Gloster Meteor

Gloster Meteor
Gloster Meteor NF 11 (night fighter)
Type:	Jet-powered fighter aircraft
Design country:	United Kingdom
Manufacturer:	Gloster Aircraft Company
First flight:	March 5, 1943
Commissioning:	July 12, 1944
Production time:	1943 to 1954
Number of pieces:	approx. 3900

The Gloster Meteor (factory designation G.41) of the Gloster Aircraft Company was a twin- engine fighter aircraft from British production. The low-wing aircraft was the first British jet-powered fighter aircraft to become operational.

history

The first flight of the prototype took place during the Second World War on March 5, 1943.

From July 12, 1944, the Meteor was in service with the Royal Air Force . The main purpose of the first operational squadron, the 616 Sqn, was to fight German V1 aerial bombs from RAF Manston airfield . The on- board cannons of the early Meteors often jammed so that the first pilot who crashed a V1 on August 4, 1944, received a reprimand; he had damaged his wing when he was flying under the wing of the V1 in order to throw it off balance by touching it, the so-called "tipping". This method required skill, but was also safer than shooting down the missile loaded with around 850 kg of explosives at close range. A later, more elegant method was simply to disrupt the flow of air over the bomb's wing by positioning one's own wing over that of the bomb.

In February 1945 a Meteor squadron was relocated to Holland and used in the fighter-bomber role. Some German planes were devastated by meteors and a Fieseler Storch was forced to land and then destroyed. However, the main task of the meteors was to familiarize the Allied air forces in Europe with jet aircraft and to help them develop tactics. There was no more encounter with the German counterpart Messerschmitt Me 262 . However, the Meteors base in Belgium was bombed by a single Arado Ar 234 , damaging a Meteor.

With Mach numbers of 0.74 and higher, the Gloster Meteor suffered from the tendency to instability around the yaw axis (so-called snaking ), probably caused by flow separation on the relatively thick tail unit profile . This problem occurred with many jet fighters manufactured during World War II.

In autumn 1945 two copies were used for world record flights. On November 7, 1945, the absolute world speed record was improved to 975 km / h and on September 7, 1946 to 985 km / h.

The pattern was also used as a reconnaissance aircraft and two-seat jet trainer .

In the early 1950s, the Royal Air Force was looking for a new night and all-weather fighter with radar equipment . The two-seater school version of the Meteor should serve as the basis. Since Gloster was already busy with the production of the fighter, Armstrong-Whitworth took over the development and construction of the night fighter. On May 31, 1950, the first flight of a test model developed from a Meteor T.Mk.7 with a radar device in the elongated fuselage nose took place. From January 1951, the first series aircraft Meteor NF.Mk.11 were delivered to the RAF. These night fighters were also procured by the air forces of Egypt , Belgium , Denmark , France , Israel and Syria .

During the Korean War , the Gloster Meteor was initially used as an air superiority fighter until the combat experience showed that the Soviet jet fighter MiG-15 used by China was clearly superior in flight technology. Since only the F-86 Saber was able to cope with the MiG-15, all other fighters, including the Gloster Meteor, were restricted to use as fighter-bombers, while the F-86 shielded the airspace over a large area.

Meteors were also stationed at RAF Germany in West Germany .

technology

The aircraft was designed more conventionally as a single-seat, unarrowed low wing aircraft in all-metal shell construction with two large motor gondolas and retractable nose-wheel landing gear.

variants

There were several variants of the Gloster Meteor , some of which were also stationed in Germany, especially with the 2nd Tactical Air Force of the Royal Air Force (RAF) (see also the information on the designation system of British aircraft ).

Gloster F.9 / 40

Prototypes with drives from different manufacturers, eight built, the fifth prototype F.9 / 40H (RAF serial number DG206 / G) was the first flying Meteor on March 5, 1943.

Meteor F.1 (also FI, factory designation G.41A)

First production variant of a single-seat day fighter for the RAF with Whittle W2 engines, 20 built.

Meteor F.2 (F.II, G.41B)

like the F.1 but with alternative engines, one built (according to other information none at all)

Meteor F.3 (F.III, G.41C, G.41D, G.41E)

Day fighter with Derwent-I drive and sliding cockpit cover, 210 built (the first 15 were still equipped with Rolls-Royce Welland W.2B / 23C turbines (G.41C)). The last 15 copies (G.41E) received longer engine nacelles, similar to those of the F.4. From 1946 to 1952, a Martin-Baker F.4 was used as a test aircraft for ejection seats.

Meteor F.4 (G.41F, G.41G)

Compared to the F.3, the F.4 had a reinforced fuselage and Derwent 5 engines, 753 built

Meteor FR.5 (G.41H)

armed reconnaissance aircraft based on the F.4, a converted F.4

Meteor F.6 (G.41J)

Project of a fighter with swept wings and Derwent-7 engines, not built

Meteor T.7 (G.43)

The T.7 was a two-seat training aircraft derived from the F.4, built 650

Meteor F.8 (G.41K)

A significantly improved fighter compared to the F.4 with an elongated fuselage, greater fuel capacity, Martin Baker ejection seat, a modified stern and Derwent-8 drives, built in 1550 including licensed constructions by Fokker and Avions Fairey

Meteor F (TT) .8

A number of F.8s were converted into target tug planes.

Meteor T.8

F.8 converted to trainer aircraft

Meteor FR.9 (G.41L)

Armed reconnaissance aircraft derived from the F.8, 126 built

Meteor PR.10 (G.41M)

Unarmed photo scout, built 59

Meteor NF.11 (G.47)

Radar-equipped night fighter with Derwent-8 engines developed from the T.7, built 307

Meteor NF.12 (G.47)

Night fighter derived from NF.11 with Derwent 9 propulsion, longer nose to accommodate a US radar, to compensate the vertical stabilizer had to be changed, 100 built

Meteor NF.13 (G.47)

Tropical version of NF.11, 40 built

Meteor NF.14 (G.47)

Night fighter, also developed from the NF.11, with cockpit glazing consisting of only two parts and an even longer bow, 100 built

Meteor U.15

Target display drone for air target training , 92 converted from F.4 for flight refueling

Meteor U.16 / D.16

Drone for air target training, 108 converted from F.8 for flight refueling

Meteor TT.20

Tow aircraft derived from NF.11 for air targets, 24 NF.11 converted by Armstrong Whitworth, 20 for the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) and four NF.11 converted for the Danish Flyvevåbnet, the latter were used for civilian purposes

Meteor U.21 / 21A

Drone for air target training of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), 108 at Flight Refueling, some also on site at Fairey Aviation of Australasia , converted from F.8. In addition, there were two test conversions from the F.8, a so-called “Prone Pilot” machine and a fighter-bomber version with outstations. A number of machines were manufactured by Armstrong Whitworth , including a few dozen F.8s and essentially almost all two-seaters (training and night hunting variants).

Production numbers

The Meteor was built in Great Britain by Gloster and Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft (AWA) and in the Netherlands by Fokker.

Production of the Gloster Meteor

version	Gloster	AWA	Fokker	total	comment
F.9 / 40	8th			8th
F.1	20th			20th
F.2	(2)			(2)	Conversion from F.9 / 40, not completed
F.3	210			210
F.4	427	38		465
F.4 Export	208	7th	330	545
F.5	(1)			(1)	Modification from F.4
T.7	642			642
T.7 export	40			40
F.8	650	429		1079
F.8 Export	108			108
FR.9	126			126
PR.10	59			59
NF.11		338		338
NF.11 export		20th		20th
NF.12		100		100
NF.13		40		40
NF.14		100		100
U.15				(92)	Conversion from F.4 at Flight Refueling
U.16				(approx. 150)	Conversion from F.8 at Flight Refueling
TT.20		(24)		(24)	Conversion from NF.11 at AWA
total	2498	1072	330	3900

Technical specifications

3-sided view

Parameter	Data of the Meteor Mk.III	Data from the Meteor NF.Mk.11
Type	Jet-powered fighter aircraft	Jet-powered fighter aircraft
crew	1 pilot	1 pilot, 1 radar officer
length	12.58 m	14.78 m
span	13.11 m	13.10 m
Wing area	34.74 m²	34.40 m²
Wing extension	4.95	4.99
Wing loading	minimum (empty weight): 137 kg / m² maximum (max. takeoff weight): 174 kg / m²	minimum (empty weight): 183 kg / m² maximum (max. take-off weight): 260 kg / m²
height	3.96 m	4.22 m
Empty mass	4,771 kg	5,400 kg
Max. Takeoff mass	6,033 kg	9,979 kg
Top speed	660 km / h (at 9,150 m altitude) with Welland I engine 793 km / h (at 9,150 m altitude) with Derwent I engine	931 km / h (at approx. 10,000 m altitude)
Service ceiling	13,100 m	12,192 m
Max. Climb performance	initially 10.95 m / s (Welland I), 20.22 m / s (Derwent I)	28.20 m / s
Range	2,156 km (Derwent I)	1,580 km
Engine	two Rolls-Royce-Welland-Mk.I -jet engines, later two Rolls-Royce-Derwent-Mk.I -jet engines	two Rolls-Royce-Derwent-Mk.8 jet engines
Thrust	2 × 8.90 kN (Derwent I)	2 × 16.09 kN
Thrust-to-weight ratio	maximum (empty weight): 0.38 minimum (max. takeoff weight): 0.3	maximum (empty weight): 0.52 minimum (max.start mass): 0.37
Armament	four 20 mm MK Hispano-Suiza HS.404	four 20 mm MK Hispano-Suiza HS.404, unguided rockets

use

F.4 of the Argentine FAA

F.8 of the RAAF

Israeli F.8, 1954

The Meteor was used by the following armed forces:

•  United Kingdom , Royal Air Force (RAF)

all built variants, exceptions as stated above

•  United Kingdom Fleet Air Arm (FAA)

T.7 and TT.20

•  Egypt , Egyptian Air Force

12 F.4, 6 T.7, 12 F.8, 6 NF.13

•  Argentina , Fuerza Aérea Argentina (also FAA)

100 F.4 (50 newly built, 50 used)

•  Australia , Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)

1 F.3, 16 T.7, 95 F.8, 2 NF.11 / TT.20, 40 U.21

•  Belgium , Belgian light power

48 F.4, 43 T.7, 240 F.8 (175 of which are licensed from Fokker including 30 kits), 24 NF.11

• Biafra "Air Force" Biafra

2 NF.14 ordered through a front company, but were not used

•  Brazil , Força Aérea Brasileira

10 T.7 (used as "TF.7"), 60 F.8

•  Denmark , Danish Air Force

9 T.7, 29 F.4, 20 F.8, 20 NF.11

•  France , Armée de l'air

2 F.4, 13 T.7, 41 NF.11, 2 NF.13, 2 NF.14

•  Ecuador , Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (FAE)

12 FR.9

•  Israel , Israeli Air Force

11 T.7 (of which 5 F.4 converted in Belgium), 11, F.8, 7 FR.9, 6 NF.13

•  Netherlands , Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu)

45 T.7, 65 F.3, 160 F.8 (155 of which are licensed by Fokker)

•  New Zealand , Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF)

2 T.7, rented from the RAF

•  Sweden , operated by Svensk Flygtjänst AB for Denmark and Flygvapnet

3 T.7, 4 TT.20

•  Syria , Syrian Air Force

2 T.7, 19 F.8, 2 FR.9, 6 NF.13

Station locations in Germany

• British Air Force of Occupation / 2. Tactical Air Force
  • RAF Ahlhorn , November 1952 to February 1958, Meteor NF.11 ( 96th and 256th Squadron )
  • RAF Bückeburg , December 1950 to May 1952, Meteor F.8 / FR.9 / PR.10 ( 2nd and 541st Squadron )
  • RAF Geilenkirchen , October 1955 to January 1956, Meteor PR.10 ( 2nd Squadron ) and February 1958 to January 1959, Meteor NF.11 ( 96th and 256th Squadron )
  • RAF Gütersloh , November 1951 to November 1954, Meteor FR.9 / PR.10 ( 2nd , 79th and 541st Squadron )
  • RAF Laarbruch , November 1954 to November 1955, Meteor FR.9 / PR.10 ( 79 and 541st Squadron ) and July 1957 to January 1959, Meteor NF.11
  • B. 158 Lübeck , May to August 1945, Meteor F.III ( 616th Squadron )
  • RAF Sylt , from November 1953 to October 1961, Meteor T.7 / F.8 ( Armament Practice Station Sylt , a weapons training unit)
  • RAF Wahn , January 1952 to July 1957, Meteor FR.9 / PR.10 / NF.11 ( 87th , 2nd and 68th Squadron )
  • RAF Wunstorf , November 1955 to September 1957, Meteor FR.9 / PR.10 ( 79 and 541st Squadron )

Field airfields that were occupied by the 616th Squadron during the war are not listed; From the end of April 1945, B.109 / Quakenbrück , B.152 / Faßberg and B.156 / Lüneburg were only used for a few days .

Incidents

The Royal Air Force lost 890 Gloster Meteors (145 in 1953 alone), killing 450 pilots.

See also

• List of aircraft types

literature

• William Green: War planes of the Second World War Vol.2, Macdonald & Co Ltd., London 1960-1968.

Web links

Commons : Gloster Meteor  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Temora Aviation Museum Meteor F 8
• Meteor flight
• Imperial War Museum Duxford: Meteor F 8
• Meteor T.7 in the Malta Aviation Museum

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Jet engine development, the Gloster Meteor and the V1 threat
2. ↑ Laurence K. Loftin Jr .: Quest for performance: The evolution of modern aircraft. 1985, NASA SP-469 online p. 284.
3. ^ Philpott, Bryan: Meteor. England's dawn into the age of nozzles , Stuttgart 1990, p. 283 ff.
4. ^ Miguel Vasconcelos: Civil Airworthiness Certification. Former Military High-Performance Aircraft (AIR-230 Airworthiness Certification Branch, Federal Aviation Administration. Washington, DC, September 9, 2013, pp. 2-40) link