While the Hawker Spanish Fury is fairly well known among inter-war aviation enthusiasts,
less well-known is its intended stable-mate, the license-built Spanish Gladiator, powered by a Hispano-Suiza clone of the famous Merlin engine.
In 1938, the Gloster Aircraft Company was seeking new markets and Republican Spain was desperately seeking combat aircraft. A secret deal was struck, and production was planned, but with a uniquely Spanish flavor.
The new aircraft was fast and wickedly maneuverable. It was also heavily armed for the time with four machine guns. Officials at the Spanish Republican Air Ministry were relieved that air supremacy seemed within their grasp.
However, events would move faster than production and the Spanish Civil war would come to an end before the new fighter could reach the front in any numbers.
The only documented example was flown to Portugal around the time of the Republican surrender to Nationalist forces in April, 1939. The Spanish Republican markings were over-painted and the aircraft was impressed into the Portuguese Air Force, used for evaluation and dis-similar air combat training until 1942 when the airframe was destroyed by over-eager apprentice mechanics.
While completely forgotten today, once the Spanish Gladiator held the promise of Republican victory in the Spanish Civil War.
Brian da Basher
