Meteor F Mk.8 Reaper

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Rank VII | Premium | Golden Eagles
Challenger DS Pack
Meteor F Mk.8 Reaper
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Meteor F Mk.8 Reaper
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This page is about the premium British jet fighter Meteor F Mk.8 Reaper. For the regular version, see Meteor F Mk 8 G.41K. For other uses, see Meteor (Family).

Description

GarageImage Meteor F Mk.8 Reaper.jpg


The Meteor F Mk.8 Reaper is a gift rank V British jet fighter with a battle rating of 7.7 (AB) and 8.0 (RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.85 "Supersonic".

The Reaper is a dedicated ground-attack variant based on the 'standard' Meteor F Mk.8 (G.41K) fighter-bomber which did not progress beyond its prototype stage. Thanks to a number of modifications, it would have been capable of carrying twice the payload of the standard Meteor F.8. However, combat experience of the Meteor F.8 in Korea showed that the base type had reached its technical limitations and would have been outclassed in any future conflict; the appearance of more modern types such as the Hawker Hunter and Supermarine Swift - and equivalent foreign designs - led to a loss of interest in the type.

General info

Flight performance

Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.

Characteristics Max Speed
(km/h at 100 m)
Max altitude
(metres)
Turn time
(seconds)
Rate of climb
(metres/second)
Take-off run
(metres)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
Stock 920 897 12500 24.1 24.7 33.6 31.7 325
Upgraded 976 962 22.2 23.0 47.4 40.2

Details

Features
Combat flaps Take-off flaps Landing flaps Air brakes Arrestor gear Drogue chute
X X
Limits
Wings (km/h) Gear (km/h) Flaps (km/h) Max Static G
Combat Take-off Landing + -
0 390 520 520 290 ~11 ~5
Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons Rudder Elevators Radiator
< 560 < 600 < 620 N/A

Engine performance

Engine Aircraft mass
Engine name Number Empty mass Wing loading (full fuel)
Rolls-Royce Derwent 8 2 5,383 kg 213 kg/m2
Engine characteristics Mass with fuel (no weapons load) Max Takeoff
Weight
Weight (each) Type 9m fuel 20m fuel 30m fuel
443 kg Centrifugal-flow turbojet 5,864 kg 6,422 kg 6,930 kg 8,061 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB) Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (100%)
Condition 100% WEP 9m fuel 20m fuel 30m fuel MTOW
Stationary 1,633 kgf N/A 0.56 0.51 0.47 0.41
Optimal 1,633 kgf
(0 km/h)
N/A 0.56 0.51 0.47 0.41

Survivability and armour

Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.

Armaments

Offensive armament

Main article: Hispano Mk.V (20 mm)

The Meteor F Mk.8 Reaper is armed with:

  • 4 x 20 mm Hispano Mk.V cannons, nose-mounted (200 rpg upper + 180 rpg lower = 780 total)

Suspended armament

The Meteor F Mk.8 Reaper can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

  • Without load
  • 4 x 500 lb G.P. 500 lb Mk.IV bombs (2,000 lb total)
  • 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. 1,000 lb Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
  • 4 x 1,000 lb M.C. 1,000 lb Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
  • 24 x RP-3 rockets
  • 2 x 500 lb G.P. 500 lb Mk.IV bombs + 16 x RP-3 rockets (1,000 lb total)
  • 2 x 1,000 lb G.P. 1,000 lb Mk.I bombs + 16 x RP-3 rockets (2,000 lb total)
  • 2 x 1,000 lb M.C. 1,000 lb Mk.I bombs + 16 x RP-3 rockets (2,000 lb total)

Usage in battles

Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).

Modules

Tier Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
I Fuselage repair Offensive 20 mm HMBC mk.2
II Compressor Airframe GLBC mk.3
III Wings repair Engine New 20 mm cannons GRC mk.7
IV G-suit Cover GRC mk.8

Pros and cons

Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".

Pros:

Cons:

History

With the appearance of the Meteor F.8 (Type G.41K) in 1949, which offered an overall improved performance over the earlier F.4 variant, a number of studies were launched aimed at increasing the versatility of the Meteor. One obvious path given the type's improved performance and stability as a gun platform was that of a dedicated ground attack platform, the so-called Ground Attack Fighter (GAF, or G.44), which was started as a private venture by Gloster.

Initial studies of the GAF foresaw the modification of a standard F.8 airframe with new outer wing panels, fitted with 4 additional 20 mm Hispano cannons similar to the armament lay-out on the Meteor NF.11 night fighter variant, albeit with cropped wing tips similar to those on the standard F.8. This early design initially presented some problematic flight characteristics, mostly linked to the wing's reduced torsional stiffness caused by the wing gun bays: aileron reversal set in at speeds above 550 kph/885 kmh, which was considered unacceptable for a single-seater fighter-bomber. Work was done to rectify this, and eventually the reinforced wings allowed a maximum speed of 600 mph/965 kph while retaining the wing-mounted armament of four Hispano cannons with 160 rounds each.

By the time this issue had been rectified, priorities for the design had changed. Rather than focussing on an eight-gun fixed armament, priority was given to the ability to carry an increased payload; as a result, the wing-mounted fixed armament was suppressed, and instead the wing panels were redesigned and restressed to allow the carriage of an increased underwing armament. The stiffened wings and addition of spring tab ailerons increased the type's high-speed handling. Armament options for the redesigned GAF included either a single 1,000 lb GP bomb, or up to 8 unguided 60 lb RP-3 rocket projectiles on each side. So as not to affect the range of the GAF when she was carrying her underwing armament, provisions were made for 100 gal (imp) (454 litre) jettisonable tip-mounted fuel tanks. Additionally, hardpoint mountings were added to the fuselage where the belly-mounted fuel tank was usually fitted, which further increased the Reaper's carrying capacity. These could be used for either additional RP-3 rockets or up to two 1000 lb bombs. Gloster also designed a belly-mounted pod was designed which could be carried in lieu of the usually-mounted belly tank, and which could carry an additional armament of either 2 x 20 mm Hispano or 2 x 30 mm ADEN cannons, each armed with 100 rounds per gun.

With the design finalised, Gloster financed the construction of a single prototype of the GAF/G.44, which by now had gained the nick-name of 'Reaper'. The prototype, construction number G5/1210, was registered with the civilian registration G-AMCJ on June 19th 1950, initially receiving Gloster's carmine red house colours, and was demonstrated as such at the 1950 Farnborough air show. As a prototype for the Reaper, she only lacked the airfield arrestor hook and rocket-assisted take-off gear (RATOG) planned for the serial production model.

The carmine red livery and civilian registration were relatively short-lived; on February 1st 1951 G-AMCJ was de-registered and reverted to a B-type military test serial, becoming G-7-1, an all-silver aircraft. For the next three years, she was used as a test aircraft, however interest in the Ground Attack Fighter waned as new types such as the Hawker Hunter and Supermarine Swift arrived. For a brief moment in 1953, the Indian Air Force expressed interest in the type, but due to poor experiences with the service provided by another British aircraft manufacturer in mind, they ended up selecting the French Dassault Ouragan instead.

As interest in the Reaper waned, Gloster began studies for the Meteor Armed Trainer (Project code P.307), which reverted to some of the earlier Reaper design, combining a standard T.7 trainer fuselage with cannon-armed short-span wings. While the P.307 remained unbuilt, the Reaper prototype was rebuilt with a T.7 front fuselage while retaining its F.8 tail and tip-mounted fuel tanks: the 'new' aircraft, construction number G5/1525, was registered as G-ANSO on June 12th 1954. As such, she was used by Gloster as both a company demonstrator and test bed for the next four years.

Eventually, with the appearance of more capable designs, interest in any Gloster Meteor-based designs disappeared, and in November of 1958 Gloster agreed to sell G-ANSO to the Swedish target towing company Svensk Flygtjänsk AB, on the condition that she was refurbished and fitted with standard T.7 outer wing panels and tail surfaces. Following this refurbishment by Flight Refuelling Ltd, she was sold and struck from the British register on August 11th 1959.

Following local conversion to a target tug, the former Reaper prototype, now Meteor T.7 SE-DCC, entered service with Svensk Flygtjänsk AB in February of 1960, remaining in service until July 27th 1974. Following a short stay at the Flygvapenmuseum or Swedish Air Museum at Linköping from September 1974 until September 1976, she ended up in 1977 at the Svedinos Bil- och Flygmuséum (Svedinos car and aircraft museum) in Ugglarp, where restoration was started in 2012 with the intention of cosmetically restoring her to her appearance as the Gloster company demonstrator G-ANSO (albeit retaining her appearance as a 'standard' T.7).

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

  • reference to the series of the aircraft;
  • links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links


Gloster Aircraft Company, Limited
Fighters  Gladiator Mk II · Sea Gladiator Mk I · Gladiator Mk IIF · Gladiator Mk IIS · Tuck's Gladiator Mk II
Jet Fighters  Meteor F Mk 3 · Sea Meteor F Mk 3 · Meteor F Mk 4 G.41F · Meteor F Mk 4 G.41G · Meteor F Mk.8 G.41K · Meteor F Mk.8 Reaper
  Javelin F.(A.W.) Mk.9
Export  J8A · Iacobi's J8A · ␗Gladiator Mk I · ▄Gladiator Mk I
  ▄Meteor F Mk.8 · Meteor F.8 · Meteor NF.13
See Also  Fokker

Britain jet aircraft
Blackburn  Buccaneer S.1 · Buccaneer S.2 · Buccaneer S.2B
British Aerospace  Harrier GR.7 · Sea Harrier FRS.1 (e) · Sea Harrier FRS.1 · Sea Harrier FA 2
British Aircraft Corporation  Strikemaster Mk.88
English Electric  Canberra B Mk 2 · Canberra B (I) Mk 6 · Lightning F.6 · Lightning F.53
Gloster  Meteor F Mk 3 · Sea Meteor F Mk 3 · Meteor F Mk 4 G.41F · Meteor F Mk 4 G.41G · Meteor F Mk.8 G.41K · Meteor F Mk.8 Reaper
  Javelin F.(A.W.) Mk.9
de Havilland  Vampire F.B.5 · Venom FB.4 · Sea Venom FAW 20 · Sea Vixen F.A.W. Mk.2
Hawker  Sea Hawk FGA.6 · Hunter F.1 · Hunter F.6 · Hunter FGA.9 · Harrier GR.1 · Harrier GR.3
Panavia  Tornado GR.1 · Tornado F.3 · Tornado F.3 Late
SEPECAT  Jaguar GR.1 · Jaguar GR.1A · Jaguar IS
Supermarine  Attacker FB 1 · Attacker FB.2 · Scimitar F Mk.1 · Swift F.1 · Swift F.7
Foreign  Phantom FG.1 (USA) · Phantom FGR.2 (USA) · F-4J(UK) Phantom II (USA)
Australia  F-111C
India  ▄MiG-21 Bison
South Africa  ▄JAS39C

Britain premium aircraft
Fighters  Tuck's Gladiator Mk II · ▄Boomerang Mk I · ▄Boomerang Mk II · ▄D.520
  ▄Martlet Mk IV · ▄Corsair F Mk II · ▄Hellcat Mk II · ▄Thunderbolt Mk.1 · ▄Mustang Mk IA
  Hurricane Mk.I/L FAA M · Spitfire Mk.IIa Venture I · Spitfire F Mk IXc · Plagis' Spitfire LF Mk IXc · Spitfire F Mk XIVc · Prendergast's Spitfire FR Mk XIVe
  Typhoon Mk Ib · MB.5
Twin-engine fighters  Hornet Mk.I · Whirlwind P.9
Jet fighters  Attacker FB.2 · Hunter FGA.9 · Lightning F.53 · Meteor F Mk.8 Reaper · Sea Vixen F.A.W. Mk.2 · F-4J(UK) Phantom II · ▄MiG-21 Bison
Strike aircraft  ▄Wirraway · Beaufighter Mk I (40-mm) · Wyvern S4
  Harrier GR.1 · Strikemaster Mk.88
Bombers  ▄Avenger Mk II · ▄Boston Mk I · ▄Catalina Mk IIIa · ▄DB-7 · ▄Havoc Mk I · ▄Hudson Mk V · Swordfish Mk II