The Gloster Gladiator was a British biplane fighter aircraft that first flew in 1928. It was designed by Gloster Aircraft Company and served primarily during the late 1930s and early World War II. The Gladiator was known for its agility and was one of the last biplane fighters to be used in combat. Equipped with a powerful engine and armed with machine guns, the Gladiator was used by several air forces, including the Royal Air Force and the Finnish Air Force. Despite being outclassed by more modern monoplanes, it gained a reputation for its performance in various theaters of war.