Britain's Gloster Meteor fighter1,2

Gloster Meteor fighter:
United Kingdom's Gloster Meteor fighter

Gloster Meteor fighter:
United Kingdom's Gloster Meteor fighter

Gloster Meteor fighter:
United Kingdom's Gloster Meteor fighter

Gloster Meteor fighter:
United Kingdom's Gloster Meteor fighter

Gloster Meteor fighter:
United Kingdom's Gloster Meteor fighter

Gloster Meteor fighter:
United Kingdom's Gloster Meteor fighter

Gloster Meteor fighter:
United Kingdom's 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

Variants

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:

  1. Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
  2. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
Home page graphic for wwiivehicles.com, pictures of Sherman, T-34/85, Tiger, and Churchill