Meteor F4

The Meteor F.4 was the definitive single‑seat fighter version of Britain’s first operational jet, entering service in 1947. Though the design originated at Gloster, the airframe was also produced under licence by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft at its Castle Bromwich works, which delivered more than 400 units to the Royal Air Force. The F.4 incorporated a strengthened fuselage, a larger wing with a 10‑inch increase in span, and upgraded Rolls‑Royce Derwent V engines that delivered 3,500 lbf of thrust each, raising top speed to 590 mph at sea level. Armament was enhanced to four 20 mm Hispano Mk V cannons, providing a potent punch against both bomber and ground targets. The aircraft’s improved fuel capacity and revised air‑intake arrangement extended range, allowing effective performance in the early Cold‑War air‑defence role. The Meteor F.4’s reliability and simplicity made it a workhorse for RAF Fighter Command, and it saw action in the Malayan Emergency and the Suez Crisis. Its widespread production by Armstrong Whitworth demonstrated the capability of British industry to transition from piston‑engine to jet manufacturing, marking a pivotal step in post‑war aviation evolution. The Meteor F.4 also served as a testbed for later aerodynamic refinements that influenced the design of the subsequent Hawker Hunter.