Gloster Meteor FR.9
Gloster Aircraft Company · United Kingdom · first flew 1950 · fighter
The Gloster Meteor FR.9 was a dedicated fighter-reconnaissance variant of the Meteor adapted for low-level photographic work, with cameras in a modified nose replacing the standard 20mm cannon armament.
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:
- Fighter-reconnaissance Meteor with camera nose replacing cannon
- Twin Derwent 8 turbojets in thick straight wings
- Extended clear-view canopy for improved pilot visibility
Identified by the camera nose lacking the gun muzzles of the F.8; otherwise shares the standard Meteor twin-engine straight-wing silhouette.
Specifications
- The Gloster Meteor FR.9 has a length of 13.59 m (45 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.33 m (37 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 965 km/h (600 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Entering service in 1950, the FR.9 equipped RAF and overseas squadrons with a fast reconnaissance platform that could operate without fighter escort due to its own performance. It served in several conflicts including the Malayan Emergency and the Korean War era.
Variants
The FR.9 was developed alongside the PR.10 high-altitude photo-reconnaissance version; both were distinct from the standard F.8 fighter and the night-fighter NF variants.
Where you'll see it
Served with the RAF and with several export customers including Egypt, Israel, Ecuador and Syria.
Related aircraft
- Gloster Javelin
- Gloster Meteor F.1
- Gloster Meteor
- Gloster E.28/39
- Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck
- de Havilland Vampire T.11
- FMA IAe 33 Pulqui II
- Gloster Meteor NF.11
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