Gloster Meteor FR9, Armed Photo Reconnaissance
Following the end of WWII the RAF continued to use its Spitfire PR XI's in the fighter reconaissance role. Eventually though, it was obvious that they had to be replaced which led to Gloster being asked to produce a jet powered fighter reconaissance version of the Meteor based on the successful Mk IV. The first attempt was a conversion of VT347 and designated FR MK V, This however broke up on its first flight and killed the test pilot Rodney Dryland in high G manoeuver over the Gloster airfield.
The next version was based instead on the improved F8 which featured the new style rear fuselage and strengthing of the fuselage and fuel tank access panels which had led to the loss of VT347 and an overall much stronger structure to absorb the increased engine power of the F8's new engines. The prototype of the new type designated the FR9 (G.41L)was built from VW360 and first flew in March 1950. The FR9 had a modified forward fuselage lengthened by nine inches to accomadate an F24 camera which could take pictures through one of three windows in the nose, the camera being positioned by ground crews prior to flight.
VZ978 of 8 Sqn RAF it also served with 2 Sqn.
The first FR9 to reach RAF service was VW363 in July 1950 serving with 208 Squadron RAF in the Canal Zone, Egypt, 126 FR9's were built also serving with 2, 13 and 81 sqns. Following their service with the RAF a number of FR9's were refurbished by Flight Refuelling Ltd (now Cobham PLC) and sold on to Ecuador (12), Israel (6) and Syria (2). Two FR9's have survived, VZ608 can be seen at the Newark Air Museum where it was retired at the end of its life as a trials aircraft for the Short SC1 lift engine and ff-123 which is on display at Quito in Ecuador (RAF serial uncertain).
The FR9 had the standard four cannon Meteor armament but in an interesting development a number of T7's were fitted with the photo-reconaissance nose and some of the FR9's sold to Israel were converted back into F8's by removing the reconaissance nose. The camera nose also appeared on at least one NF11 albeit upside down.