RA491 as it appeared when first fitted with Rolls-Royce Avon RA.2s and flown on April 29, 1949.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Gloster Meteor / G.41 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1943

Two-and-a-half years later it was modified by Air Service Training to test-fly the SNECMA Atar 101 B21 engine, for which it was fitted with a Mk 8 front fuselage.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Gloster Meteor / G.41 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1943

Side view of VT196 as it was when used in 1953 as a flying testbed for the Canadian-designed reheat on their Orenda engines. The unusual length of the installation was determined by the system’s feature of fuel injection ahead of the Derwent’s turbine, which reduced blade temperatures before the fuel was ignited in the afterburner section.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Gloster Meteor / G.41 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1943

VT196’s first use by Rolls-Royce in 1948 was on Derwent 5 development at Hucknall, which included testing experimental reheat systems.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Gloster Meteor / G.41 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1943

1959 saw the aircraft’s final modification when converted by Flight Refuelling Limited into a U.15 target drone, although it was always employed as a manned version.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Gloster Meteor / G.41 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1943

Meteor RA491, powered by two Rolls-Royce Avon RA.3 turbojets each producing 7,500lb static thrust. RA491 flew with these engines during 1950.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Gloster Meteor / G.41 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1943

Meteor RA491 in 1950, powered by Rolls-Royce Avon RA.3s. It appeared in this form at that year’s SBAC Show at Farnborough.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Gloster Meteor / G.41 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1943

View of RA491 after the fitment of two SNECMA Atar axial-flow turbojets, in which configuration it was first flown in October 1951. The conversion was done by Air Service Training at Hamble.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Gloster Meteor / G.41 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1943

Meteor RA491 at an earlier date, fitted with Rolls-Royce Avon RA.2s. The nacelles were 25 per cent larger than the standard Meteor units, and had oil cooler intakes on their undersides.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Gloster Meteor / G.41 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1943

An early photograph of RA491, with Avon RA.2s. Note the guards positioned in front of the intakes during ground running.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Gloster Meteor / G.41 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1943

View of RA491 after the fitment of two SNECMA Atar axial-flow turbojets, in which configuration it was first flown in October 1951. The conversion was done by Air Service Training at Hamble.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Gloster Meteor / G.41 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1943

Meteor VT196 fitted with two 3,500lb-thrust Rolls-Royce Derwent 5s with reheat. The variable nozzles for the latter are clearly shown here.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Gloster Meteor / G.41 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1943

Another view of RA491 with Avon RA.2s. It was first flown in this configuration at Hucknall on April 29, 1947, by Sqn Ldr W.A. Waterton.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Gloster Meteor / G.41 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1943

During 1954 VT196 was used to test the reheat system for the Canadian Orenda Iroquois engine. Housed in the long nacelle extensions, the reheat units gave the Derwent 5s greatly increased thrust.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Gloster Meteor / G.41 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1943

Plan view of VT196 as it was when used in 1953 as a flying testbed for the Canadian-designed reheat on their Orenda engines. The unusual length of the installation was determined by the system’s feature of fuel injection ahead of the Derwent’s turbine, which reduced blade temperatures before the fuel was ignited in the afterburner section.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Gloster Meteor / G.41 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1943

WA634’s first modification by Martin-Baker in 1953, to enable live testing of the company’s Mk 3 zero-height ejection seat.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Gloster Meteor F.Mk.8 / FR.Mk.9 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1948

The aircraft was eventually modified in 1962 for testing the lightweight Mk 4 seat, which was rocket-propelled to facilitate escape from highspeed aircraft, both at ground level and at operational altitude.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Gloster Meteor F.Mk.8 / FR.Mk.9 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1948

Baker's ejection-seat test Gloster Meteor WL419 at 8,000ft over Chaigrove and Oxford on October 8 last year. WL419 was being flown by Stan Hodgkins, and is scheduled to make a rare airshow appearance at the Old Flying Machine Company's Classic Jet and Fighter Display at Duxford on June 2, 1996.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Gloster Meteor F.Mk.8 / FR.Mk.9 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1948

The conversion of the whole cockpit area of WA634 for trials of the Martin-Baker Mk 4 rocket-powered ejection seat. Note the external strengthening of the trials seat area.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Gloster Meteor F.Mk.8 / FR.Mk.9 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1948

The first live runway ejection of a Martin-Baker seat, made from WA634 on September 3, 1955. The guinea pig was Sqn Ldr John Fifield, and the ejection took place at 120 m.p.h., just before lift-off. Note F.8 tail and modified cockpit canopy.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Gloster Meteor F.Mk.8 / FR.Mk.9 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1948

On March 11, 1955, Martin-Baker demonstrated a dummy being ejected from the rear cockpit of WA634 at Chaigrove. The telescopic gun for the 80ft/sec Mk 3 seat is seen extended in both this photograph and that at left. Deployment of the drogue, main canopy and separation from the seat was almost instantaneous.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Gloster Meteor F.Mk.8 / FR.Mk.9 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1948