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Prototype DG207G at Hatfield on 26th October 1945 (Goblin engine)
Gloster Aircraft Company's most successful design was the twin engine Meteor jet fighter, whose production spanned from the latter years of the Second World War into the mid-1950s.
The prototype (DG206/G), powered by a De Havilland Halford H.1 (later Goblin) engine, made the first true flight at RAF Cranwell on 5th March 1943.
It was the later 5th Prototype (DG204/G), that eventually tested the Metropolitan-Vickers F.2 and F.3/1 axial flow engines as earlier prototypes were being delayed by the unfortunate wranglings and disputes over the intended use of other powerplants such as the Whittle W.2 engine. On some prototypes the engines were actually installed below the wing due to their smaller diameter.
Eight development aircraft (known as the Gloster F.9/40) were used for a wide range of engine proving trials. Of these, DG202/G conducted ground running on 29th June 1942 and then taxiing trials with short hops at Newmarket Heath on 10th July 1942.
Twenty 'pre-series' Gloster Meteor F Mk. I's were built, powered by the Rolls-Royce Welland engine, with the first of these (EE210/G) flying on 12th January 1944 at Moreton Valance. Although these were nominally production aircraft, they were also used for a wide-ranging series of engine and airframe development trials, which continued on with the latter Gloster Meteor F Mk. III and Gloster Meteor F Mk IV.
In total, 3,875 Gloster Meteors were built which was by far more than any other British jet aircraft of the era. 3,545 of these were built in the UK by Gloster Aircraft Company and by Armstrong Whitworth, with a further 330 being built by Fokker (under licence in the Netherlands). 30 of these were however actually assembled in Belgium.
Prototype DG207G at Hatfield on 26th October 1945 (Goblin engine)
The Sir W.G. Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Ltd built some 1,050 Meteor aircraft at Coventry and took overall responsibility for the development and production of the night fighter variants.
The type was very successful in the export market, providing numerous air forces with their first experience of jet fighter operations. In total, 30 national air forces were to ultimately operate the type at one time or another.
Gloster Meteors in level flight G-AKPK (T7) and VT170 (F4)
The Gloster Meteor was used for a very wide range of development and experimental trials throughout its life. These included test flying with different engine types including the Welland with reheat, the Trent turboprop, various models of the Derwent, the Metrovick Beryl, the Rolls-Royce Avon, the Snecma Atar, the RB108 lift-engine, the Rolls-Royce Soar tip-mounted turbojet and the Armstrong-Siddeley Sapphire.
Various new technological developments were also tested on Gloster Meteors including boundary layer control, jet deflection trials, inflight refueling, brake parachute trials, etc.
The prone pilot Gloster Meteor (WK935) and the Trent Gloster Meteor (EE227 - the world’s first aircraft to fly under turboprop power) are perhaps the most striking examples.
Gloster Meteor F8 'Prone Position' RAF WK935
The type was also very significant in the development and flight testing of Martin Baker ejection seats.
Variants
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Gloster Meteor F.9/40
8 Prototypes built
|
Used for airframe and engine development |
|
Gloster Meteor F.I Trent turboprop 1 built
|
EE227 fitted with Rolls-Royce Trent as the world’s first turboprop aircraft. |
|
Gloster Meteor F.I
20 built
|
First production variant |
|
Gloster Meteor F.2
Never built
|
Alternative F.1 with 2 Halford H1 engines |
|
Gloster Meteor F.3
210 built
|
Powered by Rolls-Royce Derwent 1, although first 15 aircraft delivered with Rolls-Royce Welland. |
|
Gloster Meteor F.4
658 built
|
Major production variant powered by Rolls-Royce Derwent 5. Exported to Argentina (50), Belgium (48), Denmark (20), Egypt (12) and Netherlands (38). |
|
Gloster Meteor FR.5
1 prototype
|
Fighter reconnaissance variant of F.4 with vertical cameras in the nose- prototype destroyed on first flight, June 1949. |
|
Gloster Meteor T.7
712 built
|
Highly successful two-seat trainer variant of the F.4, developed as a private venture and exported to Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Egypt, France, Israel and Netherlands. |
|
Gloster Meteor F.8
1,183 built
|
Main fighter variant of F.4, powered by Rolls-Royce Derwent 8 with greater fuel capacity - Widely exported (Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Egypt, Israel, Netherlands Syria). |
|
Gloster Meteor F.8 Prone Pilot
1 built
|
One-off experimental aircraft modified by Armstong Whitworth |
|
Gloster Meteor FR.9
126 built
|
Fighter reconnaissance variant of F.8 for RAF. Built by Gloster Meteor Aircraft and ex-RAF aircraft supplied to Ecuador, Israel and Syria. |
|
Gloster Meteor PR.10
59 built
|
Unarmed photo-reconnaissance variant of F.8 for RAF use. |
|
Gloster Meteor F.21 Sea Vampire 6 conversions
|
Modified from F.3 for flexible deck aircraft carrier belly landing trials. |
|
Gloster Meteor NF.11
314 built
|
Night fighter derivative of T.7 with Airborne Interceptor Radar, longer fuselage and with the cannon moved from fuselage to wings. Built by Armstrong Whitworth and exported to Belgium, Denmark, France. |
|
Gloster Meteor NF.12
100 built
|
A longer-nosed variant of the NF.11 with US APS.21 radar for RAF use. |
|
Gloster Meteor NF.13
40 built
|
A tropicalised variant of the NF.11- 40 aircraft built by Armstrong Whitworth for the RAF to replace the DH Mosquito, with ex-RAF aircraft supplied to Egypt, France, Israel and Syria. |
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Gloster Meteor NF.14
101 built
|
Final production variant from NF.11, with lengthened nose and the two crew housed under a twin piece blown canopy, built for the RAF. |
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Gloster Meteor TT.20
24 conversions
|
High-speed target tug conversions by Armstrong Whitworth from Gloster Meteor NF.11 for Royal Navy use with 4 for Denmark. |
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Gloster Meteor U.15
92 built
|
High-speed target tug conversion from Gloster Meteor F4 |
|
Gloster Meteor U.16
108 built
Gloster Meteor U.21
24 conversions
|
Complete rebuilds of Gloster Meteor F.8's with the U.21 being the Australian variant used at Woomera. |
|
Gloster Ground Attack Fighter
1 built
|
An F.8 modified with rocket assisted take off by Gloster Aircraft as a private venture - Also know as The Reaper |
|
Gloster CXP-1001
Never built
|
Single engine variant for China |
It should be noted that the 'U' designation was later replaced with 'D'
Specification (Gloster Meteor F.8)
| Powerplant | Two 3,500 lbst Rolls-Royce Derwent 8 turbojets |
| Span | 37 ft 2 in |
| Maximum Weight | 15,700 lb |
| Capacity | Single pilot |
| Maximum Speed | 598 mph |
| Maximum Range | 600 miles |
Survivors
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Gloster Meteor F.8
(VX-MBX)
|
Temora Aviation Museum, Temora, Australia
|
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Gloster Meteor F.8
(WL419)
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Chalgrove Airfield, near Watlington, Oxfordshire. |
|
Gloster Meteor T7
(WA591/G-BWMF)
|
Classic Air Force, St Mawgan, Newquay, Cornwall, UK www.classicairforce.com/ NOTE: CLOSED |
|
Gloster Meteor D.16
(Restored as F.8 - WH453)
|
Bentwaters Cold War Museum, Suffolk, UK
|
|
Gloster Meteor D.16
(WK800)
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Boscombe Down Aviation Collection, Old Sarum Airfield, Wiltshire, UK www.boscombedownaviationcollection.co.uk |
|
Gloster Meteor F.4
(EE531)
|
Midland Air Museum, Coventry Airport, Coventry, Warwickshire, UK www.midlandairmuseum.co.uk |
|
Gloster Meteor F.4
(EE549)
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Tangmere Military Aviation Museum, Chichester, West Sussex, UK www.tangmere-museum.org.uk |
|
Gloster Meteor F.8
(WA984)
|
Tangmere Military Aviation Museum, Chichester, West Sussex, UK www.tangmere-museum.org.uk |
|
Gloster Meteor F.8
(WF643)
|
Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum, Flixton, UK www.aviationmuseum.net |
|
Gloster Meteor F.8
(WH291)
|
Speke Aerodrome Heritage Group, Crowne Plaza Liverpool John Lennon Airport Hotel, Merseyside |
|
Gloster Meteor F.8
(WH301)
|
Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon, London, UK www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london |
|
Gloster Meteor F.8
(WK654)
|
City of Norwich Aviation Museum, Horsham St. Faith, Norfolk www.cnam.org.uk |
|
Gloster Meteor F.8
(WK935)
|
Royal Air Force Museum, Cosford, Shifnal, Shropshire, UK www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford |
|
Gloster Meteor F.8
(WK991)
|
Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambridgeshire, UK www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-duxford |
|
Gloster Meteor F.8
(WL168)
|
Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, North Yorkshire, UK www.yorkshireairmuseum.com |
|
Gloster Meteor F.8
(WL181)
|
North East Aircraft Museum, Sunderland, Northumberland & Tyneside, UK www.nelsam.org.uk |
|
Gloster Meteor F.9/40
(DG202/G)
|
Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon, London, UK www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london |
|
Gloster Meteor FR.9
(WZ608)
|
Newark Air Museum, Winthorpe, Newark, Nottinghamshire, UK. www.newarkairmuseum.org |
|
Gloster Meteor NF.11 / TT.20
(G-LOSM / WM167)
|
Classic Air Force, St Mawgan, Newquay, Cornwall, UK www.classicairforce.com |
|
Gloster Meteor NF.11 9
(WD790)
|
North East Aircraft Museum, Sunderland, Northumberland & Tyneside, UK www.nelsam.org.uk |
|
Gloster Meteor NF.12 9
(WS692)
|
Newark Air Museum, Winthorpe, Newark, Nottinghamshire, UK. www.newarkairmuseum.org |
|
Gloster Meteor NF.13
(94X-FNA)
|
Lasham Aerodrome, Hampshire. |
|
Gloster Meteor NF.14
(G-ARCX)
|
National Museum of Flight, East Fortune, East Lothian, Scotland, UK www.nms.ac.uk/flight |
|
Gloster Meteor NF.14
(WS739)
|
Newark Air Museum, Winthorpe, Newark, Nottinghamshire, UK. www.newarkairmuseum.org |
|
Gloster Meteor NF.14
(WS760)
|
Aeropark, East Midlands Airport, Donnington, Derbyshire, UK www.eastmidlandsaeropark.org |
|
Gloster Meteor NF.14
(WS776)
|
Bournemouth Aviation Museum, Bournemouth Airport, Dorset, UK www.aviation-museum.co.uk |
|
Gloster Meteor NF.14
(WS788)
|
Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, North Yorkshire, UK www.yorkshireairmuseum.com |
|
Gloster Meteor NF.14
(WS832)
|
Solway Aviation Museum, Carlisle Airport, Carlisle, Cumbria, UK www.solway-aviation-museum.co.uk |
|
Gloster Meteor NF.14
(WS838)
|
Midland Air Museum, Coventry Airport, Coventry, Warwickshire, UK www.midlandairmuseum.co.uk |
|
Gloster Meteor NF.14
(WS843)
|
Royal Air Force Museum, Cosford, Shifnal, Shropshire, UK www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford |
|
Gloster Meteor T.7
(VZ634)
|
Newark Air Museum, Winthorpe, Newark, Nottinghamshire, UK. www.newarkairmuseum.org |
|
Gloster Meteor T.7
(VZ638)
|
Gatwick Aviation Museum, Charlwood, Surrey, UK
|
|
Gloster Meteor T.7
(WA662)
|
AeroVenture, Doncaster, UK www.southyorkshireaircraftmuseum.org.uk |
|
Gloster Meteor T.7
(WA634)
|
Royal Air Force Museum, Cosford, Shifnal, Shropshire, UK www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford |
|
Gloster Meteor T.7
(WF784)
|
Jet Aircraft Museum, Cotswold Airport, Kemble, Gloucestershire, UK www.jetagemuseum.org.uk |
|
Gloster Meteor T.7
(WH132)
|
RAF Leconfield, East Yorkshire |
|
Gloster Meteor T.7
(WL375)
|
Dumfries & Galloway Aviation Museum, Dumfries, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland www.dumfriesaviationmuseum.com |
|
Gloster Meteor T.7
(WL405)
|
Hooton Park, Cheshire. |
|
Gloster Meteor T.7
(VW453)
|
Jet Aircraft Museum, Cotswold Airport, Kemble, Gloucestershire, UK www.jetagemuseum.org.uk |
|
Gloster Meteor TT.20
(WD646)
|
RAF Manston History Museum, Manston, Kent, UK www.rafmanston.co.uk |
|
Gloster Meteor TT.20
(WM224)
|
Aeropark, East Midlands Airport, Donnington, Derbyshire, UK www.eastmidlandsaeropark.org.uk |
|
Gloster Meteor T.7
(G-JMWA/WA638)
|
Chalgrove Airfield, near Watlington, Oxfordshire |