Gloster Meteor T7
Serial Number:
WA634
Period:
Post-WWII
Collection Ref: 86/A/38
Location: RAF Museum Cosford, Research & Development
The Meteor T7 entered service with No.203 Advanced Flying
School in December 1948 as the Royal Air Force's first jet trainer.
As the Meteor F4 fighter and Vampire FB5 fighter-bomber entered service,
the lack of a trainer with comparable performance became an increasing
problem. Recognising this, Gloster Aircraft developed a two-seat, dual-control
version of the Meteor F4 as a private venture. The Air Ministry ordered
640 examples for delivery between 1949 and 1954, around five-hundred of
which served with the Royal Air Force, the balance going to the Fleet
Air Arm and foreign air forces.
RAF aircraft served with Flying Training Command providing trainee pilots
with initial jet aircraft experience. Although superseded in this role
from the mid-1950s by the de Havilland Vampire, Meteor T7s remained in
service with operational units for refresher training and as high speed
communications aircraft.
Most T7s had been withdrawn by the early 1970s, the last of all being
WA669. This aircraft continued flying as part of the 'Vintage Pair' display
team (with a Vampire T11) until a tragic fatal collision destroyed both
aircraft in 1986.
Martin-Baker Aircraft Limited modified a number of ex-RAF Meteors for
ejection seat trials. In 1955 the first seat capable of runway level ejection
was tested in WA634.
