WA591 - Center Section
The center section is the heart of the Meteor. It consists of the engines, inner wings, main undercarriage and fuel tanks. As the Meteor developed its basic structure has remained unchanged other than the considerable strengthening to cope with engines more than three times as powerful as the first F9-40's. Note If you don't see a bigger image when you click the thumbnail in Internet explorer, wait a few seconds and try again, not sure what is causing this!
January 2009
The page has been reorganised with a range of photos showing the the phases of the rebuild with the oldest photos at the bottom of the page. The latest news is that the rear fuselage is now mated with the center section although I have yet to see any photos of this exciting development. The high standard of the restoration is evident in all these photos. Center Section, May 2008 |  Port leading edge, August 2007 |
 Main undercarriage, April 2008 |
 Main undercarriage up, April 2008 |
 Starboard leading edge, August 2007 |  Port undercarriage - August 2007 |
 Port undercarriage - August 2007 |
 Center section tank bay |
 Engine nacelle interior, August 2007 |
 Starboard upper skin, July 2007 |
 Underside of starboard wing, new skins |
 Hydraulics for flap and airbrakes |
August 8th, 2007
These photos show the restored skins on the underside of the center section. The upper wing skins had been prepared for fitting but wern't yet rivetted into position. The refixing of the wing skins will add a great deal of structural integrity to the airframe. There are also some photos of the new engine bay access doors which have been drilled and trial fitted.Less obvious but equally important are the tank bay fuel pipe assemblies and Teleflex controls that will connect through to the cockpit, these are now in place along with additional center section electrics some additional wiring loms are still being manufactured. This has required extensive effort as modern wiring is much smaller and lighter so new cable fittings have been needed throughout the airframe. In the undercarriage bays the new rear diaphrams were fitted as were the rear undercarriage door hinge brackets which needed modification as a result of the test fitting of the undercarriage doors in 2006. The underbelly skin is also now in place and on the main spar all the attachments have been trial fitted and engine driven gearboxes and hydraulic pumps fitted.
October 1st, 2006
The airbrake boxes are now attached and the undercarriage doors have been fitted to establish clearances. The airbrake and flap hydraulic jacks and associated pipe work which go between the rear spar and the undercarriage bay diaphragms are all in place. The airbrakes have been tested successfully using external hand pump pressure. Port and Starboard rear nacelle portions are fitted as are engine mounting brackets within the nacelles. Fuel and air system pipes are now in place in both undercarriage bays and the majority of cabin air system parts found, identified and under refurbishment to the correct modification state. Starboard flap |
 Flap and airbrake test, Oct 2006 |  Port undercarriage bay, Feb 2005 |  Riveting the rear engine nacelle |
 Starboard Nacelle, Feb 2005 |
 Starboard Nacelle, Feb 2005 |  Center section hydraulics |  Hydraulic pump |
May 2006
The main undercarriage beams have now been fixed in place. The beams are new parts as the originals were too corroded to be repaired. The main undercarriage legs were hung to establish rigging for side and front the main undercarriage stays. The side stay brackets were then fixed to the wing root ribs. A number of the lower center section skins were replaced and the rear diaphragms are in place. The rear undercarriage bay door hinges required modification to bring them up to the correct specification. The new air brake boxes have been assembled, drilled and countersunk ready for attachment.
February 2005:
The installation of new wiring in the center section is now underway which started with the fire detection system. This will be followed by the engine ignition system. This is relatively easy to install at the moment because John Walduck and Max Tapper have easy access to the structure in order to measure the new cable and wiring loom runs.
May 2004:
The first control runs and hydraulics ware beginning to appear and the majority of missing parts have been identified and refurbished/ replaced from stock as required. This work will be much easier to complete without the main undercarriage in place.
Earlier images of center section rebuild
 Center section structure, May 2004 |
 Port undercarriage bay, May 2004 |  Starboard undercarriage bay, May 2004 |  Undercarriage doors, November 2003 |
 Center Section, Sept 2003 |
 Center Section, Sept 2003 |  Port generator and main spar (July 2003) |
 Rear bulkhead and spar July 2003 |
 Rear spar inside the undercarriage bay July 2003 |
 Read bulkhead, November 2002 |
 The repaired stbd engine nacelle. |  Center Section Jan 2002 |
The centre section has had extensive work carried out on it. With the spar bolts replaced the next step is to refit the airbrake boxes.',s centre section in December 2001 Being steel these were extensively corroded and to be replaced with new beams from our stores, Brand new Main undercarriage support beam