Gloster Gorcock

The Gloster Gorcock was a single-engined, single-seat biplane fighter built under a 1924 Air Ministry contract for three experimental aircraft meant to develop metal-framed construction. Two had steel fuselages with wooden wings and the third was the first all-metal aircraft Gloster built, all powered by the water-cooled Napier Lion in geared or ungeared form. It resembled the Gamecock but had a longer, more pointed nose, and reached about 174 mph, some 30 mph faster than contemporary fighters. All three were delivered by June 1927 and, although armed with two Vickers guns, they were used by Gloster and RAE Farnborough for years of research on propellers and radiators.