Gloster F.4 'Meteor' | Planes of Fame Air Museum

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Gloster F.4 'Meteor'

HISTORY

The Meteor was one of Britain's first generation of jet interceptors. Designed during World War 2, it gained its greatest fame as an interceptor of V-1 flying bombs over England. Later versions of the Meteor also saw action in the Korean conflict, when they were flown by Austrailian pilots.
Meteors were also flown by Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Ecuador, France, The Netherlands, Sweden, Syria, Israel, and Egypt. Ironically, Israel and Egypt flew Meteors in conflict with each other.
A grand total of 3,922 Meteors of all marks was built by Gloster Aircraft Company, Armstrong Withworth Aircraft, and Fokker/Avions Fairey.

DISTINCTION

Manufactured in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom and delivered on September 22, 1948, Planes of Fame Air Museum’s Meteor F.4 entered Royal Air Force service in late 1948, most likely with Number 245 Squadron based at Colerne, England. It served as part of the United Kingdom Air Defence system for six years. In 1954, the aircraft was sent to the Defence Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Centre at Winterbourne Gunner in Wiltshire. It was used to study the long-term effects of exposure to, and contamination from various toxic materials. In 1985, it was donated to the Imperial War Museum at Duxford. The Museum acquired it in 1997 in a trade for an F-86 Sabre.

SPECIFICATIONS

Status: Static Display

Manufacturer: Gloster Aircraft Company Ltd

Year: 1948

Model: F.4 Meteor ( Mark IV)

Registration Number: N8813M

Serial Number: VT260

Crew: 1

Max T/O Weight: 14,545 lb.

Span: 37 ft. 2 in.

Length: 41 ft. 0 in.

Height: 13 ft. 0 in.