United Kingdom's Gloster Meteor fighter1
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
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 There was some instability and modifications were made in the tail.1
The Meteor F.Mk I first flew on January 12, 1944.1 Twelve of these equipped the No. 616 Squadron in July 1944.1
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
Variants
- F. Mk I:
- F. Mk III: Had sliding canopy.1 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 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
| Gloster Meteor F.Mk I1 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Fighter1 |
| Crew | 11 |
| Engine (Type) | 2: Rolls-Royce W.2B/23C Welland Series 1 turbojet1 |
| Thrust | 17,000 lb1 |
| Fuel capacity | 360 gallons1 1,363 liters1 |
| Dimensions | |
| Span | 42' 11"1 13.1 m1 |
| Length | 41'1 12.5 m1 |
| Height | 12' 9"1 3.9 m1 |
| Wing area | 373 ft2 1 34.7 m2 1 |
| Weight | |
| Empty | 8,221 lb1 3,737 kg1 |
| Loaded | 13,768 lb1 6,258 kg1 |
| Performance | |
| Speed @ 10,000' / 3,048 m1 |
419 mph1 675 kph1 |
| Climb | |
| Service ceiling | 40,000'1 12,192 m1 |
| Range | |
| Armament | |
| Nose | 4: 20 mm Hispano1 |
| Production |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
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