Gloster E28/39

The Gloster E28/39, Britain's first successful jet aircraft, first flew on 15 May 1941 with test pilot Gerry Sayer at the controls. This experimental aircraft was built to test the new jet engine--the W1--developed by Sir Frank Whittle. The E28/39 led to the creation of the Gloster Meteor, the first British jet fighter to see active service, in July 1944.