Meteor from the Cockpit: Britain?s First Jet Fighter

Peter Caygill

ISBN 10: 1848842198 / ISBN 13: 9781848842199

Published by Pen and Sword Aviation, 2011

About this Item

A truly lovely First Edition copy! Mint condition in hardcover (square, tight, and unmarked) in a mint condition dust jacket -- crisp, bright, and tight -- which has not been price-clipped. First Edition. "A look into the design history of 'The Meatbox' -- the first British jet fighter to enter squadron service and the only jet-powered Allied fighter to see action in World War II -- its development through many variants, and to the many first-hand accounts of flying the aircraft in peace and in war." (148 pages.) Ships from NC. All hardbacks are sealed in plastic, packaged securely, and shipped promptly. (B-7.).

Seller Inventory # 720220560

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Meteor from the Cockpit: Britain?s First Jet Fighter
• Publisher: Pen and Sword Aviation
• Publication Date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1848842198
• ISBN 13: 9781848842199
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Fine
• Seller catalogs:
  • War & Militarism
  • European History
  • History

About this title

Synopsis

The Meteor is remembered as the first British jet fighter to enter squadron service and the only jet powered Allied fighter to see action in WW II. Subsequent development was limited as a result of its relatively conventional airframe although it did hold the world air speed record for a while. The Meteor was immensely strong and many pilots owe their lives to its rugged construction. For a whole generation of pilots the aircraft (the Meatbox as it was affectionately known) provided the ideal introduction to jet-powered flight. It did suffer a high accident rate but many of the losses were due to lack of knowledge of the stresses of high speed flight at low level and a misguided training program.

More than sixty years after its first flight the Meteor lives on as it is still used by Martin Baker to test ejection seats, testimony to the basic soundness of the design. This book looks into the aircraft’s design history, development through many different variants and includes many firsthand accounts of flying the aircraft in peace and war.

About the Author

Peter Caygill has had a lifelong interest in aviation history. His previous books The Darlington Spitfire (1840370769) and Spitfire Mark V in Action (1840372486) were both published by Airlife. He obtained a private pilot's license in 1979 and is a member of Cleveland Flying School.