The Gloster Trent-Meteor has a unique place in aviation history as the aircraft which pioneered turboprop power, and this type of powerplant has since become one of the standard types of engine used on short- and medium-range airliners. The aircraft used for the Trent conversion was one of the first batch of production Gloster Meteor F.1 fighters, EE227, modified for trials. In February 1945, with the RAF's immediate needs catered for by the delivery of the improved Meteor F.3, EE227 was converted back to F.1 standard and handed over to the Rolls-Royce facility at Hucknall as a flying testbed for the newly developed RB.50 Trent propeller-turbine, or turboprop. Such a powerplant seemed to offer many of the advantages of turbine power (relative simplicity, high power and lack of vibration) combined with the proven capabilities of the propeller (high aerodynamic efficiency even up to quite high Mach numbers). Rolls-Royce therefore began to develop the experimental Trent in May 1944, using as the basis of the engine the centrifugal-flow Derwent turbojet which was to power the F.3 and later marks of the Meteor. The Trent-Meteor needed little modification for the accommodation of the Trent powerplant, though the nacelles were somewhat larger, which, with the extra side area of the propellers, entailed the fitting of two small auxiliary fins towards the outboard ends of the tailplane to ensure directional stability. The Gloster Trent-Meteor first flew on September 20, 1945 and thereafter contributed greatly to the development of turbine engines as pure turbojets and as turboprops. In its first form, the Trent-Meteor was fitted with five-blade Rotol propellers, each having a diameter of 2.41m, though some reports claim a propeller with a diameter of 2.31m absorbing 750hp and leaving 454kg of residual thrust. Later, the aircraft was modified to accommodate propellers with a diameter of 1.49m, absorbing only 350hp and leaving a residual thrust of 635kg to emerge from a squeezed orifice. The Trent was intended only as a research engine, and valuable results were obtained, especially in determining the effect of a propeller hub on the efficiency of the turbine's air intake, and in the development of suitable reduction gears. Specification CREW 1 ENGINE 2 x Rolls-Royce R.B.50 Trent turboprops, 1305kW DIMENSIONS Wingspan 13.12 m 43 ft 1 in Length 12.57 m 41 ft 3 in Height 3.96 m 13 ft 0 in Wing area 34.75 m2 374.05 sq ft Comments George Dickinson , e-mail , 04.04.2013 14:32 I saw this Meteor in flight when on holiday near Cromer in Norfolk in August 1946 or 1947. I understood that it was based at RAF Horsham St Faith, but that could be wrong. reply Mac , e-mail , 28.10.2012 18:13 Trent Meteor...Alledgedly Scrapped 1951, so what was the Prop Powered Meteor that I saw in the Hangar at FAA Air Mechanics School at Bramcote in 1955 reply beifang , 18.06.2011 12:18 yellow (as it is a prototype im working on) or light grey.

Also i know it had modified wings but did the prototype have air brakes reply alf tunnicliffe , e-mail , 11.06.2010 22:15 A 100 percent all over yellow scale model has just been flown at the Festival of Flight BMFA Midland Area meeting on 6.10.2010 reply Chris , e-mail , 28.03.2010 20:50 Hmmmmm, interesting question, you can really just paint it anyway you want, but, I believe the underside of the prototypes were either yellow or yellow with black stripes. reply Edris Mansour , e-mail , 21.06.2009 21:05 I am building a plane Like this one, but with single engine.

I expect that I'll finish it at 30\\sep\\2009.

if any one have any question, please send me an e-mail. reply garlour , e-mail , 24.03.2008 14:21 there was one at hern airport in the late 60s in flying condition and if u know about the aircraft painted black i can say nomore reply Raif Jackson , e-mail , 24.02.2008 23:32 Hi,

I am working on a model of this aircraft and was wondering if you could answer 2 questions for me as i have heard different theories and don't want to make a mistake.



what colour is the under carriage, yellow (as it is a prototype im working on) or light grey.

Also i know it had modified wings but did the prototype have air brakes?



thanks for your time with this. reply EMBER , e-mail , 18.12.2007 03:38 THIS IS AN INTERESTING AIRPLANE. I'M SUPRISED AT THE POWER OF THE ENGINES FOR THE SIZE OF THE PLANE. reply Do you have any comments? Name E-mail



