Airworthy T7 Gloster Meteor coming to the US

[BK]

World Heritage Air Museum in Detroit is getting an airworthy T7 Gloster Meteor from Classic Air Force, Coventry, UK. It is a trainer version and one of only five airworthy Meteors left in the world. Flying demo Riat 2013 https://youtu.be/HHaX82J-PZg.

[Rajay]

To me that begs the question why?

I would have thought the type would hold infinitely more interest on its own side of the pond than over here...and as such would not be worth the cost or effort to bring it over here.

[OD/NG]

To me that begs the question why?

I would have thought the type would hold infinitely more interest on its own side of the pond than over here...and as such would not be worth the cost or effort to bring it over here.

To me, that begs the question, why not? It's a personal preference thing. To me, I have no interest in Grumman seaplanes. I think they are way overpriced and not worth the cost or effort to maintain and fly off of water. But this doesn't mean I think everybody should not have their own personal freedom to buy and fly whatever makes them happy. Same thing here. Just be happy that someone in the U.S. is importing a Meteor. It's a very rare aircraft and one hasn't flown in the U.S. in quite some time. Can anybody confirm that Al Hansen's Meteor at Mojave was the last one to grace the skies of the U.S. back in the 70's?

[Michel Lemieux]

IN the video.....Look at the landing roll.....stayed on the main gears for ages before the nose touched down!!!

Did they all landed like that?

[marine air]

The Meteor is a WW II design and one of the very first jet aircraft designs to fly. At the end of the war you had the Meteor, the ME-262, Vampire prototype and the doggish Bell P-59.

[OD/NG]

IN the video.....Look at the landing roll.....stayed on the main gears for ages before the nose touched down!!!

Did they all landed like that?

I don't know about the Meteor specifically, but I'm going to guess that the nose gear is the weak point on the aircraft as is the case in most W.W.II era tricycle gear planes. I do know specifically that the Me-262 had massive problems with weak nose gear and the B-25's weak point is its nose gear. Since tricycle gear was not common during that era, perhaps designers didn't "beef them up" as much as they should have?

[seagull61785]

Double post - apologies.

Last edited by seagull61785 on Sun Mar 12, 2017 8:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[OD/NG]

The Meteor is a WW II design and one of the very first jet aircraft designs to fly. At the end of the war you had the Meteor, the ME-262, Vampire prototype and the doggish Bell P-59.

....and the P-80 which was at the war front and operational, but did not fly any actual combat missions

[seagull61785]

The Meteor is a WW II design and one of the very first jet aircraft designs to fly. At the end of the war you had the Meteor, the ME-262, Vampire prototype and the doggish Bell P-59.

Not to mention the Heinkel 162, reputably the fastest jet fighter of that era.

[6trn4brn]

I've heard it said that your memory is the first thing to go as you get older...can't remember the rest of that...

Having said that and thinking I know a tiny bit about older airplanes, can anyone confirm that there is a gentleman from Georgia who has an airworthy Meteor? Seems like two years ago, when Lynchburg last had an airshow, there was a gentleman bringing his Meteor in to do a flying display. Was a pretty big deal. He brought it here, but due to inclement weather, he did not fly it. I think.

Sorry. It is early in the morning and the coffee has not burned the cobwebs out of my brain yet...feel free to carry on and ignor if I am way off on this one.

[mike furline]

Currently the only Meteor registered with the FAA is Kermit Weeks' VT229, which I believe is disassembled.

http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry ... =&PageNo=1

[mike furline]

I've heard it said that your memory is the first thing to go as you get older...can't remember the rest of that...

Having said that and thinking I know a tiny bit about older airplanes, can anyone confirm that there is a gentleman from Georgia who has an airworthy Meteor? Seems like two years ago, when Lynchburg last had an airshow, there was a gentleman bringing his Meteor in to do a flying display. Was a pretty big deal. He brought it here, but due to inclement weather, he did not fly it. I think.

Sorry. It is early in the morning and the coffee has not burned the cobwebs out of my brain yet...feel free to carry on and ignor if I am way off on this one.

If it was a British jet, perhaps you are thinking of a Dehavilland Vampire?

There are nine registered with the FAA.
http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry ... E&PageNo=1

[Aeronut]

IN the video.....Look at the landing roll.....stayed on the main gears for ages before the nose touched down!!!

Did they all landed like that?

Aero braking? Remember the Meteor is from a period when pneumatic brakes were in vogue and really they only any good for steering and stopping from a slow speed.

[JohnB]

Good news, I'd be happy to see one.
I thought there were more than five flying, IIRC Martin Baker has two for ejection seat tests.

Perhaps the owner put it on the market fearing more CAA regulations following the Hunter crash at an air show which killed 11 people on the ground. The crash as grounded the Hunter (though the accident report prety much clears the aircraft) and cast a pall over UK vintage jet ops.

Glad to hear it's coming here, but if I were in the market for an old two-seater, I'd get a T-33 because of family history.

[k5083]

This is great, I'd love to see it. Even static Meteors are pretty rare in N. America.

August