Corgi Aviation Archive Collector Series AA35012
Gloster Meteor F.Mk 8 Diecast Model
RAF No.41 Sqn, WH480, John 'Dusty' Miller, RAF Biggin Hill, England, 1951 | |
| 1:72 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| Gloster Meteor F.Mk 8 | | 6.75" | | 7.25" |
PLEASE NOTE: This item is not currently in stock and has a planned arrival date of April 2026.- Orders may not ship until complete. If you wish to receive in-stock items prior to pre-ordered items, you must place separate orders.
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A man destined to achieve great things as a member of the Royal Air Force, Yorkshireman John 'Dusty' Miller trained as a military pilot in America under the UK-US 'Arnold' Scheme, showing himself to be so proficient that he was retained as a flight instructor. He eventually joined an operational RAF squadron flying Beaufighters in an anti-shipping strike role, but advanced his career significantly during the early years of jet aviation.
Given command of No.41 Squadron at Biggin Hill, flying the Meteor jet from Summer 1951, his personal aircraft was one of the most colourful of that era, defending Britain's airspace in style. Miller was one of the first RAF pilots forced to eject from his Meteor, when a turbine blade failure caused an in-flight fire above Essex in April 1952. But, once back flying, he continued his rise through the ranks.
With his potential for senior rank, Miller was forced to turn his back on ten years of flying jet fighters to take command of a Vickers Valiant nuclear bomber squadron, as his seniors wanted to take him away from what he was expert in, to broaden his service experience.
During his time with the V-Bomber force, he was the officer responsible for introducing the Blue Steel air-launched nuclear stand-off missile into RAF service. When he left the RAF in 1969, he had achieved the rank of Air Commodore.
Designed as a turbojet-powered fighter in a time when piston-engined aircraft still dominated the skies, the Gloster Meteor first flew on March 5, 1943. The Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the only Allied jet aircraft to see service during WWII. It debuted around the same time as the German Me 262, but was not used for dogfighting-instead, Meteors were used to combat the V1 Flying Bomb. The Meteor's service during WWII was limited, but it saw combat during the Korean War and was used by the Royal Australian Air Force and by the Air Forces of more than a dozen other nations until its ultimate retirement in the 1970s. © Copyright 2003-2026 The Flying Mule, Inc.
Corgi's 1:72 scale Meteor series includes both early and late variants of the F. Mk 8. The early F 8 variant features longer engine nacelles and obstructed visibility behind the pilot, with the later featuring shorter engine nacelles with a larger intake and a full canopy. Four 20mm cannon guns - the aircraft's main weapons - are visible just below the cockpit. Some releases include rockets mounted under the outer wings, and some include a ventral mounted fuel tank with under-wing tanks. The stout metal landing gear with splash guard fenders are easy to install for ground display.
© Copyright 2003-2026 The Flying Mule, Inc.
The Corgi "Aviation Archive" range presents highly-detailed, ready-made diecast models of military and civilian aircraft. The vast Aviation Archive range has become the standard by which all other diecast airplane ranges are judged. Each Corgi model is based on a specific aircraft from an important historical or modern era of flight, and has been authentically detailed from original documents and archival library material. Famous airplanes and aviators from both military and commercial airline aviation are all honored.
Corgi "Aviation Archive" diecast airplanes feature:
- Diecast metal construction with some plastic components.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
- Interchangeable extended/retracted landing gear with rotating wheels.
- Poseable presention stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
- Many limited editions with numbered certificate of authenticity.
- Detailed, hand-painted pilot and crew member figures.
- Authentic detachable ordnance loads complete with placards.
- Selected interchangeable features such as speed-brakes, opened canopies and access panels.
- Selected moving parts such as gun turrets, control surfaces and swing-wings.
© Copyright 2003-2026 The Flying Mule, Inc.
