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Link to original content: http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/javelin/walkaround.php
Thunder & Lightnings - Gloster Javelin - Walkaround Photos
Thunder & Lightnings

Gloster Javelin - Walkaround Photos

This page will be revamped in due course; I have since taken some improved photos but have not as yet had time to add them to this page.

Cockpit

FAW.5. Port/forward view of the pilot's cockpit. This is XA699 at the Midland Air Museum, the only FAW.5 in existence. FAW.5 XA699 again. The gunsight had been removed for refurbishment and the rest of the cockpit was also being restored. FAW.5. Starboard/forward view. Starboard/forward view of the pilot's cockpit. This is XH903 at the former Jet Age Museum.

Nose

FAW.1 XA553, then at RAF Stanmore Park. The FAW.1 was a 'long-nose', compare with the last two shots here. Standing on the fuselage looking forward over the canopy (FAW.5 XA699 at Coventry). Before ladders were introduced it was normal practice to use the pull-out steps on the rear starboard fuselage to gain access to the top of the aircraft, and walk along the fuselage to get into the cockpit! FAW.8 XH992 at Newark, looking towards the nose from the starboard wingtip. The short nose of the Mk.8 is very obvious in this view. XH992 again, view of the cockpit area, intake at the bottom of the shot. Closeup of the small vent on XH992's starboard upper nose. Round the other side of XH992. A good look at the access ladder introduced when RAF pilots got fed up with sliding off the fuselage, seen here on FAW.9 XH897 at Duxford. This aircraft sports a number of unusual modifications and is not representative of other FAW.9s. It does however show how much more nose there is before the radome begins - the radome edge is just visible forward of the roundel. Compare with the shot of XH992 above.

Fuselage

Close-up of the fairing behind the cockpit (FAW.5 XA699 again). Standing behind the port wing and looking towards the cockpit (FAW.8 XH992). The black lines mark the area where the compressor blades lie. XH992 again, this time a look at the dorsal intake and probes. The probes appear to have been a feature from the Mk.2 onward, and the intakes mostly limited to the Mk.6, 8 and 9, though some individual aircraft outside this range also had them.

Wings

Port wing of FAW.5 XA699 at the Midland Air Museum. The number and placement of the vortex generators varies depending on the Mark, and sometimes appears to vary on particular aircraft! This aircraft was being repainted and lacked a roundel. Not a very good shot, but what the heck. Port airbrakes and flap in the open position (XA699 again). FAW.8 XH992 at the Newark Air Museum. When pylons were fitted the acorn fairings on the wing leading edge would be added too. Some aircraft had extended gun ports as well, as shown here (though blanked off on this example). XH992's pitot probe. FAW.7, 8 and 9s had one on each wing, but earlier variants just had this one. Good view over XH992's port wing. The number of rows of vortex generators varied with the variant, as did the number of vortex generators in each row. XH992 again, for a look at the vortex generators from behind. Note the different angles on each row. Under XH992's port wing, between the aileron and airbrake. I presume the two holes are vents for gun gasses. Starboard wing of FAW.5 XA699 at the Midland Air Museum. The Javelin's no-nonsense air brakes are deployed here; there are also some underneath the wing. The red circle is a partial roundel, not amazing evidence of Japanese export success for the Javelin! At the bottom left you can make out a patch of yellow paint under the camo; were walkway lines marked in yellow? FAW.8 XH992 at Newark again, for a look at the two Firestreaks on this side - complete with seeker head windows, unlike those on the port wing. These are likely to have been acquisition rounds (i.e. a live seeker head), while those on the other wing are drill rounds (just a dummy missile for simulation of handling qualities etc.). XH992 again. Note the extra pitot probe. The recess outboard of the acorn fairing is presumably a gun camera. View over XH992's starboard wing. As you can see the pitot probe mount is there but the probe itself is missing. Now a look under the trailing edge of XH992's starboard wing. The blunt rear face of the ailerons is clearly shown here. XH897 at Duxford, starboard flap down. Note one of the extension jacks is missing.

Undercarriage

FAW.8 XH992 at Newark. As far as I can tell the undercarriage was identical on each variant. XH992 again. Looking forward at XH992's nose gear. Panning up for a look into the XH992's nose gear bay. Stepping back a bit for a look at XH992's nose gear doors. Moving round to the front of XH992's nose gear, and looking back up into the bay. XH992 again, as are the rest of these shots. The recent repaint has meant everything's looking rather cleaner than it would be in service, and the main bays have been closed off to stop birds nesting in them. Another angle on the port main gear. Another one, shows up the sealed bays better here. Very unnatural looking! XH992's inner starboard door is not cooperating with Newark's sealing of the main bays! ..so we get a chance to look up at the inner part of the bay, and... ...pop our head in there for a look out towards the top of gear leg. The jack on the right would normally be attached to the inner door. Another look at that inner door and the small intake on the fuselage, from in front, looking back. Starboard main gear. Another angle on the main gear.

Tail

Standing on the fuselage looking back at the tail (XA699 again). Note the open airbrakes at the bottom corners of the picture. The blue line appearing to run from the wings to the rear fuselage is actually a rope barrier around the aircraft. Back on the ground (but a shot taken years before the previous one) for a look at the port rear fuselage. Dark rectangles are step/handholds. Panning right for a look at the exhaust area. This pen-nib fairing was a distinctive feature of the earlier non-reheat variants. XA699 lacks engines, so the blanking plates are too close to the fairing as a result - the jetpipes would normally stand proud of the fairing, and the covers would therefore enclose them rather than being blanking plates like these. FAW.8 XH992, a view under the port intake looking to the rear. XH992 again, similar view to the previous shot, from further outboard this time. Good shot of XH992's port tail. The tail, like the rest of the aircraft, is a substantial bit of kit and very thick. The rudder leading edge is noticeably curved and so stands out from the blunt rear edge of the tail where the rudder is attached. Lower down on XH992, the step/handholds are closed here but the pull-out step is more noticeable this time. Round the back of XH992. Sadly no engines again, so the blanking plates are recessed instead of wrapping round jetpipes which would normally be sticking out. Lower down, looking forward underneath XH992's fuselage. Newark have sealed the main undercarriage bays and closed the inner doors, but one has obviously taken exception to this! Starboard side of XH992. The rudder looks to have received quite a battering at some point! The small square near the rear edge of the rudder at the bottom is a control block to stop it moving in the wind, but has been painted to match the airframe. FAW.9 XH897 again, with a good view of the plain-ended fuselage of the variants that had reheat, and the extended jetpipes. The projection behind the starboard jetpipe and the cone assembly on the trailing edge of the port wing are not normal FAW.9 fitments! Closer look at XH897's jetpipes. Closeup of XH897's port jetpipe. The turbine face is quite a distance away and my flash unfortunately didn't reach that far!