Duxford, UK. 13th July, 2013. There are only two flying Gloster Gladiator biplane fighters left in the world - a Gladaiator I operated by the Shuttleworth Trust and a Gladiator II operated by The Flying Collection. They flew together for the first time at Flying Legends 2013 an airshow featuring classic warbirds from the Second World War held annually at IWM Duxford Credit: Niall Ferguson/Alamy Live News
The Gloster Gladiator (or Gloster ) was a British-built biplane fighter. It was used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Navy (as the Sea Gladiator variant) and was exported to a number of other air forces during the late 1930s. It was the RAF's last biplane fighter aircraft and was rendered obsolete by newer monoplane designs even as it was being introduced. Though often pitted against more formidable foes during the early days of the Second World War, it acquitted itself reasonably well in combat. The Gladiator saw action in almost all theatres during the Second World War, with a large number of air forces, some of them on the Axis side. The RAF used it in France, Norway, Greece, the defence of Malta, and the brief Anglo-Iraqi War (in which the Royal Iraqi Air Force was similarly equipped). Other countries deploying the Gladiator included China against Japan, beginning in 1938; Finland (along with Swedish volunteers) against the Soviet Union in the Winter War and the Continuation War; and Norway, Belgium, and Greece resisting Axis invasion of their respective lands. There are only two flying Gloster Gladiators left in the world.
Size: 4500px × 3215px
Location: Duxford Cambridge United Kingdom
Photo credit: © Niall Ferguson / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 2, aircraft, battle, biplane, britain, fighter, flying, gladiator, gloster, legends, malta, raf, war, world
