Gloster Gladiator II – N5903

Delivered to the RAF in 1939 to 141 Squadron, N5903 was then not long after put into long-term storage until 1943 where she was allocated to 61 Operational Training unit. She along with Shuttleworths own Gladiator Mk I were earmarked for meteorological survey work, however, newer modern types took this role and the two Gladiators were forlorned away.

Both were purchased by an ex-Sea Gladiator pilot and sadly, N5903 become the donor to L8032 and last her engine and after parts to make her airworthy and after sat at the back of a hangar for some time the two Gladiators were presented to the Shuttleworth Trust and N5903 was loaned out to the Fleet Air Arm in Yeovilton missing her engine, propeller and spinner. Here she was refurbished and ut on static display in the FAA Museum in 1978.

In 1994, The Fighter Collection had made the purchase of N5903 from the Shuttleworth Collection with her arriving by road to Duxford from Yeovilton and slowly from 1994 to 2008 she was restored back to flying condition, however, never really hit the skies properly until 2013 where she became a staple of Duxford and Flying Legend airshows.