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The Gloster E.1/44, presented
in this 1948 issue of Popular Science magazine, was a British experimental
jet fighter developed in the 1940s as a potential single-engine counterpart to the
twin-engine Gloster Meteor. Designed by the Gloster Aircraft Company to meet Air
Ministry Specification E.1/44, it was powered by a Rolls-Royce Nene turbojet and
featured a sleek, straight-wing design with a tricycle landing gear. Initially conceived
as a simpler and more economical jet fighter for the Royal Air Force, the project
faced numerous delays due to shifting priorities, changes in engine selection, and
the rapid advancement of jet technology. Though its performance was promising, by
the time the E.1/44 took flight in 1947, superior aircraft like the de Havilland
Vampire and Hawker Sea Hawk had already surpassed it in development. Only three
prototypes were built, and with no production orders forthcoming, the project was
ultimately abandoned, leaving the Meteor to remain Britain's primary frontline jet
fighter of the era.
Inside Britain's Newest Jet
  Known simply as the Gloster E.1/44, Britain's
newest jet fighter may take the laurels away from the record-breaking Gloster Meteor.
Although it has been flown, no performance data have been released. Powered by a
single Rolls-Royce Nene turbojet engine of 5,000 lb. thrust, it breathes through
twin "nostril" intakes. The cutaway below shows the design problems involved in
building a jet fighter.
Drawing Courtesy Flight, London
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