Rare Cine Fim - Gloster Gladiator G-AMRK/L8032 as K8032 - 1958/9

Another 8mm film never seen before, showing the Gladiator circa 1959 when at Brockworth just before it was donated to the Shuttleworth Collection. Film kindly permitted to be uploaded by the Bellamy family.

[@MrMoonCarrot]

I was an apprentice at Gloster Aircraft Company from September 1960. I don't know where the Gladiator was kept but Dicky Martin used to fly it in. Apprentices did some work for it, making spare parts, for the exhaust system, I think. You can see two apprentices handling the chocks at 2.29. I recognise the fair-haired one on the right but I can't remember his name. After the work as done, he did some acrobatics, then flew off. The film may have been made by Russell Adams, GAC's photographer. He pioneered air-to-air photography.

[@PollyMiller-zg8pu]

My father did some aerobatic flying in a Gladiator no 2304. He was a flying instructor at the time & flew many different aircraft. This would have been in march april 1943. I'm pretty sure he was based at RAF Upavon at the time. Hope this is of some inerest. Best wishes .

[@tsmgguy]

IMHO the most beautiful of all of the inter war biplane fighters.

[@babboon5764]

AND its *still* flying at Shuttleworth. In fact, it flew last Sunday alongside a Mk5 clipped wing Spitfire. Its sometimes flown with a Swordfish. It looks great. It sounds just *magnificent*

[@alyciamarrison2916]

Wonderful film! & so rare to see the Gloster Gladiator on film. Thanks for uploading!

[@redr1150r]

Very rare, even for 1959. Nice to watch. I got into the business some 10 years later.

[@chardtomp]

The reflecting gun sight must have been brand new tech then.

[@williamkoppos7039]

I actually thought I was going to get a look at how the Sutton harness works. Then-cut away. There must be some secrecy around that particular piece of kit. Anyway-Great Film.

[@white-wy6dg]

I thought the gun sight would have been secret ? I loved that final shot beautiful.

[@idleonlooker1078]

What a great piece of footage! I'm getting the ICM 1/32 Gloster Gladiator kit and will use this as a reference. Thanks for uploading. 👍

[@captainpinky8307]

@MichaelKingsfordGray huh? how is he a coward???

[@babboon5764]

@MichaelKingsfordGray What a stunningly half-witted comment. Nothing cowardly about it.

[@51WCDodge]

I wonder if who eevr took this film realised what an asset they suppling to moddlers and restores 65 od dyears later?

[@babboon5764]

@Angie H. Are you and MichaelKingsfordGray spouting this mean minded stuff competitively? Feel free to take your OCD, pedantry and prejudices elsewhere and let others enjoy themselves. As for point 6, given Airfix was in business by 1939, ironically *you* might be the one in error there.

[@edstoutenburg3990]

Is there a a copy with any Audio ? The quality of the Camera work-especially the multiple angles and a dedicated Camera aircraft also-it looks like it was shot for Cinema news/early TV viewing. Also-any info on who the Pilot was?

[@carlwesternut2434]

A couple of 10 - 20kg bombs mounted on it, just for nuisance raids, would be fun. And, swap the .303's out for paintball guns, and you could mark targets as well. At the same time, take a few happy snaps of enemy troop movements with a camera from the cockpit. It could make a versatile package.

[@barkebaat]

Or you could fill it with as much High Explosives as it would carry and dive straight into the motherlovers. What a surprise they would get LOL

[@timhancock6626]

This footage is from the 1950s judging from the cars. Do we know the airfield or the pilots name ?

[@timhancock6626]

@MichaelKingsfordGray brevity of course.

[@Farweasel]

@@timhancock6626 Go Tim, tell the swine! (Was a postrafy four eny weigh?)

[@dereksturman6237]

The pilot was Wing Commander R.F. 'Dicky' Martin. Former Gloster Chief Test Pilot.

[@bertiewooster3326]

@@dereksturman6237 Dambuster fame?

[@dereksturman6237]

@@bertiewooster3326 No, I think you are thinking of Mick Martin. I believe Dicky Martin flew Hurricanes during the war.