Meteor: Britan's First Jet-Powered Cold War Warrior (Aeroplane Icons)

2012 | ISBN: 1907426477 | English | 132 Pages | True PDF | 102 MB

The story of the Meteor is one of the greatest in the history of the aviation industry. This pioneering aircraft was not particularly advanced, was given very little chance to prove itself in combat but, as a 'first-generation' jet, its arrival launched the RAF into a new era. Development of the jet engine, thanks to the efforts of Frank Whittle, began in 1936, and as with all military projects, the outbreak of WW2 saw his work accelerate to the point of the first flight of the E.28/39 from Cranwell in May 1941. Less than two years later, the F.9/40 was off the ground and, by August, the first Meteor F Mk 1s were entering service with 616 Sqn. By 1950, the best of the day fighter breed had arrived in the shape of the F Mk 8 and, for the next five years, over 30 operational units were flying the type, up until the arrival of the 'second-generation' Hawker Hunter. The ubiquitous T Mk 7 saw hundreds, if not thousands, of potential pilots experience their first taste of jet flying and, sadly for many, their last. Approximately 890 Meteors were lost in RAF service, resulting in the deaths of 434 pilots. Regardless, the Meteor was a huge success story for Gloster and the industry as a whole. Armstrong Whitworth benefitted enormously from sub-contracts and later production orders for all of the night-fighter variants. Overseas orders were healthy as well with all marks, from the F Mk 3 onwards. It was with foreign air forces that the Meteor saw more action with coups and revolutions in Argentina and the Suez campaign for the Egyptian NF Mk 13s. It was the F Mk 8s of 77 Sqn, RAAF in Korea that chalked the highest operational combat record, flying 4,836 sorties, shooting down six Mig-15s albeit for the loss of 30 of its own. Hopelessly outclassed by the Mig-15, the Korean War was the type's only full opportunity to show its metal but, by 1950 the type was being superseded by swept wing jets.
Martyn Chorlton July, 2012