Meteor 4 VW790 which, although a late production example of the mark, retained the long-span wings of earlier Mk 4s and was unusual in having enlarged intakes which became standard on later Mk 8s. It is highly likely that the four-cannon armament was fitted on the assembly line, but for all its time on Vickers-Armstrongs' Red Dean programme, it flew as depicted.

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

VW443, the Mk 7 which had a modified nose with a large glazed forward-facing aperture while operating on the Blue Jay air-to-air missile trials programme for de Havilland Propellers.

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

Meteor 4 VZ389 demonstrates inflight refuelling from Avro Lincoln RA657 at the 1950 SBAC Show at Farnborough. Both aircraft were operated from Flight Refuelling Ltd’s base at Tarrant Rushton in Dorset.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Avro Lincoln / Type 694 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1944Gloster Meteor / G.41 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1943

Flight Refuelling’s probe-and-drogue system undergoes scrutiny at Farnborough in 1950. The nose probe added to VZ389 is conspicuous.

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

Apart from its faired cannon ports, Mk 4 VW790, photographed at the RAE in June 1949, looks very ordinary, but it served in the Red Dean missile programme.

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

Французский NF.11 использовался для испытаний турбореактивных двигателей
French NF.11 NF11-3 with a pair of SFECMAS S-600 ramjets underwing.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Gloster, Armstrong Whitworth Meteor NF.11 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1950

A true indication of the Meteor’s adaptability: VW411 came off the production line as a T.7, but later had its tail unit replaced with a Mk 8 version and the production nose substituted by a PR.10 section. It flew with only the front camera window operative during a career spent at several research establishments and is shown in the final paint scheme adopted in the mid-1960s.

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

Side-view of VZ517, the Mk 8 adapted as the flying testbed for the Screamer rocket engine. This variable-thrust unit was to be the rocket part of the Avro 720 mixed-power interceptor. However, as the LOX/kerosene fuel system was not unanimously accepted for everyday squadron use by the RAF, the Avro 720 was cancelled and the Screamer became another footnote in aviation history.

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

Martin-Baker’s much modified Mk 7 WL419, one of the small handful of Meteors still in operational use. This has the enlarged intakes. Before this career, it flew as shown here and, as such, is one of the few examples of a British serial number being positioned on a Meteor’s fin - the others, so far as it has been possible to ascertain, being Royal Navy T.7 WL353 and the 20 NF.11s converted by ML Aviation to TT.20s, again for the Royal Navy.

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

Meteor Mk 7 WL419 continues to give sterling service as an ejection seat testbed with Martin-Baker at the company’s Chaigrove airfield, and even makes the occasional airshow appearance when the schedule permits. Originally supplied to Martin-Baker as a source of spares for its predecessor, WA638, it was rebuilt to fly in 1979.

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

Meteor Mk 7 1/2. Это неофициальное обозначение для нескольких гибридных самолетов Meteor с основной конструкцией T.Mk 7 и особенностями других модификаций. Самые известные - спарки с хвостовым оперением прямоугольной формы. Среди них - T.Mk 7, доработанный для испытания катапультных кресел Martin-Baker. Самолет WA634 использовался с августа 1953 года по апрель 1962 года, за ним последовал WA638. В 1979 году его заменил WL419 (на фотографии). Доработка самолетов заключалась в установке беспереплетного фонаря первой кабины и демонтаже фонаря задней кабины. Обозначение Meteor Mk 7 1/2 также получили некоторые Mk 7 с носовыми частями от самолетов-разведчиков и оперением от T.Mk 7.
Martin-Baker’s Mk 7, WL419, clearly showing the housing for test ejection seats.

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

WL419 makes a low pass at Chaigrove, revealing scorch marks round the rear seat area.

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

Mk 7 VW411 in its pale blue finish in 1963, while with RAE Bedford’s Experimental Flying Wing.

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

VW411 in its later Royal Blue finish while serving with the PEE at Foulness.

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

Для перехвата высотных бомбардировщиков прорабатывался вариант "Метеора" с дополнительным разгонным ракетным двигателем под фюзеляжем
На самолете VZ517 тестировали ЖРД Armstrong Siddeley Screamer, топливо находилось в модифицированном подфюзеляжном баке. Испытания подтвердили высокую эффективность ракетного двигателя, но в серию он не пошел.
Meteor 8 VZ517 with an Armstrong Siddeley Screamer rocket engine in the rear of a strengthened and restressed ventral tank for flight tests. Thrust was variable from 2,000lb to 8,000lb. The Screamer was intended for the planned mixed-powerplant interceptors which it was envisaged would defend the UK against high-altitude bombers.

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

VW411 in its later Royal Blue finish while serving with the PEE at Foulness. The view shows it at RAF Gaydon on September 17, 1966.

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

Plan and side-view of VZ517, the Mk 8 adapted as the flying testbed for the Screamer rocket engine. This variable-thrust unit was to be the rocket part of the Avro 720 mixed-power interceptor. However, as the LOX/kerosene fuel system was not unanimously accepted for everyday squadron use by the RAF, the Avro 720 was cancelled and the Screamer became another footnote in aviation history.

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