AS.31 Survey

The AS.31 Survey was a British photographic‑reconnaissance aircraft produced by the Gloster Aircraft Company in the late 1940s. Developed from the earlier Gloster Meteor jet fighter, the AS.31 retained the Meteor’s twin‑engine, swept‑wing layout but was fitted with a glazed nose and a suite of cameras, mapping equipment and cabin accommodations for a crew of two. Its first flight took place on 12 March 1949, and the type entered service with the Royal Air Force’s Reconnaissance Squadrons in 1950. The aircraft’s high‑speed jet performance, capable of 560 km/h at 7 000 m, allowed it to cover large survey areas quickly while remaining above most anti‑aircraft fire of the period. The AS.31’s modular camera bays could be swapped for photogrammetric, infrared or radar‑mapping gear, making it a versatile platform for topographic surveys, coastal charting and geological studies throughout the United Kingdom and overseas territories. Although only a small fleet of 18 were built, the Survey demonstrated the feasibility of adapting jet fighters for specialised civilian and military intelligence missions, paving the way for later dedicated reconnaissance jets such as the English Electric Lightning and the Hawker Siddeley Nimrod. Its legacy endures in modern aerial‑mapping technology.

Gloster Aircraft Company

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Design & Classification