Thunder & Lightnings - Gloster Javelin

Gloster Javelin
Survivors

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Yatesbury), the closure of many stations more often than not led to the Javelin being scrapped (if it had not already been replaced by another type on the gate).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!

Preserved Javelin XA699 at Coventry; author

Serial	Mark	Owner & location	Updated
XA553	FAW.1	Classic Jets (gate guard), Thunder City, Capetown Airport, South Africa	02/2008
XA564	FAW.1	RAF Museum Cosford, Shropshire	17/05/2007

Serial	Mark	Owner & location	Updated
XA634	FAW.4	RAF Leeming (gate guard), North Yorkshire	01/10/2008

Serial	Mark	Owner & location	Updated
XA699	FAW.5	Midland Air Museum, Coventry Airport, Warwickshire	20/06/2008

Serial	Mark	Owner & location	Updated
XH992	FAW.8	Newark Air Museum, Winthorpe, Nottinghamshire	13/03/2008

Serial	Mark	Owner & location	Updated
'XH707' (really XH768)	FAW.9	Museo dell'Aviazione, Cerbaiola, near Rimini, Italy	28/10/2004
XH767	FAW.9	Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, Yorkshire	01/10/2008
XH897	FAW.9	Imperial War Museum, Duxford Airfield, Cambridgeshire	22/05/2005
XH903	FAW.9	Jet Age Museum (gate guard), Staverton, Gloucestershire	17/12/2004

Serial	Mark	Owner & location	Updated
XH892	FAW.9R	Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum, Flixton, Suffolk	01/10/2008

Serial	Mark	Owner & location	Updated
XH783	FAW.7	Catford Independent Air Force, Catford, Greater London
XH837	FAW.7	Caernarfon Airworld, Caernarfon Aerodrome, Gwynedd, Wales	19/08/2001

Production totals for each variant include converted airframes. Corrections and gap-filling welcome as always!

Variant FAW.1 FAW.2 T.3 FAW.4 FAW.5 FAW.6 FAW.7 FAW.8 FAW.9(R)

First flight 26 Nov 1951 (prototype)
22 Jul 1954 (production) 31 Oct 1955 (proto)
25 Apr 1956 (prod) 20 Aug 1956 (proto)
6 Jan 1958 (prod) 19 Sep 1955 (proto)
27 Feb 1956 (prod) 26 Jul 1956 (prot)
24 Aug 1956 (prod) 15 Jan 1957 (proto) 9 Nov 1956 (prod) 9 May 1958 (prod) 1959?

Crew Two

Armament Four 30mm Aden cannon As FAW.1 plus four Firestreak AAMs

Powerplant Two 8,000 lb Sapphire Sa6 Two 11,000 lb Sapphire Sa7 Two 11,000 lb (12,300 lb with reheat) Sapphire Sa7R

Max. speed 616 knots at sea level, 0.94 mach at altitude 555 knots at sea level, 0.91 mach at altitude 610 knots at sea level, 0.96 mach at altitude 612 knots at sea level, 0.93 mach at altitude 616 knots at sea level, 0.95 mach at altitude 610 knots at sea level, 0.93 mach at altitude

Service ceiling 52,500 ft 46,000 ft 50,700 ft 50,100 ft 52,800 ft 52,000 ft

Range ?

Max. take off weight 36,690 lb 37,200 lb 42,000 lb 37,480 lb 39,370 lb 40,600 lb 40,270 lb 42,510 lb 43,165 lb

Wing span 52 ft 10 in

Wing area 927 sq ft

Length 56 ft 3 in 59 ft 11 in 56 ft 3 in 56 ft 9 in

Height 16 ft 0 in

Production (total 435) 47 (including 7 prototypes) 30 22 50 64 33 142 47 116 (all FAW.7 conversions)

Externally the various variants can be confused, though there are a number of points to look for. The T.3 is easy to spot, with a tiny black radome. The FAW.1/4/5 and 2/6 are tricky to tell apart! The FAW.9R is identical to the FAW.9 unless the refuelling probe is actually fitted in which case it's obviously a 9R.

Variant	FAW.1	FAW.2	T.3	FAW.4	FAW.5	FAW.6	FAW.7	FAW.8	FAW.9(R)
First flight	26 Nov 1951 (prototype) 22 Jul 1954 (production)	31 Oct 1955 (proto) 25 Apr 1956 (prod)	20 Aug 1956 (proto) 6 Jan 1958 (prod)	19 Sep 1955 (proto) 27 Feb 1956 (prod)	26 Jul 1956 (prot) 24 Aug 1956 (prod)	15 Jan 1957 (proto)	9 Nov 1956 (prod)	9 May 1958 (prod)	1959?
Crew	Two
Armament	Four 30mm Aden cannon	As FAW.1 plus four Firestreak AAMs
Powerplant	Two 8,000 lb Sapphire Sa6	Two 11,000 lb Sapphire Sa7	Two 11,000 lb (12,300 lb with reheat) Sapphire Sa7R
Max. speed	616 knots at sea level, 0.94 mach at altitude	555 knots at sea level, 0.91 mach at altitude	610 knots at sea level, 0.96 mach at altitude	612 knots at sea level, 0.93 mach at altitude	616 knots at sea level, 0.95 mach at altitude	610 knots at sea level, 0.93 mach at altitude
Service ceiling	52,500 ft	46,000 ft	50,700 ft	50,100 ft	52,800 ft	52,000 ft
Range	?
Max. take off weight	36,690 lb	37,200 lb	42,000 lb	37,480 lb	39,370 lb	40,600 lb	40,270 lb	42,510 lb	43,165 lb
Wing span	52 ft 10 in
Wing area	927 sq ft
Length	56 ft 3 in	59 ft 11 in	56 ft 3 in	56 ft 9 in
Height	16 ft 0 in
Production (total 435)	47 (including 7 prototypes)	30	22	50	64	33	142	47	116 (all FAW.7 conversions)

Feature Nose Windscreen
wiper Canopy Pitot probe Pylons Rear fuselage Jetpipes

FAW.1 Long No Normal Port wing No Pen knib Normal

FAW.2 Short No Normal Port wing No Pen knib Normal

T.3 Long No Bulged Port wing No Pen knib Normal

FAW.4 Long No Normal Port wing No Pen knib Normal

FAW.5 Long Yes Normal Port wing No Pen knib Normal

FAW.6 Short Yes Normal Port wing No Pen knib Normal

FAW.7 Long No Normal Both wings Yes Flat Normal

FAW.8 Short No Normal Both wings Yes Flat Extended

FAW.9 Long No Normal Both wings Yes Flat Extended

Feature	Nose	Windscreen wiper	Canopy	Pitot probe	Pylons	Rear fuselage	Jetpipes
FAW.1	Long	No	Normal	Port wing	No	Pen knib	Normal
FAW.2	Short	No	Normal	Port wing	No	Pen knib	Normal
T.3	Long	No	Bulged	Port wing	No	Pen knib	Normal
FAW.4	Long	No	Normal	Port wing	No	Pen knib	Normal
FAW.5	Long	Yes	Normal	Port wing	No	Pen knib	Normal
FAW.6	Short	Yes	Normal	Port wing	No	Pen knib	Normal
FAW.7	Long	No	Normal	Both wings	Yes	Flat	Normal
FAW.8	Short	No	Normal	Both wings	Yes	Flat	Extended
FAW.9	Long	No	Normal	Both wings	Yes	Flat	Extended