Latest News
August 18th 2010:
I've made contact with Meteor Flight operations at Kemble who assure me that progress is being made on the restoration of WA591. They have promised a full report which I will publish as soon as I can after receiving it. They are behind schedule although that's not a term really applicable to this type of project. The chief engineer Sandy Mullen explained in January that in the early days if they hit a problem they could simply work on something else while they sorted out a solution, but now with the aircraft much more complete that option often isn't available so everything grinds to a halt until a solution is found. I'm as enthusiastic as anyone to see it fly, which it will, soon!
Photo Feature
Missing - NZ Meteor, Last seen Auckland New Zealand, May 1995
I snapped this photo on a visit to the Aladin's cave that was Don Subritsky's storage facility at Dairy Flat, Auckland NZ in May 1995.
It's a nightfighter converted for target towing (TT20?) but knowing nothing about Meteors and not being that interested in them
at the time I didn't do much more than snap the photos and find out that it had come from Australia where it had been stored in
the desert. You can see a part of a code on the underside of the wing which seems to start WD7, not much to go on. I'd like to
confirm its identity and location and get some updated photos so it can be listed on the survivors page where it belongs. The Spitfire
in the background may be the MK XVI he restored to flying condition and sold in Sept 2008.
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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.
Other News
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.
24th Jan 2010:
A spent an entire afternoon visiting the project at Kemble, it was a cold day but managed to take some nice new photos for the WA591 News page. On rollout day last year the aircraft had been temporarily assembled but now its a much more permanent arrangement and they are in the late stages of the fitout with ground runs in March.
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.
4th September 2009:
A nice long conversation with Hal Taylor the chairman, he is busy coordinating the rebuild of WA591 which involves many groups and organisations. The group plans for the aircraft to fly in a silver RAF trainer scheme carrying the codes FMK-Q, with original stencilling. Its first flight is still a way off but morale has picked up with a very distinct glow at the end of the tunnel. They are hoping to start taxi trials in spring 2010 and are looking for sponsorship to cover the estimated £500 fuel costs for each test flight, if you can help please contact them directly.
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