The Gloster Meteor FR.8 - An interim photo bird for the RAF

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Gloster Meteor FR.8 - RAF Photo Reconnaissance Development Unit, 1950

 

Even though Gloster's had the FR.9 and PR.10 versions of the Meteor under development the increasing obsolescence of the 'PR' Mosquitoes and 'FR' Spitfires saw the RAF demand an interim Fighter Reconnaissance version of the Meteor to which Gloster quickly responded with the FR.8. The minimum change airframe incorporated a Type F.24 camera in the nose with glass side panels allowing oblique photography whilst retaining the standard F.8 armament of four 20mm cannon. 

 

First flown by Jan Zurakowski on August 15th, 1949 the Meteor FR.8 served alongside the Meteor F.8 in several RAF squadrons in the UK, Germany and the Middle East from 1950 onwards but without ever wholly equipping an entire RAF squadron. Export orders for the Meteor FR.8 were gained from Brazil, Pakistan and Dhimar with the latter still operating the type in the early 1970's. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 27, 2013 by Spinners