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  • RPSmith

Airworthy Gladiators

I now no you should never say “never”

With the fantastic news that TFC’s Gladiator has test flown and the delicious prospect before too long of seeing two Gladiators together in the air will that be it?

Barring discovery of an unknown airframe in a shed/cavern somewhere is there any prospect of a trio at some future date?

Roger Smith.

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By: Pete Truman - 15th July 2008 at 15:07

http://www.gladiatorszone.co.uk/gladiators/

All should now be just a little clearer… :p

Strangely enough, I suspected as much, groan.

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By: Pete Truman - 15th July 2008 at 15:05

im not the only one who that thought that then :rolleyes:

Glad to hear that from another so called Essex Chav, we must have more brain cells than we get credited for.

Interesting to do a bit more research and find out that the the TFC example was in fact the same Gladiator that probably last flew as a twosome with the OW a/c back in the late 40’s as members of the RAF meteorological flight, they appear to be the two purchased by Glosters and subsequently rescued by Viv Bellamy. What an opportunity to see them back together again, hopefully the paperwork and gremlins will be sorted in time for them to recreate this at Shuttleworth this summer, I look forward to seeing that, 60 years on, what an amazing historical fete accompli.

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By: WP840 - 15th July 2008 at 14:55

http://www.gladiatorszone.co.uk/gladiators/

All should now be just a little clearer… :p

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By: XH668 - 15th July 2008 at 14:18

Sorry, am I missing the point of something here, what has any of that gibberish got to do with this thread, could you elaborate please.

im not the only one who that thought that then :rolleyes:

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By: Pete Truman - 15th July 2008 at 14:14

Airworthy Gladiators, how about the Focke Wolf, Jet, Lightning, Tempest, Tornado, Hawk, Hunter or Vulcan?

Sorry, am I missing the point of something here, what has any of that gibberish got to do with this thread, could you elaborate please.

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By: WP840 - 14th July 2008 at 17:04

Airworthy Gladiators, how about the Focke Wolf, Jet, Lightning, Tempest, Tornado, Hawk, Hunter or Vulcan?

I’ll get my coat….. 😮

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By: SADSACK - 14th July 2008 at 16:34

re;

I think your right, it was the one that got away.

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By: DazDaMan - 14th July 2008 at 16:19

Was this the one where LF363 appears in silver with training bands? I dont understand her service from 1944 till 1957 – wasnt she a station hack?

You might be thinking of “The One That Got Away”, where she’s almost stolen by Franz von Werra at one point (been bloody ages since I’ve seen the film, however!)

LF363 was in Reach for the Sky, PZ865 was in Angels One-Five.

Back on topic…?

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By: SADSACK - 14th July 2008 at 15:56

re

Was this the one where LF363 appears in silver with training bands? I dont understand her service from 1944 till 1957 – wasnt she a station hack?

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By: DazDaMan - 14th July 2008 at 12:46

Yes, I’m sure that you’re right, so which Hurris were used in Reach for the Sky.

BBMF’s LF363 and the RAF Museum’s P2617, as well as a mock-up, I seem to recall.

Stock footage from Angels One-Five was used, too.

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By: Pete Truman - 14th July 2008 at 12:42

Weren’t the Portugese Hurris used in Angels One Five?

Yes, I’m sure that you’re right, so which Hurris were used in Reach for the Sky.

After a bit of Googling, it would seem that the Portugese Glads were used to defend the Azores against ALLIED invasion!
After the war 7 were retained for pilot training on the mainland until 1953 when they were retired.
Do we have any Portugese pals that could tell us more.
Glosters took delivery of 2 Glads from the RAF in 1948, this could be the last time that in this country at least, that 2 flew together, a nice anniversary to think of, 60 years.

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By: jeepman - 14th July 2008 at 12:19

perhaps they borrowed Gladiators from Portugal as they did Hurricanes for another famous 1950’s movie, ‘Reach for the Sky’ I recall.

Weren’t the Portugese Hurris used in Angels One Five?

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By: DazDaMan - 14th July 2008 at 12:14

Malta Story was made in 1953, much of it was original archive footage, and I seem to recall that the aircraft mostly featured in the film were Spitfires.
I haven’t seen the film for a while, but the studio shots were at Pinewood, perhaps OW’s Gladiator was used for scenes filmed over here. IMDB doesn’t say much, perhaps they borrowed Gladiators from Portugal as they did Hurricanes for another famous 1950’s movie, ‘Reach for the Sky’ I recall.

Nope, no Glads as I recall in the movie. Spits for most of the film stuff, stock footage for the majority of the combat sequences, as well as a few wrecks and relics from the boneyards (possibly Seafires? Not sure) for set dressing.

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By: David Burke - 14th July 2008 at 12:04

Be nice to have a Sea Gladiator – Sea Hurricane and Seafire XVII formation at Shuttleworth!

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By: Pete Truman - 14th July 2008 at 10:18

Wasn’t the Fighter Collection Gladiator ‘test-flown’ during Flying Legends on Sunday (and wasn’t that ‘stretching’ the rules a bit)? :diablo:

They did the same with the P-40B last year, it was flown on the saturday morning.

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By: Creaking Door - 14th July 2008 at 10:10

Wasn’t the Fighter Collection Gladiator ‘test-flown’ during Flying Legends on Sunday (and wasn’t that ‘stretching’ the rules a bit)? :diablo:

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By: Joe Petroni - 14th July 2008 at 09:53

I thought that but then again i thought i had read somewhere it was being restored to static condition.

To be fair, I think they are restoring a couple to static condition for museums, and one to fly, which is the one mentioned on the website.

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By: Pete Truman - 14th July 2008 at 09:30

Malta Story was made in 1953, much of it was original archive footage, and I seem to recall that the aircraft mostly featured in the film were Spitfires.
I haven’t seen the film for a while, but the studio shots were at Pinewood, perhaps OW’s Gladiator was used for scenes filmed over here. IMDB doesn’t say much, perhaps they borrowed Gladiators from Portugal as they did Hurricanes for another famous 1950’s movie, ‘Reach for the Sky’ I recall.

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By: Duncan - 13th July 2008 at 23:26

When was the film “The Malta story” or similar title made? I am sure it bfeatured ‘Faith’,’Hope’, and ‘Charity’

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By: Pete Truman - 13th July 2008 at 11:20

When TFC’s Gladiator eventually does fly with OW’s example, how long ago do you think that 2 Gladiators last flew together, I see that Portugal flew the type until 1953 so I presume it was then.

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