| History The
Meteor in the Museum collection is the only Gloster Meteor
F.8 flying in the world.
The Gloster Meteor is an all metal, twin jet engine, retractable
gear aircraft. The F.8 was the most built of all Meteors
with 1,522 being produced. The Gloster Meteor was the
first operational jet to fly with the Royal Air Force.
The earliest recorded combat successes were by Meteor
F.1s, against V1 flying bombs on 4 August 1944. A Meteor
was also used in the first tests of a ground level ejection
seat.
In May 1946 a F.3 Meteor was taken on charge by the Royal
Australian Air Force, becoming the first RAAF jet fighter.
It was not until 1951 that Meteors entered regular service
with the RAAF and then they did so with a true "baptism
of fire". Meteor F.8 aircraft were taken into action
by 77 Squadron RAAF, in Korea, against the Mig-15.
The Museums Meteor was made by Gloster and carried RAF
serial number VZ467, serving until 1982. Its last military
role was as a target tug. After being retired from the
RAF the Meteor was privately owned and operated in the
UK. Upon being purchased by the Temora Aviation Museum
the aircraft was disassembled, transported to Australia
and reassembled at Bankstown NSW. In August 2001 the Meteor
flew from Bankstown to its new home in Australia.
Since being re-painted the aircraft carries the markings
of a Korean War era Meteor operated by RAAF 77 Squadron
and flown by Sgt. George Hale.
The Meteor is flown regularly at Museum flying days and
selected airshows.
| Specifications |
| |
| Engine |
| Two Rolls Royce Derwent 8 |
| 3600lb (1636 kg) |
| Single stage, centrifugal flow turbojets
|
| |
| Fuel
|
| Aviation Turbine Fuel (Jet Fuel) |
| Fuselage Tank Capacity: |
330 Imperial Gallons |
1,500 Litres |
396 U.S. Gallons |
Ventral Tank Capacity :
|
175 Imperial Gallons
|
796 Litres
|
210 U.S.Gallons |
| |
| Dimensions |
Wingspan: |
37’ 2" |
11.30 m |
|
Length: |
44’ 7" |
13.59 m |
|
Wing Area: |
350 sq. ft |
32.51 sq. m |
|
Height:
|
13’ 10" |
4.22 m |
|
| |
| Weights |
Empty: |
10,626 lb |
4,820 kg |
|
Maximum Takeoff weight: |
19,100 lb |
8,664 kg |
|
| |
| Armament
|
Four nose mounted Hispano Mk V 20mm
cannon.
Two 1000lb (455 kg) bombs or eight 60 lb (27.3 kg)
air to ground rockets. |
| |
| Performance |
Maximum Speed: |
508 knots |
585 mph |
941 km/h |
Cruise Speed: |
340 knots |
391 mph |
629 km/h |
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