Gloster Meteor D16 WH453

Hi Guys. As one of the founders of Meteor Flight I feel qualified to answer.

WA591 is coming on very well with hydrualics, airbrakes, flaps, under carriage all being fitted and with the engine bays being fitted out too.

Engines are ready and inhibited ready for fitting. The cockpit has had a new floor fitted and other extensive work carried out ready for all the internals to be refitted.

Progress is swift and positive and looking to actually come to fruition in the forseeable future. 🙂

Regards
Mark Jones

Good luck with the project Mark, and thanks to all you guys for the help with our re-build of WH453.
Regards.

Graham

Many thanks for the update on WA591, its nice to know that all your hard work is paying off.

They seemed to be progressing well although it will be a few years before WA591 will be ready to fly.
If you haven’t already, check out their website: http://www.meteorflight.com/

Regards.

Graham

Hi Guys. As one of the founders of Meteor Flight I feel qualified to answer.

WA591 is coming on very well with hydrualics, airbrakes, flaps, under carriage all being fitted and with the engine bays being fitted out too.

Engines are ready and inhibited ready for fitting. The cockpit has had a new floor fitted and other extensive work carried out ready for all the internals to be refitted.

Progress is swift and positive and looking to actually come to fruition in the forseeable future. 🙂

Regards
Mark Jones

Meteorflight

They seemed to be progressing well although it will be a few years before WA591 will be ready to fly.
If you haven’t already, check out their website: http://www.meteorflight.com/

Regards.

Graham

A bit of topic but how are the guys at Yatesbury getting on with there Meteor’s these days ?

As the Meteor U.16’s nose is longer than the F.8, I presume they have found an F.8 nose from somewhere? Can anyone confirm this and know from where?

We acquired all the relevant spares from the Meteorflight at Yatesbury. WH453 should be fully assembled by the end of this year and I’m aiming to begin the painting process next summer.
Regards.

Graham Haynes
Technical Advisor
Bentwaters ‘Cold War’ Museum
www.bentwaters-as.org.uk

Thanks for the update, I’m looking foward to seeing this one when its all done.

As the Meteor U.16’s nose is longer than the F.8, I presume they have found an F.8 nose from somewhere? Can anyone confirm this and know from where?

Hi david,

Thanks for the update. I will brief the 72 Assoc members at the reunion. I have sent you an e-mail with details.

Yours aye

Tom

72 Squadron photos

Hello TomDocherty72

The Meteor F.8 is progressing well. I saw it only recently. It could well be the best restored Meteor in the UK when finished. The airframe is currently getting a very deep restoration worthy of a flying example, although this is purely static. They have gone about it in the best way possible, in that everything is being done to the best standards, with eye to long term in-door preservation. I’m pretty certain that it will never need another restoration. I have had a small part in helping its progress, but the credit is all the small team of guys doing it.

I would love to attend the 72 squadron re-union, if only briefly. I worked at North Weald for several years in the late 80’s/early 90’s. I have a couple of 72 sqn photos if you would like me to bring them along, or post to you?

Its great for the Squadron assosciation that this meteor is returning to its North Weald colours.

Bentwaters Meteor

The chap responsible for the restoration to F.8 configuration is hopefully attending the 72 Sqn reunion on 6th May at North Weald. He is restoring it in 72 Sqn markings as it is an ex-Sqn machine. The association has provided them with a stock of accurate paint and decal roundels and squadron bars to assist with the restoration. If he is there I will interrogate him and post his response.

Does anyone know how the rebuild of this jet is going ?
The plan was to convert it back to an F8 and display it at the Brentwaters Museum, the jet was moved to Brentwaters in January 2005 but since then nothing has been said about this project.

Don’t you mean Bentwaters.