Finnish flying Gloster Gauntlet fighter, photos

Updated with some more photos:
http://www.virtualpilots.fi/feature/photoreports/gauntletflies/

What an interesting aircraft. I assume from James’ comments, that the correct engine should make it look more Gladiator like? All the same, it looks really nice. Is this a new flyer, or just one that has not been seen very often? It would be great to see this fly at a UK airshow.

Correct. The original powerplant in the Gauntlet was the Bristol Mercury VI while the Gladiator used the Mercury VIII. The Gladiator was a development of the Gauntlet and the two share a similar outline. Nice shot of a Danish Gauntlet here:
http://www.jaapteeuwen.com/ww2aircraft/html%20pages/GLOSTER%20GAUNTLET.htm

While we’d all no doubt obviously prefer to see the Finnish machine with its original powerplant, it’s great to have such a rare machine still flying and it really would be a scoop if Shuttleworth could get it over here for a visit – there can’t have been a Gauntlet flying in British skies since about 1943 when the last few the RAF had in use as hacks were put out to grass.

There some more excellent shots of GT400 here:

http://gallery.aerodome.net/GT

Hi Darren,
Yes, cowling should be shorter and larger diameter, much like the Glad.

No, not a recent flier, it was reflown in the 80s, and has been airworthy since, I believe, though flown (rightly) very conservatively – but we can be a bit parochial and Finland isn’t an often noticed Warbird centre. Pity, as they’ve got a hellava lot of rare to unique British aircraft there Baffin, Bulldog IV, Blenheim Mk.I – as well as German, Russian, American etc…

Cheers!

What an interesting aircraft. I assume from James’ comments, that the correct engine should make it look more Gladiator like? All the same, it looks really nice. Is this a new flyer, or just one that has not been seen very often? It would be great to see this fly at a UK airshow.

I had no idea from whence the name was taken, but a little Googling suggests it was named for Saint Leonides rather than the Spartan chaps. Talk about obscure!

That’s the British for you, crazier than a wagon load of monkeys the lot of us.
I agrees the Leonides gives her an unusual appearance but at least it means she can fly again which is the main thing.

Cooo.

Thanks JF.

Scene: Alvis boardroom:

“OK Chaps. We’ve got a great engine design here. Now, I’ve asked the Theological dept for help with the naming, as I’m sure you’ll all agree is the best idea. The ‘Alvis Jesus’ didn’t quite stick while the ‘Alvis St Catherine’ implies cylinder head loss, and the Alvis Sebastian suggests being shot at – though arrows should be covered by the warranty. So we’ve settled for the only possible choice – Leonides. Is the meeting agreed? Great. See you all in church.”

What WERE they on?!

Acording to Alex’s fine book, wot I should have checked the proofs of earlier, :rolleyes: GT-400 was rebuilt between 1976 and 1981. That’s a long time ago and gives them nigh on a quarter centuary of operation. Quite an achievement.

Thanks Jonathan,
Hmmm. That’s funny, as the reference at www.wikipedia.com give the Spartan kings as Leonidas I & II. I’ve always seen it with the last ‘e’ when referring to the engine though.

I had no idea from whence the name was taken, but a little Googling suggests it was named for Saint Leonides rather than the Spartan chaps. Talk about obscure!

Thanks Jonathan,
Hmmm. That’s funny, as the reference at www.wikipedia.com give the Spartan kings as Leonidas I & II. I’ve always seen it with the last ‘e’ when referring to the engine though.

The engine’s from a Percival Prince / Pembroke and the colour is for the Axis forces Eastern Front marking – as used by the Finns when the allied with Germany.

Theoretically, it would be possible to re-engine it correctly. You’d just need the right engine, in airworthy order – a Mercury IV, not exactly two a penny.

IIRC, the aircraft was rebuilt / restored a long time ago – circa the 1970s when the restoration scene wasn’t nearly as well provided for in terms of infrastructure as it is today. Hats off to the Finns for doing it and keeping it airworthy for so long.

Cheers!

The engine is an Alvis Leonades(sp?) and looks most odd, but at least puts this unique a/c in the air.

Did someone ask for a spelling check? 🙂 It’s Leonides. Pronunciation is open to discussion but those with a classical education will probably opt for ‘lee-on-i-dees’.

Just Superb, an unusual engine choice which must improve the performance in terms of weight and performance.

Thanks Grendel for posting.

And thanks Alex for sorting out a link.

Septic.

I got permission to publish the photos on Virtualpilots’ site, so they are now available here:

http://www.virtualpilots.fi/feature/photoreports/gauntletflies/

Example:

Looking silly again! Ah well…

Thanks for the link M’sieur WebPilot – what an amazing time capsule that Hurri must be! I fear, however, that teh ravages of the worm on the fabric may make it very hard to conserve the original paint if it is ever restored. (oops! Off-topic again!)

Adrian

I can’t help thinking that the Alvis mill would look less odd if it was painted in camouflage to match the fuselage. I can’t believe that the restorers would miss this – presumably that odd orangy-brown cowling is as per an original colour scheme?

Adrian

Pretty sure it’s the standard scheme used by Finnish WW2 fighters – see the link with shots of the Finnish Hurricane (original paint!)

http://www.virtualpilots.fi/en/feature/photoreports/helsinginpuolustus2004/

I can’t help thinking that the Alvis mill would look less odd if it was painted in camouflage to match the fuselage. I can’t believe that the restorers would miss this – presumably that odd orangy-brown cowling is as per an original colour scheme?

Adrian

Hi Guys,

These photos have been posted on the airwarfareforum. Try this link. It should work.

http://www.fsnordic.net/discussion/index.php?board=58;action=display;threadid=40790;start=new;boardseen=1

Alex

The engine is an Alvis Leonades(sp?) and looks most odd, but at least puts this unique a/c in the air.

We’ve just finished proofing the forthcoming book ‘Gloster Gauntlet and Bristol Bulldog’ which features walkrounds of this and flying shots too, as well as walkrounds of both this, the RAF Museum’s Bulldog G-ABBB and the Finnish Bulldog IV. More details at www.mmpbooks.biz and http://www.mmpbooks.biz/books/forthcoming.html . The author is none other than our own Alex Crawford, and again he’s done a spiffing job on them.

I can’t post any of the pics in the book as they are in a PDF and I can’t extract them on this comp – but it does look lovely!

Cheers

There’s a referrer thing going on that site that stops stuff being linked through other sites except it’s own fsnordic.net.

Grendel, can you post the link to the forum topic please?

No luck here either.

Would love to see the pics, but for some of us all we get is an FSNordic.net screen. If someone has the softwear to open the pics, any chance of reattaching them so the rest of us can see them?

I would love to help but doubt work would be appreciative. Nice to be able to see and others not for a change!

Would love to see the pics, but for some of us all we get is an FSNordic.net screen. If someone has the softwear to open the pics, any chance of reattaching them so the rest of us can see them?

Same here… would love to see them but ‘computer says NO’