Meteors were also employed for a variety of other duties e.g. At the end of production just 163 NF14 variants had been manufactured and were the first aircraft to introduce cabin pressurisation. In all a total of 3.545 Meteors were built by Gloster and Armstrong Whitworth between 19 - 575 of which were night fighters. Fighter Meteors were also operated by Belgium, Denmark and France. The NF14 could be distinguished by its clear view cockpit. The last of these was the NF14 which entered service with 27 Squadron in February 1954, being replaced by the Gloster Javelin from January 1956. The NF11 entered RAF service in spring of 1954, being followed by improved versions. This was equipped with Al radar in its nose, with the four cannons moved to its wings. The RAF had an urgent need for a night fighter to replace its wartime Mosquitoes and so development of the two-seat NF11 Meteor was undertaken by Armstrong Whitworth, with the prototype flying in May 1950. These fighter versions were armed with four 20 mm cannons in their nose, with the F8 capable of 550 mph at 30,000ft Meteors were ordered by many overseas air forces - including Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Holland, Egypt and Israel. Following the end of the Second World War further Meteors were ordered for the RAF, with the much improved F8 entering service in August 1949. The type soon became known as the `Meatbox’ in RAF service. Their task was to shoot down V1 flying bombs as they crossed the English Channel, although these early F1s had a very limited range and were soon replaced by the F4. The Meteor F1 entered service with 616 Squadron at Manston in July 1944. First flight of this revolutionary fighter was on 5 March 1942. To find out more about the Jet Age Museum and their work, or to plan your visit, please go to Gloster Meteor was the first jet to enter service with the RAF. It is hoped that work will commence on this in early 2019. The Meteor's development was heavily reliant on its ground-breaking turbojet engines, pioneered by Frank Whittle and his company, Power Jets Ltd. The museum also runs an educational and group visit programme outside its core opening hours and has engaged with the Airport and other local aerospace businesses in hosting various special events and exhibitions.įundraising is underway for ‘Phase 2’, which will double the display space, add a gallery and restoration facility. The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' only jet aircraft to engage in combat operations during the Second World War.
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Open from 10am - 4pm at weekends and Bank Holidays throughout the year and on Wednesdays during school holidays, the museum has welcomed over 100,000 visitors and has emerged as Gloucester’s number one visitor attraction according to travel rating website TripAdvisor.Īdmission and parking are free with the museum relying on donations in addition to sales generated by the small cafe and gift shop on site. The museum is a all-volunteer registered charity and opened its purpose-built 10,000 sq ft building in 2014. Find the perfect gloster meteor cockpit stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. From an early F3 cockpit through, three T7 trainer variants, an F8 and two night fighters, an NF11 and NF14, the collection records the rapid development of the type. Gloster meteor cockpit hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy Find the perfect gloster meteor cockpit stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. The Jet Age Museum at Gloucestershire Airport, Staverton is home to the UK’s largest collection of Gloster Meteors. It comes from the errata to ‘Gloster Meteor’ by Phil Butler and Tony Buttler (Aerofax 2006). * Quoted total Meteor production figures vary from source to source, but the figure of 3,897 is authoritative. A total of 3,897 were built*, including some 300 in Belgium and the Netherlands. It broke the world absolute speed record in 19 and remained in production until 1955. The Meteor had its shortcomings but was nonetheless a remarkably successful aircraft. RAF Meteors never met in combat with their German counterpart, the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter, but were used to shoot down the V1 flying bombs, popularly known as doodlebugs, which the Germans were launching against London.Īfter the war Meteors soon replaced piston-engined types in frontline RAF fighter squadrons and went on to serve with eleven overseas air forces as their first jet type. Two-seater trainer and night fighter versions were developed, as well as Meteors for a range of specialised tasks. Early versions saw limited service before the end of the Second World War in 1945. Armed with four 20mm cannon, Meteors were delivered to the RAF for squadron service the following year.
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