Armstrong Whitworth Meteor F8 Prone Pilot
Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft · United Kingdom · first flew 1954 · fighter
The Meteor F8 Prone Pilot was a unique experimental conversion of a Gloster Meteor F8, fitted with an extended nose section containing a prone pilot position to investigate whether lying flat could allow pilots to withstand higher g-forces.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbojet, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 13.59 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Modified Meteor F8 with prone pilot nose section for high-g research
- Extended glazed nose pod replaces standard cockpit for lying pilot
- Unique one-off experimental aircraft; standard rear cockpit retained for safety pilot
Instantly recognisable by the elongated glazed nose pod extending well forward of the standard Meteor F8 nose, with the prone pilot visible lying face-down.
Specifications
- The Armstrong Whitworth Meteor F8 Prone Pilot has a length of 13.59 m (45 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.33 m (37 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 962 km/h (598 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 (prone pilot forward, safety pilot aft).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Converted by Armstrong Whitworth and first flown in 1954, the aircraft was used by the RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine to study the physiological effects of high-g flight on a prone pilot. A conventional aft cockpit was retained for a safety pilot. The research concluded that the practical difficulties outweighed the benefits.
Variants
Single conversion only; no further prone-pilot aircraft were built in Britain.
Where you'll see it
Operated solely as a research aircraft by the RAF and Institute of Aviation Medicine; now preserved at the RAF Museum, Cosford, UK.
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