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Perhaps the next T7 to be restored can carry the colours of Gloster demonstrator G-ANSO after its conversion from the one-off GAF/ G44 Reaper. It was converted to T7 standard in 1953/ 1954 but retained its strengthened wing and tip tanks and was painted pale blue with white markings. It served Gloster in a variety of testing roles until sold to Sweden in 1959 where it ended its working life as a yellow painted target tug with Svensk Flygtjänst on contract for the Swedish Government.
The Gloster GAF demonstrator G-ANSO after its conversion to a T7 trainer at Bagington in late 1950's (Mike Hooks)
The only GAF (Ground Attack Fighter) variant developed as a private venture by Gloster first flew at Moreton Valence on 4th Sept 1950 and appeared at that years Farnborough airshow as a static display. It attracted the 'Reaper' name after further development testing and with red rocket projectiles and tip tanks was flown by Jan Zurakowski at the 1951 Farnborough Air Display where he performed the famous cart-wheel manoeuvre. Its sale to Sweden in August 1959 as SE-DCC for target towing duties was as a replacement for SE-CAT, another Meteor which had crashed earlier that year at Visby. It survives today at the Svedino's Automobile and Aviation Museum, Ugglarp who purchased it in 1977.
If you have a great photo then send it to us. Please get permission first if it isn't yours, previous home page images can be found in the Meteor Flight archive.
If your looking for hard to get parts for a Meteor or other jet age restoration project then send me the details and a photo and I'll post your requirement on our new market place page.Other News
1st Dec 2011:
The process of updating the navigation is well underway but still much to do, I am also working on developing some page tracking code to help me link the pages together better and monitor the activity of the search engine 'bots'. This requires cookies to be set so I can identify that its the same person moving from page to page. While the site is undergoing its overhaul its a good idea to use the sitemap to locate content which extends to a second page. I've also started a clean-up of the pages to make better use of my global stylesheet, simplify the html and improve its layout and readability and make the pages load slightly faster where I can.
12th Feb 2011:
Sad to hear that 276 Sqn ATC at Chelmsford have lost their Meteor WH132. It has been taken back by the RAF and will become a gate guardian at RAF Leconfield. The ATC unit hadn't been able to maintain at well as they would have liked but would love a cockpit section (with instruments if possible) to take its place. If you can help get in touch and I'll pass your details onto Flt Lt Marriott the units commanding officer.
Sept 2nd 2010:
It would be nice to gets news of the two Meteors that were in Alton, Hampshire with the Second World War aircraft preservation group( F8 WH291 & NF13, WM366/ 4X-FNA). The founder Bob Coles passed away last year and the 'museum' has now closed. The aircraft were all displayed in the open and at my last visit some years ago weren't in great condition. I know of an ATC group that are looking for a restoration project, so is this a marriage made in heaven.
March 29th 2010:
I have brought the project pages for WL405 & WK914 up to date following the aquisition of WL405 by Mike and its move to Hooton Park in January where he is centralising his restoration work. I have also added a picture of WL405 landing at Farnborough in 1963 carrying a PR nose, an interesting shot via Robin Walker which was spotted by Mike on Air Britain, Robin was very quick to give me permission to use the shot.
October 2009:
Clive Thomas served as a navigator on Meteors between 1953 & 1955. His memories have faded but he very much enjoyed his National Service and his son Alan has been in contact asking for leads to identify the squadron and perhaps others who flew with him at the time. He recalls seeing pictures of Meteors with Red & White checkered fins, possibly based near Ely (Cambs) or Lincolnshire. If you have any information that might help please get in touch and I will pass the details on.
Previous news and updates
10th June 2011:
A CAA inspector will be at Kemble on Tuesday the 14th on what is expected to be a final inspection visit, the group is confident that approval for flight tests will quickly follow. It is hoped that first flight may therefore by later on next week but this depends on actually having the AAN and availability of both test pilots. You can watch WA591 on its taxi trials at Kemble, soon I hope to post a link to its first flight. The test flights will be followed by a spell in the paint shop from which it will emerge in a period finish as the sole airworthy Gloster Meteor T Mk 7 in the world.
27th May 2011:
Still awaiting the all important AAN (Airworthiness Approval Note), it can't be emphasised enough that it isn't a matter of the CAA dragging its feet, they are effectively certifying the aircraft as first of type as Meteor has never flown as civilian type, WA591 is a 1940's design with a series of essential and practical 21st century technological updates. The project has taken the better part of twenty years, and having taxied under its own power a first flight is very close. The test flights will be followed by a spell in the paint shop from which it will emerge in a period finish as the sole airworthy Gloster Meteor T Mk 7 in the world.
4th May 2011:
The first flight of WA591 is now expected in the next two weeks, it relies on the CAA finishing the paperwork which has proceeded very fast through their system followed by the availability of a pilot and good weather. You can see WA591 taxing under its own power at Kemble on the 7th April, which culminated in a fast taxi to 70 knots.
7th April 2011:
WA591 moved today under its own power at Kemble, it taxied out and went steadily down the runway then did a second high speed run to 70 knots. It has been along time coming and congratulations to everyone who has voluteered their time over the years, some of whom sadly have now passed away and others who were not well enough to venture out today.
10th November 2010:
Major milestone today as the aircraft was fully fuelled and weighed followed by some maximum power engine runs. It was well worth the 200 mile return journey to attend and great to catch up with the some of the team. I will have photos and some video footage posted as soon as possible. If your on the notification list a message will go out when the pictures are online, if your not check back over the next few days.
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