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Gloster Meteor F.8

History

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.

The Meteor F.8 was greatly improved from the F.4. Longer fuselage, greater fuel capacity, standard ejection seat and modified tail (derived from the E.1/44). This variant was a prolific frontline fighter in RAF squadron service, 1950–54.

History heavily adapted from Wikipedia.

WK991

The Museum's Meteor is WK991/ Constructed in the early 1950s, it served with No.s 56, 46 and 13 Squadrons, RAF before being retired to the Museum. It is currently on display wearing 56 Squadron's colours as it would have appeared during operational service.