WA634 “Meteor 7½”

WA634 was built by Gloster at Hucclecote as a standard Meteor T.7 trainer. It was handed over on 8 December 1949 after 1 hour 15 minutes of test flying. On 18 January 1952 it went to Martin-Baker at Higher Denham for ejection-seat trials.

In April 1952 Gloster fitted a Meteor F.8 rear fuselage and tail to cure snaking at high speed. Martin-Baker staff called the hybrid the 'Meteor 7½'. From 31 August 1953 it had Martin-Baker seats in both cockpits, the first T.7 with such a seat for the pilot.

On 3 September 1955 Squadron Leader John Fifield made the first live ejection from ground level, at about 120 mph, and landed six seconds later. From 13 March 1962 it flew 50 live tests of rocket seats, the first with Peter Howard of the Institute of Aviation Medicine. By April 1962 it had recorded 670 ejections.

Martin-Baker bought it outright in September 1962 and flew the last seat test on 12 December 1967. Marked MBA634, it featured in a November 1967 episode of The Prisoner. From 1974 it was displayed for the RAF Museum at St Athan, and from 1986 at Cosford, later going into store.

The RAF Museum gave it to the Ulster Aviation Society in 2022. Volunteers dismantled it at Cosford over three days in early December and took it by road to Maze Long Kesh, where reassembly is under way.

Being reassembled in Hangar 2 at Maze Long Kesh; the cockpit and centre section are joined.