4000 x 3000 px | 33,9 x 25,4 cm | 13,3 x 10 inches | 300dpi
Aufnahmedatum:
26. August 2012
Ort:
Dunsfold Aerodrome, Surrey United Kingdom
Weitere Informationen:
The Gloster Meteor T7 variant is the two-seat trainer version of the jet fighter and first flew in 1948. The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet aircraft. The Meteor's development was heavily reliant on its ground-breaking turbojet engines, developed by Sir Frank Whittle and his company, Power Jets Ltd. Development of the aircraft began in 1940, work on the engines had started in 1936. The Meteor first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force (RAF). Although the Meteor was not an aerodynamically advanced aircraft, it proved to be a successful and effective combat fighter. Several major variants of Meteor were made to incorporate technological advances during the 1940s and 1950s. Thousands of Meteors were built to serve in the RAF and other air forces, and remained in use for several decades. The Meteor saw limited action in the Second World War, while Meteors of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) provided a significant contribution to the Korean War and several other operators such as Argentina, Egypt and Israel also flew Meteors in regional conflicts. As of 2011, two Meteors, WL419 and WA638, have remained in active service with the Martin-Baker company as ejection seat testbeds. The T.7 shown is operated by The Classic Aircraft Trust at Newquay Airport, Cornwall and was latterly an RAF Gate Guardian at RAF Woodvale, near Southport. The aircraft has been subject to a major restoration project by a group of enthusiasts (called The Meteor Flight) at Yatesbury, which was completed in 2008.
