|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Remarks |
|
The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' only operational jet aircraft during the Second World War. The Meteor's development was heavily reliant on its ground-breaking turbojet engines, pioneered by Sir Frank Whittle and his company, Power Jets Ltd. Development of the aircraft itself began in 1940, although work on the engines had been under way since 1936. The Meteor first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with No. 616 Squadron RAF. Nicknamed the "Meatbox", the Meteor was not a sophisticated aircraft in its aerodynamics, but proved to be a successful combat fighter.
WS739 is one of the final Meteor night fighter variants NF.14. First flown on 23 October 1953, the NF.14 was based on the NF.12 but had an even longer nose, extended by a further 17 inches to accommodate new equipment, increasing the total length to 51 ft 4 in (15.65 m)!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Remarks |
|
The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' only operational jet aircraft during the Second World War. The Meteor's development was heavily reliant on its ground-breaking turbojet engines, pioneered by Sir Frank Whittle and his company, Power Jets Ltd. Development of the aircraft began in 1940, although work on the engines had been under way since 1936. The Meteor first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with No. 616 Squadron RAF. Nicknamed the "Meatbox", the Meteor was not a sophisticated aircraft in its aerodynamics, but proved to be a successful combat fighter. Gloster's 1946 civil Meteor F.4 demonstrator G-AIDC was the first civilian-registered jet aircraft in the world.
WL332 was delivered into service 18.4.52 and decommissioned 12.2.69. Now languishing in the Long Marston graveyard....its fate very uncertain.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Remarks |
|
1st of type on AC !
30 Sea Balliols were produced and served with 781 squadron at Lee-on-Solent and 1843 Squadron RNVR at Abbotsinch. The last one was delivered in December 1954
The Merlin powered Balliol, designated Balliol T.2, first flew on 10 July 1948 and after extensive evaluation, it was chosen over the Athena, with large orders being placed to replace some of the Harvards in RAF service.
The Sea Balliol T.21 had folding wings and arrestor hook for deck landings.
By 1951, however, the Air Ministry changed its mind about its training requirements yet again and decided to introduce a jet-powered advanced trainer, the de Havilland Vampire T.Mk11.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Remarks |
|
Built by Auster Aircraft Co at Rearsby, Leicester in 1951 as a T.7. Converted to a C.4 (Antarctic) in 1955 for use in Sir Vivian Fuch's 1956 Joint Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition. One of two T.7 aircraft used for reconnaissance work, the other being WE563 (later RNZAF NZ1707). To Cosford February 1989
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
