Gloster Meteor F111, NZ 6001, 1946 to 1950

Design:
W G Carter

Company:
Gloster

Also
Armstrong Whitworth

Wing Span:
43 ft 0 in 13.11 M F3
37 ft 2” in 11.30 m T7

Wing Area:
374 sq ft F3
350 sq ft T7

Length:
41 ft 3 in 12.57 M F3
43 ft 6 in 13.20 M T7

Height:
13 ft 10 in 3.96 M

Ceiling:
44,000 ft 13,410 M

Speed:
493 MPH 793 KPH F3
585 MPH 940 KPH T7

Range:
1,340 Miles 2,156 Km F3
1,000 Miles 1,610 Km T7

T/O Weight:
13,800 lb
18,000 lb 8,440 Kg T7

Crew:
1 Pilot F3
1 Pilot T7
or
1 Student

Role:
Familiarstion
Advanced Training
Conversion Training

Total Manufactured:
312 War Production
500 total F3

First Flight:
5 Mar 1946 26 Oct 1950

Armament:
4 x 20mm Cannon in Lower Nose
Up to
2 x 1,000 lb Bombs under Wing
or
4 x 90 lb Rocket under Wing

Qty Served:
NZ 1
Cyprus 2

Years Served:
1946 to 1950
1952 to 1955

Tail Nos:
NZ 6001
WH 206 WL 400

ENGINE

image source

Qty:
2

Type:
Rolls Royce Derwent 1
single stage centrifugal compressor, 10 can combustion chamber, single stage turbine

Static Thrust:
2,000 ft/lb 8.90 kN

Max RPM:
16,000 RPM

Compressor
1 stage, double sided, centrifugal

Turbine inlet temp
1,560 ^F 849 ^C

Fuel:
Avtur:

Length:
84.2 in 2,133 mm

Diameter:
43 in 1,092 mm

Weight:
975 lb 442.3 kg

Power to Weight Ratio:
2.04 f/lb/lb 0.0199 KN/Kg

MOTAT = Museum Of Transport And Technology
A/C = Aircraft
Sqn = Squadron

NZ 6001

RAF No.: EE 395
Mark: F Mk 3
First jet A/C of any sort to arrive in NZ
Loaned to RNZAF by the RAF
Shipped to Auckland assembled at Hobsonville 23 Jan 1946
First Flight Flown by S/L Bob McKay 1035 Hrs on 12 Feb 1946
This A/C was demonstrated throughout the country
Over the next few months
First appearance being at Ardmore at the farewell
Parade to 14 Sqn who were leaving for duty in Japan 15 Feb 1946
Serial numbered NZ 6001 Mar 1946
To Central Flying School Wigram 9 May 1946
Converted the First group of RNZAF instructors to jets
To Central Fighter Establishment Ohakea Jul 1946
Used to Convert/train over 50 pilots
Last public appearance was at the
Otago Centennial Air Show at Taieri 21 Feb 1948
Into Long-term storage Ohakea
Purchased From RAF
Cost 5,000.00.00 pound [$10,000] 15 Mar 1950
Became RNZAF’s first jet aircraft
Final flight Ohakea to Whenuapai
By S/L J Wenden 16 Sep 1950
Converted to Inst 147 at 1 TTS Hobsonville 19 Sep 1950
Declared surplus And sold by tender
To A Elliot , Onehunga Mar 1957
One Engine was sold, the rest melted down
One engine on display at MOTAT

F3 was the first jet aircraft to enter operational service with any Allied Service
616 Sqn first combat sortie 27 Jul 1944
First V1 kill to F/O Dean on 4 Aug 1944
In Feb 1941 an order was placed for 12 prototypes, these tested 6 different engines

Ex RAF
14 Sqn T 7 Nicosia

image source

image source

The target and laid out cable can be seen on the grass

These Meteors belonged to the RAF Meteor Flight based at Seletar, North Singapore.
They were used for Air to Air Target towing duties

RAF No.: WH 206

Mark: T7
Delivered to R A F 25 Jan 1952
To 219 Sqn RAF
To 14 Sqn RNZAF Nicosia, Cyprus Oct 1952
Code letter Z Oct 1952
Hired from RAF
Stationed in Cyprus as part of Middle East Air Force,
Used for instrument flying practice
To RAF Nov 1953
To 6 Sqn Maintenance Command Communications Sqn
To Station Flight Khormaksar
Ran out of fuel and abandoned near
Mogadishu, Somaliland 20 Jan 1959

RAF No.: WL 400

Mark: T 7
Delivered to RAF 2 Jul 1952
To 14 Sqn RNZAF Nicosia, Cyprus Oct 1952
Code letter Y
Hired from R A F
Stationed in Cyprus as part of Middle East Air Force ,
Used for instrument flying practice
To RAF Nov 1953
To Instrument Training Flight Nicosia Mar 1955
To Communications Flight Levant
Struck off charge 28 May 1957

Unsourced photos through the Ohakea Museum

with thanks to son-of-satire for the banner