A final act of progress

 

With both Germany and Japan defeated, the ATA was on the brink of its own demise. Only a few ferry pools still existed and those that did were winding down.

…but a new aircraft was now on the ATA books, the jet powered Gloster Meteor.

Veronica Volkersz (née Innes; 1917–2000) was instructed to deliver a Meteor to the RAF in September 1945. She managed this with no cockpit check or instruction. The jets were simpler to operate than a variable-pitch propeller but intense when at the full throttle of 16,500 rpm – 'an almighty kick in the pants'.

The next time a female flew an RAF jet was in 1992.