes, I can add a little info for you. I met Ron Murphy a few years ago. He did indeed recover a lot of Typhoon remains, of which much is still around. Last I heard of Ron, he was looking into underwater wrecks in the far east. Anyone hear from him recently?

Roger Marley got the lions share of it, and hence see his substantial typhoon exhibit. Some went to the museum at Shoreham (by the sea) into their cockpit. I believe this has now been sold to France. Aeroventure has one, museum of Jet Age has another. A private collector had his in store at the museum at Coventry airport, and I know of atleast one other under re-build in a private UK collection.

That makes 6. As for the remainder, I don’t know, but these may have been consumed by the ones I have mentioned. Two more are owned by Pete Smith in Kent, but these originally came from another yard altogether (Brownhills?) I wonder how these projects are progressing?

Also, getting back to the Gloucester E28/39. Did the original use meteor type undercarriage. Or conversley, did the meteor use E28/39 type undercarriage, as they look very similar.

Apologies for the thread creep, but something on the JAM website intrigues me:

“An excavation was organised by Mr. Ron Murphy at a quarry near the
former Royal Air Force Red Arrows base at Kemble in Gloucestershire, where
state of the art ground penetrating radar equipment was employed to search
the area.

Dismembered chunks of airframe from about 20 forward fuselages of
Typhoons were exhumed, many of these parts were remarkably uncorroded
and a few items obtained for our project”.

Does anyone know any more about this?

Wow !! That looks good, Take a look at www.jetagemuseum.org for some photos of its construction. Does this project share parts made for the replica’s on show at Lutterworth and Farnborough ? I see from the web site that the replica will be at RAF Cranwell on 26th June for a private event, is it to late to arrange for it to be displayed at Waddington during their airshow on 30th June ? It could be a win win situation, the replica is already in the local area, transport is avialable for its return to Gloustershire, the Jet Age Museum gets a wider audience, the public and enthusiasts get to see a unique exhibit. Obviously there will be aditional costs, transport to Waddington, cranage etc, how about a bit of sponsership from a well known aviation magazine ?