Showing 1 to 9 of 9 search results

Gloster Meteor F.8

Aircraft & Exhibits, NOV 1951-FEB 1967, London, Hangar Three/Four, 67/A/208

The Gloster Meteor was the only allied jet to see combat in the Second World War and in its various marks served in day, night and training operations. Its sturdy construction also made it an ideal test bed for a variety of products which followed it. Between 1950 and 1955 the Meteor F8 provided the backbone of Britain’s air defence capability. By the end of the 1947 the British Meteor fighter had fallen behind its contemporaries in efficiency and performance. In an effort to redress the balance the Gloster design office produced a re-design which was a marked improvement while retaining as much of the structure of the earlier aircraft as possible for production purposes.

Silver-coloured aircraft with twin jet engines embedded in wings, (C) RAF Museum/Iain Duncan / (c) RAF Museum/ Iain Duncan

English Electric Canberra PR.3 WE139

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1953-1969, London, Hangar Three/Four, 69/A/695

The Canberra long-range, photo-reconnaissance aircraft was one of several versions of the Canberra bomber, and one of the success stories of the post-war British aircraft industry. Many British-built aircraft were exported and production also took place under licence in the United States of America and Australia.

Front view of BAC Canberra photographic reconnaissance aircraft on display at the RAF Museum London, © RAF Museum/Iain Duncan

English Electric P1A

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1954-1982, In Storage, 1987/0014/A

The first flight of P1 WG760 was on 4 August 1954, just 10 years after the RAF’s first jet aircraft, the Meteor, entered squadron service. It was experimental and was the basis for the RAF’s front line fighter, the English Electric Lightning.

English Electric P1A on display at Cosford, RAF Museum/Iain Duncan

Red Top Missile

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1964-1988, London, Hangar Three/Four, X001-3490

Short range infra-red homing Air-Air Missile with four triangular tail fins and infra-red detector eye. Trolley mounted.

Image pending

Cockpit Ladder for Lightning F6

Aircraft & Exhibits, Circa 1970-Circa 1988, London, Hangar Three/Four, X002-3407

Light alloy structure pilot access ladder for Lighting aircraft, fitted to port side when in use. Painted dark green overall with two small wheels at the base; 7 rungs plus top wire mesh tread plate . Ladder frame angles sharply in one third of way up so as to clear external aircraft missile load. Orange painted splayed sides to aid pilot's grip at top. Angled brace locks into fuselage at four points for security.

Image pending

Firestreak Missile

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1965-1988, London, Hangar Three/Four, X001-3497

Firestreak missile weapons pack for Lightning fighter. Braced aluminium and steel structure in unpainted natural metal finish as worn by the Lightning in the 1960s. Shaped to fit the bottom of the aircraft fuselage, and contains various valves and wiring looms. Side mounted winglets for missile attachment. Fitted with perspex cover for instructional use. Trolley mounted.

Image pending

Red Top Missile

Aircraft & Exhibits, Circa 1970-Circa 1988, London, Hangar Three/Four, X001-3496

Open topped weapons pack shaped to fit into bottom of Lightning fuselage. Wide side mounted missile stubs; painted overall grey. Braced steel/aluminium structure with various valves and cabling runs. Trolley mounted.

Image pending

British Aircraft Corporation Lightning F.6

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1967-1988, London, Hangar Three/Four, 1990/0690/A

The Lightning was the Royal Air Force’s first truly supersonic aircraft and its introduction to front line squadrons in 1960 heralded the start of a new era in Fighter Command.

BAC Lighting F6 single seat jet fighter., © RAF Museum/Iain Duncan

Royal Laboratory 16lb bomb

Aircraft & Exhibits, London, Hangar Two, 69/O/1132

Tear drop shaped body with a single suspension lug and four tail fins. Painted overall black with a red nose band.

Image pending