Gloster bomber - 1923

[Schneiderman]

I don't think that this one has been mentioned before. The image comes from an Aeroplane article about a radio-controlled glider bomb designed by Folland in 1923. At first glance the bomber carrying it looks like a Handley Page Hinaidi, but on closer inspection it is not. Presumably a Gloster project

 

[hesham]

Wow,

amazing find my dear Schneiderman,but never mentioned before in any place ?.

 

[Schneiderman]

I've never seen any reference to it before. From the article I think that it was very likely a project tendered to spec. 16/22 for a long-range torpedo bomber capable of carrying a 22" torpedo. That would mean it would have been comparable to the Avro 559 Ava.

 

[Silencer1]

I don't think that this one has been mentioned before. The image comes from an Aeroplane article about a radio-controlled glider bomb designed by Folland in 1923. At first glance the bomber carrying it looks like a Handley Page Hinaidi, but on closer inspection it is not. Presumably a Gloster project

Thanks for sharing, Schneiderman!
The engines' placement have been quite unusual, they connected to fuselage, not to wings, if I understand correctly.
Other interesting feature are inverted-V struts between upper and lower wing.
Radio-controlled bomb seems to use standard torpedo as a warhead and fuselage at the same time.

I wonder, if such project in 1923 could raise any money?

 

[Hood]

That's an interesting find, I can see why at first glance you might think its a Hinaidi until you look at the details. If it is a Gloster design then it must be one of the few big bombers they ever designed.

 

[Schneiderman]

If it is a Gloster design then it must be one of the few big bombers they ever designed.

The illustration was provided to Aeroplane by Folland and I think there are sufficient similarities in broad style with the Nieuport and General Aircraft London for us to be confident that it is one of his designs. The engines are clearly Lions, so this was a big beast. Folland's mention of the Blackburn Cubaroo ties it to 16/22. It does indeed open the question as to whether Gloster produced other bomber designs, maybe to B.19/27 as every man and his dog seems to have had a go at that one.