Gloster Meteor

The Gloster E.28/39 was the first British aircraft to be powered by a jet engine, making its maiden flight in 1941.
We begin a series of articles on the Gloster Meteor with a look at the development of the aircraft.
The Gloster Meteor F Mk.I was the first Allied jet aircraft to enter service during the Second World War, and the first production version of an aircraft that would remain in front line RAF service until 1961
The Gloster Meteor F Mk.II was the designation for a version of the Meteor powered by de Havilland H.1 engines. Only one was built.
The Gloster Meteor F Mk.III was the first version of the Meteor to be produced in large numbers, and the first truly satisfactory version of the aircraft.
The designation Meteor FR Mk.5 was given to a single Gloster Meteor F.Mk.4 (VT347) experimentally modified to operate as a fighter-reconnaissance aircraft
The Gloster Meteor F.Mk.6 was a proposal for an improved version of the Meteor jet, using long engine nacelles and the Derwent 7 engine. None were built.
The Gloster Meteor T Mk.7 was a two seat trainer, based on the Meteor F Mk.4.
The Gloster Meteor F Mk.8 was the last and best day fighter version of the Meteor, and equipped the majority of home based RAF fighter squadrons in the early 1950s.
The Gloster Meteor FR Mk.9 was a low level fighter-reconnaissance version of the Meteor Mk.8.
The Gloster Meteor PR Mk.10 was a high level unarmed reconnaissance aircraft.
The Gloster Meteor NF Mk.11 was the first of a series of night fighters based on the Meteor and designed to fill a short term need for a replacement for the Mosquito
The Gloster Meteor NF Mk.12 was the second development of the Meteor night fighter, this time based around the American APS-21 radar (AI Mk.21 in RAF service)
The Gloster Meteor NF Mk.13 was a tropicalised version of the NF Mk.11, forty of which were converted on the production line to equip the RAF in the Middle East
The Gloster Meteor NF Mk.14 was the final night fighter version of the Meteor, featuring an improved clear-vision sliding canopy and slightly more powerful engines than the earlier NF Mk.12.
The Gloster Meteor U Mk.15 was an unmanned target drone created from converted surplus F Mk.4 fighters
The Gloster Meteor U Mk.16 was an unmanned target drone based on the F Mk.8.
The Gloster Meteor TT Mk.20 was a target towing aircraft based on the NF Mk.11
The Gloster Meteor U Mk.21 was an unmanned drone, similar to the U Mk.16 and like that aircraft based on the F Mk.8 fighter, but built for use in Australia
The Gloster E.5/42 was a design for a single engined jet fighter that saw some development work in 1943 as an alternative in case the Meteor project was delayed by problems with the Whittle W2.B jet engine.
The Gloster Meteor was sold to twelve countries, remaining in service in some of them well into the 1970s.
A list of the Gloster Meteor Squadrons of the RAF
The Gloster Meteor was the only Allied jet aircraft to see combat during the Second World War, making its debut a few days after the Me 262
The Gloster Meteor has a limited post-war combat career, despite remaining in serving until 1961