New Meteor book planned

[Steve Bond]

Did you fly or service Meteors, or know someone who did, in any role at any time? If so, I would love to make contact with you.

I am planning a major update and re-write of my Meteor book published in the 1980s, and need your help!

Thanks in advance.

[Danny42C]

Steve Bond,

Had only some 30 hours on them in '50 and '54, consisting of initial conversion and a refresher course. Far too little for my opinions to be of any value.

So for what it's worth: I did not like it much. Simply a projectile - all push and no lift. Vampire much nicer, but of course less power and performance.

D.

[Steve Bond]

Hello Danny,

Many thanks for your reply, and your thoughts about the aeroplane. Where did you do your Meteor flying?

Steve

[Danny42C]

Steve,

No.1 Short Conversion Course, 203 AFU, Driffield (24.1. to 12.3.50).

Refresher Course, 12 FTS, Weston Zoyland (2.10 to 23.11.54.)

(After which, CMB permanently grounded me and I transferred into ATC).

Danny.

[ARCHIE1]

Eleven or so hours in the back seat of various NF14(T)s, 1 ANS, RAF Stradishall, April 63. One of the ANS fleet is in the Jet Age Museum at Staverton (recommended); another, which is in my log book, is in the Malta Aviation Museum (potential holiday - daren't tell my wife why).

[Steve Bond]

Many thanks for your replies, private messages sent.

[Quietplease]

Only limited experience on the 7 (50 hours) and 8 (10hours). Did the asymetric course at Worksop Jan-March 58 and then had access to the Instrument Training Flight 7 at Akrotiri who shared our dispersal. Had to pay for the fun flights with doing safety pilot for the high paid help from MEAF HQ.
Still have their Pilot's Notes dated 1953 which I seem to have on long term loan.
A fabulous aircraft, much preferred it to the Vampire.

[aw ditor]

Did the "Leg Strengthening" course at Worksop on 7s' and 8s' in mid 75' prior to the OCU at Bassingbourn. Much preferred it to the Vampire, if only because it had two engines! Have a copy of the Meteor book. Perhaps less Photos of broken-up aircraft at the end of their lives and more of 3s' 4s' and 8s' in their heyday?


AD.

[Warmtoast]

more of 3s' 4s' and 8s' in their heyday?A 41 Sqn Mk8 in its heyday - taken by me at Biggin Hill in 1954 when I was experimenting with colour film. 41 converted to Hunter Mk5's a year later.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/Biggin%20Hill%20Early%201950s/41SqnMeteor8-2.jpg

[MMHendrie1]

For a much later view about the Meteor than usual, look at 'Winged Warriors - The Cold War from the Cockpit.' Has some good photos. Also a website: Winged Warriors: Home (http://www.wingedwarriors.co.uk)

[Robert Cooper]

Lot of guys preferred it to the Vampire. Some good information on:
rafworsop.btck.co.uk

Cheers, Bob C

[Steve Bond]

Many thanks for all the replies so far, private messages sent.

[Steve Bond]

That is a lovely photo, which I think has appeared on the ether before? I would love a high resolution copy of it for the book if possible please? Perhaps you could send me a private message?

[Wander00]

Looked on the Worksop site and amazed to be taken back 49 years by a photo showing, amongst others, my Bassingbourn Canberra QFI, Robin Rose. is he still around I wonder

[CharlieJuliet]

http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu295/CharlieJuliet44/6.jpg

[CharlieJuliet]

Oops didn't seem to be able to post words round the pic above. Was taken during an AFTS Course at RAF Strubby in '64 '65. We were offloaded from the Gnat as it was having serviceability problems, and I was on the second offloaded course. Great fun for one who had just finished the JP basic course.

[26er]

I flew the Mk 3,4,7,8,NF11, NF14 and TT21, in all about 1500 hours, but it is a long time ago and I doubt that I would fit into one now.

[Warmtoast]

Steve
Check your PM's.


WT

[Danny42C]

26er,

Vaguely remember doing a fortnight's gunnery from Stradishall with Spit XIVs about '51 (didn't hit much !) Was on attachment from 20 Sqn, Valley.

The tugs were Meteors (that would be your TT21, I assume). Wiki says the TT20s were RN, not RAF, and the TT21s went to the Danish Air Force. Better give Wiki the hard word !

As for the Meteor/Vampire comparison, it's a matter of choice. As I had very little on the Meteor and a lot more on the Vampire III and V, I suppose that that coloured my opinon. After all you could even work up an affection for the Vultee Vengeance (and that took some doing) after a few hundred hours on them.

Cheers, Danny.

[Wander00]

Thanks CJ - I had known I just missed the Hunter by a couple of Valley courses, Now I find I missed the Meteor by a similar amount. Happy Sunday to you too!


W

[Steve Bond]

More grateful thanks chaps, and more private messages sent.

Steve

[26er]

Danny,


Sorry, slip of the finger. Of course it was the TT20 and they were based at Changi for towing drogues over the Grey Funnel Line in the South China Sea. They allegedly fired "break up shot" but on occasion it seemed quite exciting.

[Steve Bond]

Some great replies so far chaps, many thanks. I could still do with any FR.9/PR.10 drivers and any ground crew. Who's still lurking out there?

Steve

[petemacintosh]

Hi Steve

I flew Meteors with 1574 TFF at Changi in the mid 60s. I think we were the last operational RAF unit with a mix of 7s, 8s and TT20s. We provided target facilities for the RAF, allied navies and the army. During the Indonesian confrontation, the Mk 8s also had an armed support role.

Regards

Peter Macintosh

[Steve Bond]

Dear Petemacintosh and charliejuliet, please check your private messages.

Thanks!

Steve

[ExRAFRadar]

Found this while searching for the famous "All we want for Xmas is our wings swept back"

First Mig Kill
77 Squadron finally achieved its first confirmed Mig-15 kill on 1 December 1951 when twelve Meteors were engaged by over fifty Migs in an epic dogfight over Pyongyang

Meteor Operations in Korea (http://www.koreanwaronline.com/history/oz/77/MK8OPS.htm#sweepback)

50 Migs!! Some dogfight....

[Null Orifice]

Groundcrew:
I worked on Meteors (T7 & F8s) at Chivenor (Aaaaaahhhhh!) in the early 60s. Great job, apart from the annual AOC's inspection and an occasion where the Station Flight Safety Officer burst a mainwheel tyre when landing at 1650 on a Friday afternoon ("sorry chaps", said Roger C****) - having just messed up my weekend arrangements :rolleyes:.

[Steve Bond]

A W Ditor and 26er please check your private messages.

thanks

Steve

[NutherA2]

I had an all too brief acquaintance with the Meteor in 1960 when I was given the “Jet Refresher Course” at Strubby, after 2½ years on a ground tour(Halton).

As preparation for a Hunter refresher at Chivenor, the Strubby Course gave me around 38 hours on the T7 and 6 on the F8.

I thought the Mark 8 was a joy to fly, but didn’t care so much for the T7, despite having the late Bill Loverseed as my QFI. Reasons for not enjoying the 7 so much were:

1. The Forth Rail Bridge style of canopy ironwork, &

2. The lack of pressurisation, which when coupled with starting spins from 38,000’ cost me a ruptured ear drum and a delay to the Chivenor course.

[Steve Bond]

Thanks for the latest replies chaps. Private messages sent

[Steve Bond]

Dear 26er,

You got my attention with your earlier post detailing your Meteor flying career and I am most anxious to talk with you about it.

Could you please check your emails?

Thanks

Steve

[Steve Bond]

Null Orifice and Nuther A2 please check your private messages.

[brakedwell]

I managed to accumulate a few hours on the Levant Comm Squadron T7 and F8's at Nicosia in 1958. The meteor was the only aircraft I flew without doing a course or having any dual. My full time job at the time was Hastings second pilot.

[Steve Bond]

Thanks Brakedwell, please see your private messages.