METEOR

Interceptor, night fighter and ground-attack aircraft, the Meteor was Britain's first operational jet, breaking many world flying records, and the lessons learned from it have influenced fighter design for the last forty years. It saw combat with the RAF during the closing months of World War 2, and in Korea, and has also been used in battle by several of the world's other air forces.

In this book, Bryan Philpott - who flew Meteors in the RAF - tells the inside story of the problems its designers encountered, pioneering a new technology, and of the new flying techniques and aerial tactics its pilots had to evolve. Both its active squadron service in Europe and overseas, and the many variants produced, are described in detail, while this book also includes dozens of rare photographs and design drawings together with fine colour artwork showing camouflage and markings.

ABOUT THE METEOR 

Nicknamed the 'Meatbox' in RAF slang, the Gloster Meteor was not only Britain's first operational jet aircraft but also the machine which introduced the jet age to many of the world's other air forces. It entered service too late to make any really significant contribution to the outcome of World War 2, and was largely outclassed by Russian MiGs during the Korean conflict, but as a 'first' it has a unique place in the history of manned flight and the lessons learned from it have influenced fighter aircraft designs for the last forty years.

The Meteor's designers had to pioneer an entire new technology, and its pilots had to learn similarly new flying and combat techniques. How they achieved this makes both an exciting personal and an absorbing engineering account. As well as discussing the technical development of the aircraft in both single- and two-seater variants, the author also describes in graphic detail what the Meteor is like to fly and includes first-hand accounts from many former Meteor pilots.

The Meteor broke many world flying records in its time, and is still flying today. It has served with the Argentinian, Belgian, Brazilian, Danish, Ecuadorean, Egyptian, French, Dutch, Israeli, Swedish and Syrian air forces, seeing combat in Europe, the Middle East and Korea. It was, and still is, an exciting and demanding aircraft to fly, and this comes through clearly in Bryan Philpott's outstanding text, which is supported by many rare photographs, unpublished plans of proposed Meteor variants and fine colour artwork by Richard Leask Ward.

Bryan Philpot is a former RAF officer who flew Meteors after completing his basic training. He has many other aviation books to his credit, including PSL's English Electric/BAC Lightning.