New Meteor book planned
 

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.

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.

Hello Danny,

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

Steve

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.

METEOR
 

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).

Many thanks for your replies, private messages sent.

Meteor
 

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.

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.

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/r...nMeteor8-2.jpg

Meteor
 

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

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

Cheers, Bob C

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

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?

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

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.

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.

Steve
Check your PM's.


WT

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.

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