Gloster Aircraft Company

The Gloster Aircraft Company, Limited, known locally as GAC, was a British aircraft manufacturer. The company produced a famous lineage of fighters for the Royal Air Force (RAF): the Grebe, Gladiator, Meteor and Javelin. It also produced the Hawker Hurricane and Hawker Typhoon for the parent company Hawker Siddeley. Gloster produced the first British jet aircraft, the E.28/39, and the first British production jet fighter, the Meteor, the only Allied jet aircraft to see service in World War II.

History

The Gloster Aircraft Company was formed in 1917 as the Gloucestershire Aircraft Company. The company acquired the aircraft business previously carried out by H H Martyn with a 50% share, and the Aircraft Manufacturing Company the other 50%. The company rented what was the Sunningend works of H H Martyn in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. As orders for aircraft increased, other companies in the Gloucester and Cheltenham district were contracted with work. Where any flying was involved the aircraft were moved to an Air Board aircraft acceptance park at Hucclecote seven miles (11 km) away by motor transport. Although Hucclecote aerodrome was used by the company it had no hangars until 1921 when it rented part of a hangar from the Air Board.

When the British aircraft manufacturer Nieuport & General closed down in 1920, the services of its chief designer, Henry Folland were hired by Gloster, who also acquired the rights for the Nieuport Nighthawk fighter and unbuilt aircraft...
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