WK914 - Malta Air Museum
Mike has swapped WK914 for WH291, formerly on display at Lasham with the Second World War museum. It joins Meteor T7 WL360, formerly at Yatesbury with the Meteor Flight & WS774 which was restored by Sandy Mullen at Quedgely before he took over the role of chief engineer for the restoration of WA591.
Mike Davey acquired WK914 from HHA at Scampton circa 2005, It was initially at Hooton Park but spent a period at RAF Millom before returning recently. It has always been his plan to restore the aircraft to ground-runnable status but this is no small endeavour. The work however has progressed steadily and the cockpit will, hopefully, be ready for fitting out by the end of 2009. The missing control column and instrument panel having been acquired, along with all the other cockpit equipment which has been replaced with new items.
They have been able to obtain a large quantity of new-old-stock spares from Llanbedr and now have a previously elusive F8 nose which came with another Meteor, Ex Meteor Flight T7, WL405 from Martin Garrett. WL405 was a source of spares and reference airframe but was sold when they moved out of Yatesbury.
He plans to assemble a complete Meteor at Hooton by the summer, this will initially use the forward fuselage of WL405 with the F8 wings, center section and tail of WK914 while the cockpit and nose of WK914 is completed in the workshop. When it gets its cockpit section back it will be silver and carry the colours of 610 (County of Chester) and 611 (County of West Lancashire) auxiliary squadrons on either side - these being the two operators of Meteors at Hooton until the disbandment of the auxiliaries and closing of Hooton Park in 1957.
 WK914's Ejection seat |  More spares for WK914/WL405 |
 WK914 at Hooton Park in 2006 |
Two Derwent Mk.8 engines have been obtained from Newark Museum and these await collection for assessment and restoration. It is not known, at this stage, whether these engines will be ground runnable, having been stored externally for a while. However, it is good to have two powerplants which, even if they end up as restored statics, will fill the unoccupied engine bays in one of the jets.
Can You Help
Mike is keen to aquire some for non-flight worthy Martin-Baker Mk.2e seat equipment for WK914's seat which came via the manager of Swindon Laserquest who found Mike by googling the aircraft serial. If you can help then please get in touch and I'll pass your details on.
Updates
March 2010: I've finally posted the images that Mike sent me after the aquistion of WL405 from Martin Garrett which gives him a large stock of useful spares for this project. I can now chase (gently) Mike for some up to date photos of WK914 although its been a cold winter.