Gloster VI

Infobox Aircraft
name = Gloster VI

---

caption = Gloster VI "N249" outside Calshot hangers
type = Racing seaplane
national origin =
manufacturer = Gloster
designer =
first flight =
introduction = 1929
retired =
status =
primary user = Royal Air Force, High Speed Flight
more users =
produced =
number built = 2
program cost = £25,000
unit cost =
developed from = Gloster V
variants with their own articles =

The Gloster VI was a racing seaplane developed as a contestant for the 1929 Schneider Trophy by the Gloster aircraft company.

The aircraft was known as the "Golden Arrow", partly in reference to its colour, the distinctive three-lobed cowling of the 'broad-arrow' Napier Lion engine, but also to another contemporary Lion-powered record-breaker, Henry Segrave's "Golden Arrow" land speed record car.

Design and development

The Gloster VI was Gloster's final evolution of a biplane racing seaplane, designed specifically for the Schneider Trophy. It progressed from the successful Gloster III (placed 2nd in 1925), through the Gloster IV and to the Gloster V. By this time, the biplane configuration was obsolete and too high-drag, so was switched to a monoplane as the Gloster VI.

An obvious feature in photographs is the way that the wing roots tapered so as to "reduce" in thickness, designed to increase lateral control at low speeds. cite book
title=Napier Powered
author=Alan Vessey
publisher= Tempus ("Images of England" series)
location=Stroud
date=1997
isbn=0-7524-0766-X]

Operational history

Two aircraft were registered with RAF numbers N249 & N250.

They showed promise and high speed, but also had significant problems with fuel supply when banking that led to engine cut-outs. For such a risky business as low-altitude air-racing, this was an unacceptable risk and the aircraft were withdrawn from competition in the 1929 Schneider Trophy, leaving the way clear for the Supermarine S.6 to win. cite web
title=The 1929 Race
url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/history_old/schneider4.html
publisher=RAF] An alternative theory for the withdrawal is rumoured to have been an accident to the lorry delivering the engines from Napier, and insufficient time to repair the damage until the day after. cite book
title=The Napier Way
author=Bryan 'Bob' Boyle
publisher=Bookmarque Publishing
date=2000
isbn=1-870519-57-4] §p31

On 10 September 1929, the day after the Supermarine S.6 had won the Trophy, "N249" returned to flight. Flight Lieutenant George Stainforth flew her over a measured mile course for a top speed of 351.3 mph and a ratified world absolute speed record, averaged over four of 336.3 mph. This record was held only briefly, as a later run by Squadron Leader Augustus Orlebar in the S.6 managed to raise it over 350 mph.

During the final Schneider Trophy in 1931, the Gloster VI was still in service with the High Speed Flight for training purposes. cite web
url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/history_old/schneider6.html
title=1931 - Squadron Leader Orlebar's Report
publisher=RAF ]

Operators

;UK
* Royal Air Force, High Speed Flight

Specifications

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

ref=cite web
title=Selected Schneider Trophy Aircraft
url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/history_old/schneider7.html
publisher=RAF] cite web
title=Gloster VI, 1929
url=http://www.aviastar.org/air/england/gloster-6.php
publisher= [http://www.aviastar.org Aviastar] ] Fact|date=April 2008
crew=1
capacity=
length main= 27 ft
length alt= 8.2 m
length more=overall - including floats
span main= 26 ft
span alt=7.9 m
height main= 10.78 ft
height alt= 3.29 m
area main= 106 ft²
area alt= 9.8 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 2,284 lb
empty weight alt= 1,036 kg
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 3,680 lb
max takeoff weight alt=1,670 kg
more general=

engine (prop)= Supercharged Napier Lion VIID
type of prop=inline engine
number of props=1
power main= 1,320 hp
power alt= 984 kW
power original=

propeller or rotor=propeller
propellers=two bladed fixed-pitch Gloster
max speed main=351.3 mph
max speed alt= 565 km/h
max speed more=
World speed record of convert|336.3|mph|km/h|0 over a measured mile course

cruise speed main=
cruise speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main=
range alt=
ceiling main=
ceiling alt=
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=

ee also

Aircontent
similar aircraft =
Supermarine S.6
Macchi M.52

References