Early jet fighters donated to aviation museum

Foreign donors have once again expressed their "faith" in the Aviation Museum at Ta' Qali by sending over two Gloster Meteor jet fighters - the mainstay of Malta's aerial defence force during the dark days of the Cold War in the 1950s and early 1960s.

They include a twin-seat trainer - a T7, registration WL 360; and a night fighter/navigational trainer - an NF 14, registration WS 774.

The trainer was donated by David Dalton, who served part of his national service at Ta' Qali, servicing Meteors of No 601 City of London University Squadron, and who was also instrumental in persuading the former owners of the NF 14 to donate it to the Aviation Museum.

The Meteor NF 14 arrived from Quedgeley and was owned by John Holder, Sandy Mullen and Raymond Hansed, who have lovingly restored it over a five-year period. They wished to find a sheltered home for it and were persuaded by Mr Dalton to send it to Malta, said Museum director general Ray Polidano.

The Meteor was the first jet fighter to serve in the RAF, joining squadron service in July 1944, with 616 Squadron. The T7 trainer was, however, produced much later and first flew in RAF service in October 1948, becoming the first jet trainer in the RAF.

An important role played by a T7 was the testing of ejector seats by the Martin Baker design team, who, thanks to two Meteors used by the company, managed to perfect the system of ejecting pilots from stricken aircraft, saving thousands of lives in the process. The Meteor T7 received by the museum was built in Gloucester in 1952. After a total flying time of 3,017 hours, WL 360 was allocated to RAF Locking as a gate guardian in 1967. The NF 14 was the last of the Meteor line to be produced - a total of just 100 were built; it first flew in October 1953, Mr Polidano said.

Mr Polidano said the donation of these two Gloster aircraft showed the "faith" that UK visitors have in the Malta Aviation Museum.

He said that should the Gloster Gladiator Faith, which is now at the War Museum in Valletta, be transferred to the Malta Aviation Museum it would benefit from lots of loving care and attention and be restored to the state it was when it was the first fighter to defend the islands against the Italians in 1940.