Gloster Meteor
| Gloster Meteor |
Gloster Meteor at Waddington, England, 2001 |
| Description |
| Role |
|
| Crew |
|
| First Flight |
|
| Entered Service |
|
| Manufacturer |
|
| Dimensions |
| Length |
ft in |
m |
| Wingspan |
ft in |
m |
| Height |
ft in |
m |
| Wing Area |
ft² |
m² |
| Weights |
| Empty |
lb |
kg |
| Loaded |
lb |
kg |
| Maximum Takeoff |
lb |
kg |
| Capacity |
|
| Powerplant |
| Engines |
|
| Thrust |
lb |
kN |
| Performance |
| Maximum Speed |
mph |
km/h |
| Combat Range |
miles |
km |
| Ferry Range |
miles |
km |
| Service Ceiling |
ft |
m |
| Rate of Climb |
ft/min |
m/min |
| Wing Loading |
lb/ft² |
kg/m² |
| Thrust/Weight |
|
| Power/Mass |
hp/lb |
kW/kg |
| Avionics |
| Avionics |
|
| Armament |
| Guns |
|
| Bombs |
|
| Missiles |
|
| Rockets |
|
| Other |
|
The Gloster Meteor was the RAF's first jet fighter aircraft,
introduced into service only weeks after the Messerschmitt Me
262 in August 1944. Versions of the Meteor remained in front-line service for many years, and as a night fighter even longer.
Development began in November, 1940
following the appearance of the turbojet designed by Frank Whittle. Designed by George Carter of the Gloster Aircraft
Company, eight prototypes were produced. Originally the aircraft was to have been named Thunderbolt, but confusion
with the American Republic P-47 led to a name change to
Meteor.
The fifth prototype was the first Meteor to fly, when it made its first test flight on March 5, 1943, piloted by Michael Daunt. The prototypes were
powered by two de
Havilland Halford H.1 turbojets, but de Havilland reserved the
production of these engines for it's own de Havilland
Vampire design.
For the production Meteor Mk. I the engine was switched to the Whittle W.2 design, by then taken over by Rolls-Royce. The current W.2B/23C turbojet engines produced 7.56 kN of thrust each,
giving the plane a maximum speed of 417 mph (670 km/h) at 3000m, and had a range of 1610 km. It was 12.60 m long with a span of
13.10 m, had an empty weight of 3695 kg, and a maximum take-off weight of 6255 kg. The construction was all-metal with
conventional low straight wings, the turbojets were mid-mounted in the wings, and the tailplane was high-mounted to keep it clear of the jet exhaust. It was armed with four 20 mm Hispano cannons.
Privately-owned Gloster Meteor WM167
The first aircraft were delivered to the Royal Air Force on July 12, 1944 and one was also sent to the US in exchange for a Bell YP-59A Airacomet for comparative evaluation. The Meteor Mk. I saw action for the first time on July 27, 1944 against the V1 Flying Bomb. The Meteor never saw aerial combat against the Luftwaffe despite flying missions over Germany from January 1945, using the Mk. III
variant from bases in Belgium.
Meteors saw prolonged service during the Korean War with No. 77 Squadron
Royal Australian Air Force. The unit had a few
early successes in jet versus jet combat, against less-experienced MiG-15 pilots.
However, increasing losses to the newer and generally superior Soviet-built fighters saw Meteors relegated to ground attack
duties, a role in which they performed well.
Production of the aircraft continued until 1954 and almost 3,900 were made, mainly the Mk. 8. The Meteor was also operated by
the airforces of Argentina, Belgium,
Brazil, France, Egypt, Israel, Syria and Sweden. Late versions, beginning with the F.8 in 1948 were the first British production
aircraft to be equipped with ejection seats
Although many Gloster Meteors survive in Museums and collections only five remain airworthy, four in the United Kingdom and a
F8 fighter which was exported to Australia in 2002.
See also: List of World War II jet
aircraft
External links
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