In pictures: Gloster Meteor T7 in flight

IT MAY be one of the oldest remaining flightworthy aircraft, having been built in 1949 and retired in 1963, but the Classic Aircraft Trust’s Gloster Meteor T7 flew out of Coventry Airport today in a gesture of thanks to those who have spent the best part of the last 20 years restoring it.

Believed to be the world’s oldest twin engine jet, the Royal Air Force Gloster Meteor T7 was the first British-made jet fighter, and the Allies’ first operational jet. Reliant on its pioneering turbojet engines, work on which started in 1936, the Meteor first saw active service on July 27th 1944, with the much-lauded 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force.

Thousands of Meteors were built, for use in the RAF and other air forces, including the Royal Australian Air Force (whose Meteors fought in the Korean War), Argentina, Israel and Egypt, who used the aircraft in regional conflicts.

Of the five remaining flightworthy Meteors, four are based in the UK (two of which are used as ejector seat test aircraft) with the fifth being stationed in Australia, in the Temora Aviation Museum. The T7 is the oldest of the five, and has spent the last 20 years being restored.

The T7 will be based at Coventry Airport, and will appear at aviation events throughout the year.