Does anybody know the fate of recently ‘retired’ Gloster Meteor target drone WK800, which was up until last year flying from Llanbedr in North Wales? The other similar drone stored at the airfield survives as a restoration project back to F8 spec, but news of its (formerly) airworthy counterpart has gone very quiet..
There was talk of it going to Aurstralia, as it is an ex. RAAF fighter.
Any ideas?
By: TempestV - 22nd August 2005 at 15:43
ex-llanbedr F.8/D.16
The former Llanbedr static meteor F.8/D.16 is now at Bentwaters, Suffolk. It will be the first exhibit in a new museum there. It is being restored to F.8 status to reflect its former east anglian based life with 72 squadron, and luckily displayed inside. I cannot wait to see it, as it is a former North Weald based aircraft, circa 1950’s.
Congratulations to those who aquired it, and good luck with its refurbishment.
By: David Burke - 22nd August 2005 at 00:01
The ATC have a Jin for display eventually there – apart from that I think most went in the smelter.
By: Will J - 21st August 2005 at 20:02
UK Museum piece.. would look very nice next to Cosford’s new Jindivik.
I passed by Llanbedr yesterday, very quiet, although the fabric of the place, buildings & runways, seem to have escaped demolition, for now, it does seem that sheep have taken over as tenants!
PS. Any ideas as to the fate of the Llanbedr gate guard Jindivik?
By: David Burke - 20th August 2005 at 23:21
Hopefully WK800 will be staying firmly in the U.K as a museum exhibit to represent the D.16 and the work done at Llanbedr. She certainly went to the RAAFin the 1950’s but isn’t thought to have done any operational flying. As for Winston – how much fatigue life has she got left?
By: Atlantic1 - 20th August 2005 at 23:14
Yes it was mentioned on here and WIX that there was interest in it “coming Home ” but I don’t know what happened – HARS might have been interested ?
You can have WK800 only if we can have our F8 back 😀
Tom.
By: David Burke - 20th August 2005 at 20:42
She is still at Boscombe Down and being spares recovered for the Martin – Baker operated Meteors.
By: setter - 20th August 2005 at 12:42
James
Yes it was mentioned on here and WIX that there was interest in it “coming Home ” but I don’t know what happened – HARS might have been interested ?
I also heard it was being broken up for spares – Spares for what I thought -Temora ?
Regards
John p
By: JDK - 20th August 2005 at 12:29
I ‘aint got it Guv. 😉
More seriously I’ve also not heard anyuthing further about it either, though I recall what Will’s said. Was there some discussion here?
Cheers
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August 19, 2005 at 11:47 pm