The Gloster Meteor is a twin-engined jet fighter, the first jet aircraft to serve with the RAF and the only Allied jet aircraft to reach combat in World War II. Almost 4,000 were produced, mostly in service with the RAF between 1944 and 1965. Meteors also served with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), whose aircraft saw action in the Korean War; other users included the Argentinian, Brazilian, Belgian, Danish, Dutch, Ecuadorian, French and Israeli air forces. Many are preserved but only four are airworthy.

Surviving aircraft Argentina

The first export order for Meteors came from Argentina, which received 100 F.4s. The first 50 were ex-RAF, the second 50 new. The Fuerza Aérea Argentina (FAA) identified aircraft with a number which remained the same throughout the life of the airframe, preceded by a letter indicating the role. From purchase in the late 1940s to about 1963 the Meteors were used as interceptors, letter I, and hence serialled e.g. I-025. After that, they were deployed as fighter bombers, letter C, and the same aircraft exampled before became C-025. A few, rebuilt aircraft did change number.

Stored or under restoration Meteor F.4 I-029, ex-EE537, being restored for the Museo Regional Interfuerzas, Santa Romana, San Luis. On display Meteor F.4 I-002, ex RA386, displayed on plinth in Merlo, Buenos Aires. Painted as C-051. Meteor F.4 I-005, ex-RA390, displayed on plinth, Museum of Independence, Tandil, Buenos Aires. Meteor F.4 I-010, ex-RA393, School of Education (ENET no.4), Quilmes, Buenos Aires. Used as teaching aid. Meteor F.4 I-014, ex-EE575, displayed on plinth in Goya, Corrientes. Meteor F.4 I-019, ex-EE553, displayed on plinth at the Northern Roundabout of the Avenue Spinetto Santa Rosa, La Pampa. Painted as I-021, condition poor. Meteor F.4 I-025, ex-EE532, displayed on plinth on the Avenue of the Air Force, outside the Escuela de Aviación Militar, Córdoba. Meteor F.4 I-027, ex-EE527, Museo Regional Interfuerzas, Santa Romana, San Luis. It is the oldest Meteor airframe surviving anywhere, for the first 8 prototypes DG202-9/G, the first of which is preserved in the UK, did not bear the name. Meteor F.4 I-031, ex-EE588, Liceo Aeronáutico Militar de Funes, Funes, Santa Fe. Ogden locates this aircraft at the Aeroclub Las Parerjas, Las Parjas. Meteor F.4 I-038, ex-EE587, Junin Aeroclub, Junin, Buenos Aires. Meteor F.4 I-041, ex-EE586, Museo Nacional de Aeronáutica de Argentina, Morón, Buenos Aires. Meteor F.4 C-051, painted as C-002, Aeroclub Baradero, Baradero. Meteor F.4 I-057, displayed on plinth Loreto, Santiago del Estero. Ogden locates this aircraft at the Monumento de la VI Brigada Tandil, Buenos Aires. The earliest surviving Argentine built aircraft. Meteor F.4 I-071, painted as C-073, Collectión de la Escuela de Educación Téchnica 8 Jorge Newbery, San Justo, Buenos Aires. Meteor F.4 I-073, gate guardian (on tower to the left) at Mar del Plata Air Base. Painted as C-071. Meteor F.4 I-084, Resistencia, Chaco. Meteor F.4 I-088, Aeroclub Chivilcoy, Chivilcoy, Buenos Aires. Meteor F.4 I-090, displayed on plinth, Plaza Batalla de Salta, Salta City. Meteor F.4 I-093, gate guardian on plinth, VII Brigada Aerea, Jose C. Paz, Buenos Aires. Painted as C-099. Meteor F.4 I-094, Grupo de Vigilancia, Merlo, Buenos Aires. Meteor F.4 I-095, gate guardian on plinth, Edificio Condor, Buenos Aires. Meteor F.4 I-099, on plinth at Presidente Perón International Airport, Neuquen.

Australia

Airworthy Meteor F.8 VH-MBX, ex-RAF VZ467, exported to the Temora Aviation Museum in 2001. Painted as A77-851, flown in Korea by Sgt. George Hale of 77 Squadron. Ownership was transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force in July 2019 and it is operated by the Air Force Heritage Squadron (Temora Historic Flight).

On display Meteor F.3 A77-1, ex-EE427, Australian National Heritage Centre Winnellie, Northern Territory. Meteor T.7 A77-701, originally A77-229, ex-WA731, Lions Cub Park Missile Museum, Woomera, South Australia. Meteor T.7 A77-702, originally A77-30, ex-WA732, RAAF Museum, Point Cook VIC. Meteor T.7 A77-705, ex-WA680, RAAF Museum, Point Cook VIC. Meteor T.7 A77-707, ex-WA118, Australian National Aviation Museum, Moorabbin Airport VIC. Meteor F.8 WE925, Bankstown, NSW. ex East Midlands Aeropark, Wales Aircraft Museum. Meteor F.8 A77-368, ex-WA952, Anzac Hall, Australian War Memorial, Canberra. Meteor F.8 A77-851 ex-WK653, South Australian Aviation Museum, Port Adelaide. Central and forward fuselage only. Meteor F.8 A77-867, ex-WK685, Classic Jets Fighter Museum, Parafield Airport nr. Adelaide Meteor F.8 A77-868, ex-WK674, Camden Museum of Aviation, NSW, Australia Meteor F.8 A77-870, ex-WK748, RAAF Museum, Point Cook, VIC. Meteor F.8 A77-871, ex-WK791, RAAF Forrest Hill, Wagga Wagga, NSW. Meteor F.8 A77-874, ex-WK909, RAAF Forrest Hill, Wagga Wagga, NSW. Meteor F.8 A77-875, ex-WK798, painted as A77-385, Fighter World, RAAF Base Williamtown NSW. Meter TT.8 WA880, painted as A77-721 (no Australian history). Meteor TT.20 WD647, Queensland Air Museum, Caloundra, Queensland.

Belgium

The Belgian Air Force had 48 Meteor F.4s, 42 T.7s and, later 240 F.8s.

On display Meteor F.8 EG-18, Musée International de la Base Aérienne de Chièvres, Chièvres. Meteor F.8 EG-79, painted as EG-*), 1st wing Historical Center, Beauvechain, Belgium. Built under licence in the Netherlands by Fokker. Meteor F.8 EG-162, Musée dela Citadelle, Dinant. Built under licence in the Netherlands by Fokker and assembled in Belgium by Avions Fairey. Meteor F.8 EG-224, Musée Royal de l'Armée, Brussels. Built in Belgium by Avions Fairey with parts provided by Glosters. Meteor NF.11 NF-11-3, French Armée de l'Air, ex-WM298, Musée Royal de l'Armée, Brussels.

Brazil

The Brazilian Air Force received 10 Meteor T.7s and 60 F.8s.

On display Meteor T.7 4300 ex-WS142, Museu Aeroespacial (MUSAL), Campo dos Afonsos, Rio de Janeiro. Meteor T.7 4308 ex-WS150, Manaus Air Museum. Meteor T.7 4309 ex-WS151, Museu Aeroespacial (MUSAL), Campo dos Afonsos, Rio de Janeiro. Meteor F.8 4004, gate guardian Salvador-International/Deputado Luis Eduardo Magalhaes, Salvador. Meteor T.8 4399 painted as 4460, Museu Aeroespacial (MUSAL), Campo dos Afonsos, Rio de Janeiro. Meteor F.8 4401, left off the approach to AMAN, Resende, Rio de Janeiro. The second of the F.8s. Meteor F.8 4406, Cleccao da Escuela Prepatoria de Cadetes do Ar, Barbacena. Meteor F.8 4409, Museu Eduardo André Matarazzo, Bebedouro, São Paulo. Meteor F.8 4411, Monumento de Goiânia. Meteor F.8 4413, Colecao da Academia da Forca Aérea, Pirassununga, São Paulo. Meteor F.8 4430, on plinth at Santa Cruz Air Force Base (BASC), Rio de Janeiro. Meteor F.8 4433, Canoas Air Base (BACO), R. Augusto Severo, Canoas. Meteor T.8 4438, Museu Aeroespacial (MUSAL), Campo dos Afonsos, Rio de Janeiro. Meteor F.8 4439, on a pylon in the Praça do Avião, Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul. Meteor F.8 4440, Museu Asas de um Sonho, São Carlos. Meteor F.8 4441, Santa Cruz Air Force Base (BASC), Rio de Janeiro. Meteor F.8 4442, Museu Eduardo André Matarazzo, Bebedouro, São Paulo. Meteor F.8 4448, gate guardian to Canoas Air Base (BACO), R. Augusto Severo, Canoas. Meteor F.8 4452, CINDACTA II, Curitiba, Paraná. Displayed on the entry road to the complex. Meteor T.8 4453, Museu Aeroespacial (MUSAL), Campo dos Afonsos, Rio de Janeiro. Meteor F.8 4460, ex-4399, Museu Aeroespacial (MUSAL), Campo dos Afonsos, Rio de Janeiro.

Czech Republic On display Meteor F.8 EG-247, Prague Aviation Museum, Kbely. Ex-Belgian Air Force, built in Belgium by Avions Fairey with parts provided by Glosters.

Denmark

The Royal Danish Air Force purchased 20 each of Meteors marks F.4, F.8 and NF.11, plus 9 T.7s.

Stored Meteor F.4 43-469, Flyvestation Aalborg, Vadum Meteor T.7 22-265, Flyvestation Aalborg, Vadum Meteor F.8 44-491, Royal Danish Air Force Museum, Air Base Karup, Midtjyllands Airport

On display Meteor F.4 43-461, Danmarks Tekniske Museum, Helsingor Meteor F.8 43-499, Danmarks Flymuseum, Stauning Vestjylland Airport Meteor TT.20 51-504, The Defence and Garrison Museum, Aalborg.

Ecuador The government ordered 12 ex-RAF FR.9s in 1954.

Meteor F.R.9, Base Aérea Taura. Meteor F.R.9 091, ex-WH540, Guayaquil Air Base. Meteor F.R.9 FF-112, ex-WH547, Base Aérea Cotopaxi. Meteor F.R.9 FF-114, ex-WB136, Base Aérea Cotopaxi. Meteor F.R.9 FF-118, ex-WH549, Base Aérea Taura. Meteor F.R.9 FF-123, ex-VW366, Air Force Museum, Quito.

France

L'Armée de l'Air had 32 ex-RAF meteor NF.11s delivered in the early 1950s. On display Meteor T.7 F6, ex-WA607, Chateau Savigny-les-Beaune. Meteor NF.11 NF-11-1, ex-WM296, Musée Européen de la Chasse, Montelimar. Meteor NF.11 NF-11-5, ex-WM300, Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, Paris le Bourget. Reserve collection. Meteor NF.11 NF-11-8, ex-WM303, Ailes Anciennes Toulouse. Toulouse. Meteor NF.11 NF-11-9, ex-WM304, Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, Paris le Bourget. Reserve collection. Meteor NF.11 NF-11-15 Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, Paris le Bourget. Reserve collection. Interesting nose. Meteor NF.11 NF-11-24, ex-WM382, Chateau Savigny-les-Beaune. Meteor NF.11 NF-11-747, ex-WS747, Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, Paris le Bourget. Reserve collection. Meteor NF.11 SE-DCF, ex-WM-395, Chateau Savigny-les-Beaune.

Germany On display Meteor NF.11 NF-11-14, ex-WM348, French Armée de l'Air, Luftwaffenmuseum der Bundeswehr, Gatow, Berlin.

Israel

The Israeli Air Force received 4 Meteor T.7s, 12 F.8s, 7 FR.9s and 6 NF.13s. On display Meteor T.7 marked 13, Ramat David Air Force Base Collection. Meteor T.7 marked 15, Israeli Air Force Museum, Hatzerim. Meteor T.7 marked 17, Rishon LeZion - Israeli Center for Sport Aviation. Meteor T.7 marked 18, ex-WL466, Israeli Air Force Museum, Hatzerim. Meteor T.7/8 marked 21, Israeli Air Force Museum, Hatzerim. Meteor T.8 marked 06, Israeli Air Force Museum, Hatzerim Meteor T.8 marked 40, Israeli Air Force Museum, Hatzerim Meteor FR.9, ex-WX975, marked 31, Ramat David Air Force Base Collection. Meteor FR.9, ex-WL259, marked 37, Israeli Air Force Museum, Hatzerim. Meteor NF.13, marked 119, Tel Nof AFB Collection. Meteor NF.13 4X-FND, ex-WM309, marked 50, Israeli Air Force Museum, Hatzerim. Meteor NF.13 4X-FNE, ex-WM320, marked 157, Israeli Air Force Museum, Hatzerim. Meteor NF.13 4X-FNB, ex-WM334, marked 51, Israeli Air Force Museum, Hatzerim.

Malta Stored or under restoration Meteor T.7 WL360, Malta Aviation Museum workshops.

On display Malta NF.14 WS774, Malta Aviation Museum. Meteor F.8 WK914, Malta Aviation Museum (new arrival, ex-Mallom). Painted as WK714, it has a FR.9 nose.

New Zealand Meteor TT.20 WD767, Classic Aircraft Collection - Dairy Flat, Silverdale, Auckland. Meteor F.8 A77-867, ex-WK685, Ashburton Aviation Museum, Ashburton. After the Korean War joined the reformed Australian 77 Sqn. in December 1955.

Netherlands The Royal Netherlands Air Force received 65 Meteor F.4s, 43 T.7s and 160 F.8s.

Stored or under restoration Meteor F.8 I-207, painted as 7E-5, Nationaal Militair Museum, Soest.

On display Meteor F.4 I-69, ex-VZ409, Nationaal Militair Museum, Soest. Meteor T.7 I-19, ex-WH223, Nationaal Militair Museum, Soest. Meteor T.7 I-320, ex-VW417, Vliegbasis Leeuwarden. Meteor F.8 3W-50, Lelystad Aviodrome Museum, Lelystad. Dutch Built.

Sweden Stored or under restoration Meteor T.7 SE-CAS, ex-WF833, Linköping Flygvapenmuseum, Linköping. On display Meteor T.7, bought from Gloster by the Swedish Air Force as a Target Towing aircraft SE-DCC, was for year incorrectly painted as WS774 in museum. Ex-G-AMCJ originally Gloster's Ground Attack Fighter Demonstrator (Reaper) based on an F.8, later ex-G-ANSO used by Gloster for Air Photography before sale to Sweden. Now being restored at Svedinos Bil och Flygmuseum, Slöinge.

United Kingdom

Airworthy