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Airfix Model World

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Airfix Model World

http://www.airfixmodelworld.com

IN FOCUS

METEOR F.4

IN FOCUS

METEOR F.4

Squadrons, transitioned to the

type. Most of these squadrons

were already operational with the

Meteor Mk.III, but a small number

moved to the Meteor F.4 from the

Supermarine Spitfire, while 19

and 41 Squadrons formerly flew

the piston-engined twin-engined

de Havilland Hornet fighter, prior

to a brief spell with the Meteor

F.4. Eventually more than 20

RAF squadrons operated the F.4

(including several from the Royal

Auxiliary Air Force, the successor

to the former Auxiliary Air Force),

some for just a few weeks while

others flew the type for a number

of years. Even though overall its

operational life with the RAF was

comparatively short, the Meteor

F.4 nonetheless represented an

important facet of the RAF’s

home-based Fighter Command,

and provided part of Britain’s air

defences during the increasingly

tense Cold War. Also operational

within the RAF in the immediate

post-war years were examples of

de Havilland’s Vampire jet fighter

which, along with the Meteor, were

the RAF's very first operational jet-

powered combat aircraft.

Meteor F.4s also served with

various RAF training and second-

line establishments, such as flying

training and advanced flying

training schools. Much later, some

were converted to U.15 unmanned

target drones.

Record Meteors

Even before the Meteor F.4 had

established itself in RAF squadron

service, the type had gained

headlines around the world due

to several successful world record

attempts. In the early days of

the development of the F.4, two

Mk.III examples, serial numbers

EE454 and EE455, were specially

prepared to break the existing

official world air speed record set

in Germany during 1939. They were

brought up to roughly F.4 standard,

with EE455 painted overall yellow.

In early November 1945 Group

Captain Hugh Wilson, in Meteor

EE454, broke the official world

record over a set course along

the south coast of England, at just

more than 606mph (975km/h).

In the following year the RAF

High Speed Flight made a further

attempt on the record, with

special F.4s EE549 and EE550.

Group Captain E.M. Donaldson

used EE549 in September 1946 to

raise the speed record to almost

616mph (991km/h). Several other

records were also achieved by

Meteor F.4s, including times and

speeds between specific locations,

which underlined the excellent

performance of this version.

Meteor F.4 VT257 lands at RAF Tangmere, and displays 43 Squadron’s peacetime code letters ‘SW’ on its

fuselage. (via John Batchelor)

One of the early production Meteor F.4 airframes,

EE519, was used for trials and development work with a

variety of underwing loads, although the main role of

the F.4 always remained that of a fighter. (Gloster)

Meteor EE454 broke the world air speed record in November 1945, which illustrated the excellent

performance capabilities of the type. (Gloster)

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