Gloster Sparrowhawk
Gloucestershire Aircraft Company in 1920 acquired the rights to produce the Nieuport Nighthawk, manufactured by the British branch of Nieuport. Along with this, it also acquired many of the work-in-progress machines and parts it used for its own production, and designer Henry Folland, father of the SE-5 and the Nighthawk. In 1921, the Gloucester Aircraft Company received an order from the Japanese Imperial Navy for 50 aircraft and 40 more in the form of spare parts. These fighter aircraft were designated Gloster Mars II and were largely identical to the original Nieuport Nighthawk. The main difference was that the original troublesome ABC Dragonfly radial engine was replaced with the more proven 170 kW Bentley B.R.2 rotary engine (Gloster Mars I was a racing aircraft built in the same manner). Thus, 30 machines of the Mars II version were delivered, and another 10 of the Mars III version, which differed in having a second cockpit and tandem controls for pilot training. The remaining 10 machines delivered were designated Mars IV and were fitted with landing hooks, inflatable bags and brakes for service on the nearly completed Hosho aircraft carrier. Although the original type designation was Gloster Mars II to IV, for delivery to Japan their name was changed to GlosterSparrowhawk I to III. The naval Sparrowhawks IIIs first flew training flights from the gun turret ramp of the battleship Yamashiro, but were ultimately never used on an aircraft carrier and flew with the others from shore bases until 1928.
Development of the type continued, however, and in 1922 the Gloster Mars VI Nighthawk was based on it.
Source:
http://www.airwiki.org/enc/fww1/mars.html
www.j-aircraft.com
www.britishaircraft.co.uk
http://www.battleofbritain.net/0008.html
users.skynet.be
imansolas.freeservers.com
Gloucestershire Aircraft Company in 1920 acquired the rights to produce the Nieuport Nighthawk, manufactured by the British branch of Nieuport. Along with this, it also acquired many of the work-in-progress machines and parts it used for its own production, and designer Henry Folland, father of the SE-5 and the Nighthawk. In 1921, the Gloucester Aircraft Company received an order from the Japanese Imperial Navy for 50 aircraft and 40 more in the form of spare parts. These fighter aircraft were designated Gloster Mars II and were largely identical to the original Nieuport Nighthawk. The main difference was that the original troublesome ABC Dragonfly radial engine was replaced with the more proven 170 kW Bentley B.R.2 rotary engine (Gloster Mars I was a racing aircraft built in the same manner). Thus, 30 machines of the Mars II version were delivered, and another 10 of the Mars III version, which differed in having a second cockpit and tandem controls for pilot training. The remaining 10 machines delivered were designated Mars IV and were fitted with landing hooks, inflatable bags and brakes for service on the nearly completed Hosho aircraft carrier. Although the original type designation was Gloster Mars II to IV, for delivery to Japan their name was changed to GlosterSparrowhawk I to III. The naval Sparrowhawks IIIs first flew training flights from the gun turret ramp of the battleship Yamashiro, but were ultimately never used on an aircraft carrier and flew with the others from shore bases until 1928.
Development of the type continued, however, and in 1922 the Gloster Mars VI Nighthawk was based on it.
Source:
http://www.airwiki.org/enc/fww1/mars.html
www.j-aircraft.com
www.britishaircraft.co.uk
http://www.battleofbritain.net/0008.html
users.skynet.be
imansolas.freeservers.com
