RAF Gloster Meteor F3

The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet and the Allies' first operational jet fighter during WWII, entering service with the RAF in July 1944 and only retired in 1955. The F3 variant was introduced in 1945. Built for a crew of one, it was powered by 2 Rolls-Royce Derwent engines, thanks to Sir Frank Whittle's innovative if not revolutionary design capabilities. The Meteor had a top speed at 10,000 ft of 600 mph, a ceiling of 43,000 ft and a range of 600 miles. Its armaments could include guns, bombs or rockets.

Our Gloster Meteor F3 5897M is modelled on the aircraft used as a training aircraft post-war by the RAF Recruit Training section and based at RAF Hednesford. It is decorated in silver with red nose cone and black cockpit. The RAF roundel appears on the upper and lower wings and on the rear fuselage.

Of the 3947 built, five fully airworthy Gloster Meteors survive today although there are many in museums across the world.