Gloster Javelin - Survivors

Preserved Javelin XA699 at Coventry; author

Despite a decent production run (by British standards), and though a respectable number of examples were preserved for a while as gate guards (at RAF stations Acklington, Hartlebury, Innsworth, Leeming, Manston, Stafford, Swanton Morley, Swinderby, Ternhill, West Raynham and Yatesbury), the closure of many stations more often than not led to the Javelin being scrapped (if it had not already been replaced by another type on the gate). As a consequence very few now remain in existence, though thankfully they all seem to have secure futures (though I would not count anything on the gate at an RAF establishment as particularly secure judging by the past record of Javelin gate guards - indeed the very last example of an FAW.2 in existence was scrapped not so long ago, and RAF Stafford upgraded their gate guard to a Harrier GR.3).

The list here is compiled from a number of sources, with particular credit to Ken Ellis' Wrecks & Relics (16th edition) and Otger van der Kooij's European Wrecks & Relics (2nd edition). Please comment on any individual survivor entry you feel requires an update!