Britain's Gloster Meteor fighter1,2
Gloster Meteor fighter:
Gloster Meteor fighter:
Gloster Meteor fighter:
Gloster Meteor fighter:
Gloster Meteor fighter:
Gloster Meteor fighter:
Gloster Meteor fighter:
Design
Gloster convinced the Air Ministry to draw up the F.9/40 specifications around their new jet fighter design.1
The Gloster Meteor was designed to be a day and night fighter, ground attack, and trainer.2
Other names under consideration were Ace, Reaper, Scourge, Terrific, Thunderbolt, and Wildfire.1
Prototypes
The F.9/40 prototype, DG202/G, was used in deck trials on the HMS Pretoria Castle.1
Eight F.9/40 prototypes were built with three different test engines.1
DG206/G was powered by two Halford H.1s and first flew on March 5, 1943.1,2 There was some instability and modifications were made in the tail.1
The Meteor F.Mk I first flew on January 12, 1944.1,2 It was traded to the United States for a Airacoment.2 Twelve of these equipped the No. 616 Squadron in July 1944.1,2
Note: The G suffix in the serial number indicated that the aircraft was to have an armed guard at all times while on the ground.1
Production
Most Meteors were produced after World War II.2
- Prototypes: 82
- Meteor Mk I: 202
- Meteor Mk III: 2102
- Total: 3,8862
Variants
- Prototype: Had either Whittle W.2B (later Rolls-Royce Welland), Halford H.1 (de Havilland Goblin), or Metrovick F.2 engines.2
- Meteor F. Mk I:
- Meteor Mk II: Was to have Goblin engines, but was not built.2
- Meteor F. Mk III: Had sliding canopy.1,2 More fuel with the Derwent I engines.1 The airframe was also strengthened.1
Usage
Primarily used against the German V-1 flying bombs.1,2 Flying Officer Dean scored the first kill of a V-1 in August 1944.1
When finally deployed in Europe they were forbidden to fly over Germany.1 These were used in ground attacks.2
| Gloster Meteor2 | Gloster Meteor F.Mk I1 Gloster Meteor Mk I2 |
Gloster Meteor Mk III2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Fighter2 | Fighter1 | |
| Crew | 12 | 11 | |
| Engine (Type) | 2: Rolls-Royce W.2B/23C Welland Series 1 turbojet1,2 | Rolls-Royce Derwent I turbojet2 | |
| Thrust | 1,700 lb1,2 | 2,000 lb2 | |
| Fuel capacity | 360 gallons1 1,363 liters1 |
||
| Dimensions | |||
| Span | 43'2 13.1 m2 |
42' 11"1 13.1 m1 |
|
| Length | 41' 3"2 12.57m 2 |
41'1 12.5 m1 |
|
| Height | 13'2 3.96 m2 |
12' 9"1 3.9 m1 |
|
| Wing area | 373 ft2 1 34.7 m2 1 |
||
| Weight | |||
| Empty | 8,140 lb2, 8,221 lb1 3,693 kg2, 3,737 kg1 |
8,810 lb2 3,996 kg2 |
|
| Loaded | 13,768 lb1, 13,800 lb2 6,258 kg1, 6,260 kg2 |
13,920 lb2 6,314 kg2 |
|
| Performance | |||
| Speed | 493 mph2 793 kph2 |
||
| Speed at sea level | 385 mph2 620 kph2 |
||
| Speed @ 10,000' / 3,048 m1 |
415 mph2, 419 mph1 668 kph2, 675 kph1 |
||
| Climb | 2,155'/minute2 657 m/minute2 |
3,980'/minute2 1,213 m/minute2 |
|
| Service ceiling | 40,000'1,2 12,192 m1,2 |
44,000'2 13,411 m2 |
|
| Range | 1,000 miles2 1,609 km2 |
1,340 miles2 2,156 km2 |
|
| Armament | |||
| Nose | 4: 20 mm2 | 4: 20 mm Hispano1 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
