The Gloster Grebe was a single-seat biplane fighter developed by Gloster from the experimental Grouse, and was the first fighter of the Royal Air Force after the First World War, entering service in 1923. Designer Henry Folland combined a thick, high-lift upper wing with a thinner lower wing to give strong lift for take-off and low drag in flight. Production Grebes carried a 400 horsepower Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar IV radial engine and two Vickers machine guns. The Grebe was fast and agile and popular with pilots, though the heavy Jaguar was unreliable and wing flutter forced extra bracing. A total of 133 were built, including 21 two-seat trainers, and two served in New Zealand.
Facts
Engine Class Top Speed (km/h) Comparison
Body StyleAircraft (no road body style) 1 Connections
Exemplifies
Source Gloster Grebe (Wikipedia)
Of Make
Source Gloster Grebe (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Manufactured By
Also in Business Atlas: the manufacturer of this subject.
Source Gloster Grebe (Wikipedia)Lead and development, makerQuote, Lead and development, maker
The Gloster Grebe was developed by the Gloster Aircraft Company from the Gloster Grouse
Originated In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.
Source Gloster Grebe (Wikipedia)Lead, British aircraftQuote, Lead, British aircraft
the British Air Ministry placed an order for three prototype fighters
Sources
1. Gloster Grebe (Wikipedia)
Design, first prototype flight
The first of the prototypes (Gloster built a fourth machine as a company-owned demonstrator), by now known as the Grebe I, flew during May 1923.
Lead, aircraft
the Royal Air Force's first post-First World War fighter aircraft
Specifications, powerplant
Powerplant: 1 × Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar IV 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 400 hp (300 kW)
Service history, retirement
Grebes were retired from the RAF in 1929
Specifications, maximum speed
Maximum speed: 152 mph (245 km/h, 132 kn) at sea level
Specifications, empty weight
Empty weight: 1,720 lb (780 kg)
Lead and development, maker
The Gloster Grebe was developed by the Gloster Aircraft Company from the Gloster Grouse
Lead, British aircraft
the British Air Ministry placed an order for three prototype fighters
In Group: Propeller-Driven Fighters, Lead, aircraft role
the Royal Air Force's first post-First World War fighter aircraft
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