NOTE: RADIO CONTROL AIRPLANES ARE ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE PAGE.
The Gloster Meteor was the only Allied jet to see action during the Second World War. It was deployed on July 12, 1944.
Aircraft development began in 1940. A twin engine design was chosen because of the lack of sufficient thrust of single jet engines at the time.
First tests showed that the Frank Whittle W2B jets did not produce enough thrust for flight. Eventually the first Gloster Meteor flew with Halford H-1 turbojets on March 5, 1943. Production aircraft used Rolls Royce Welland engines.
The first missions of the aircraft were flown against V-1 Doodlebugs. Although the guns of the early aircraft often jammed, it could match the speed of the V-1 and bring it down by wing tipping.
There is only a single mention of a Gloster Meteor encountering a Luftwaffe fighter in which neither aircraft scored any hits on the other.
Production continued after the war when they became the principal RAF fighter aircraft.
Gloster Meteor aircraft eventually acquired more powerful engines, greater fuel capacity, ejection seats, and a sliding canopy.
Australian Air Force Meteors saw action in Korea in the role of ground attack aircraft.
The aircraft were exported from England to British allies throughout the world.
A total of 2,920 Gloster Meteor aircraft were produced in the U.K. An additional 240 aircraft were built under license in Belgium.
Pictured above is the rc Gloster Meteor scratch built by Dolf Schelvis. Dolf even built the rc turbine engines. The photo was taken at Cosford 2007.
Pictured immediately below is the rc Gloster Meteor built by Adrian Britton. It has a wing span of 37". Adrian powers his rc jet airplane with a pair of Tower Pro A2409/12T motors driving 8 x 4 pusher props.
The middle picture below is of the Gloster Meteor rc built from a kit for sale by GDB Model Aircraft. It has a 27 1/3" wing span. GDB recommends a pair of GWS 40 mm fan units.
The bottom picture is of a slope soaring rc Gloster Meteor built by Ron Collins. You can find its plans in the PSS Model Plans Directory. Wing span of the rc airplane is 52". Controls are ailerons and elevator.
Gloster Meteor
