Meteor first flight
It's amazing what you can find when you're looking for something else isn't it? I was looking through Cranwell's Operations Record Book for 1943 yesterday and my eye was caught by the entry for 5 March which mentions the Gloster F.9/40 being "airborne for the first time."
This is the date we all know for the first flight of the Meteor. However, turning back a page in the ORB, the entry for 22 February says:
"The Gloster Aircraft Company were provided with accommodation and facilities for the assembly and testing of Aircraft F.9/40. Subsequently the initial trial was carried out successfully and the aircraft became airborne. Further trials are to take place."
Anyone else come across this new date?