Gloster Javelin

Designed to meet the requirements of Specification F.4/48 for a two-seat twin-engined all-weather interceptor fighter, the Javelin was of tailed-delta configuration and the first of seven prototypes was flown on 26 November 1951. The initial production model, the Javelin F(AW) Mk 1, flown on 22 July 1954, was powered by two 3629kg Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire ASSa 6 turbojets and carried an armament of four 30mm Aden cannon. Forty F(AW) Mk Is for the RAF were followed by 30 F(AW) Mk 2s which differed essentially in having American (APQ 43) in place of British (AI17) radar, the first example of this version flying on 31 October 1955. The next fighter version (paralleling production of 22 T Mk 3 trainers) was the F(AW) Mk 4. This, flown on 19 September 1955, differed in having a fully-powered all-moving tailplane, 50 being built. The F(AW) Mk 5 was similar apart from carrying additional fuel in the wings and having provision for four de Havilland Firestreak AAMs. Sixty-four were built, together with 33 F(AW) Mk 6s which, like the F(AW) Mk 2s, were equipped with US radar. The F(AW) Mk 7 introduced 4990kg Sapphire ASSa 7 engines, a modified flying control system, an extended rear fuselage with raised topline and other changes. Armament comprised two 30mm Aden cannon and four Firestreak AAMs, and 142 were built. The final production version of the Javelin was the F(AW) Mk 8 with Sapphire ASSa 7R engines with limited afterburning boosting output to 5579kg above 6100m, and US radar. Forty-seven were built during 1957-59, and 76 of the earlier F(AW) Mk 7s were brought up to similar standard as F(AW) Mk 9s during 1960-61. The Javelin was finally withdrawn from RAF service in 1967. The following data relate to the definitive F(AW) Mk 8.

3-View

A three-view drawing (1680 x 1127)