Gloster Meteor Ideas and Inspiration

[M.A.D]

Nice find GTX!
Also, great suggestion elmayerle

MAD

[Geoff]

Something that's been on my to-do list since forever is a trio of 'advanced' Meteor prototypes as displayed at an air show where Gloster are desperately trying to flog them having lost the RAF night-fighter contract to the DH.110:

Gloster Reaper ground attack aircraft

Airfix Mk.8 with belly tank removed, tip tanks fitted, bomb pylons under fuselage, NF.11 outer wings (8 x guns!), non-British rocket pods on outer wing pylons, green/brown/gray 'European' cammo, but glossy with civilian registration G-REAP and company logos.

An old one of mine

[jcf]

The Mamba Meteor would need a tall undercarriage. 

[upnorth]

I know the RCAF tested the meteor, but never took it.

I wonder how the Meteor would look with a series of Orenda engines on it.

[apophenia]

I know the RCAF tested the meteor, but never took it...

That testing was done on behalf of the RAF. The RAF Meteors had been sent to Canada for cold weather testing. These were Meteor F.3 EE311 (Aug 1945-June 1946, crashed); Meteor F.3 EE361 (April 1946-March 1947); Meteor F.4 RA421 (Oct 1947; WEE Feb-Nov 1948); and Meteor F.4 VT196 (July 1953-June 1955).

There was never any plan to purchase the 'Meatbox' for the RCAF. The only Meteors with maple leaves were T.7s WA730 and WA740 which were RAF aircraft loaned to RCAF 421 Squadron when based in the UK during 1950 (421 was preparing to return to Canada at the end of 1951 where they would take on Canadair Sabres at RCAF Station St. Hubert).

... I wonder how the Meteor would look with a series of Orenda engines on it.

I guess the closest was Meteor F.4 VT196 which tested reheat systems for Avro Canada/Orenda from January 1954. For an actual Orenda-powered Meteor, the big challenge would be the length of that engine (121.5 inches versus 88.5 inches for the Derwent V). The Orenda was actually an inch smaller in diameter but sources also show it being almost twice the dry weight of the Derwent (although I suspect that the Derwent V weight is sans aux. equipment).

[GTX_Admin]

What about a Meteor fitted with pulse jets...even as a trial?

[jcf]

What about a Meteor fitted with pulse jets...even as a trial?

Sure, if you want a slower Meteor with a shorter range. 

[GTX_Admin]

I was thinking more of a trials aircraft.

[elmayerle]

I know the RCAF tested the meteor, but never took it.

I wonder how the Meteor would look with a series of Orenda engines on it.

Considering the size of the Orenda engine, you could go with an underslung engine installation like that of the MetroVic-powered prototype.

[ysi_maniac]

RAAF Meteor with a different tail (I love Canberra tail )

[M.A.D]

RAAF Meteor with a different tail (I love Canberra tail )

Nice! Very nice!!

From what I heard and read about the weak design/construction of the real world Meteor rear fuselage-tail design, I think you could have averted a lot of Meteor losses 🤔

MAD

[Kerick]

RAAF Meteor with a different tail (I love Canberra tail )

Nice! Very nice!!

From what I heard and read about the weak design/construction of the real world Meteor tail design, I think you could have averted a lot of Neteor losses 🤔

MAD

It certainly looks better, at least to me.