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Armstrong Whitworth NF11

All the Meteor nightfighters were built by Armstrong Whitworth who had been heavily involved in contract production of Meteor variants for many years as a subsiduary of the Hawker Siddeley group to which Gloster also belonged. They were given full responsibility for the development and production of a nightfighter variant to Air Ministry specification F.24/48 as Gloster were fully committed to the development of the new Gloster Javelin and existing Meteor F8 production.

The aerodynamic prototype for the NF11 was created from T7 Meteor VW413 which first flew in October 1949. This was followed by the first prototype NF11 WA456 on the 31st May 1950. The lengthened nose of the NF11 contained an AI Mark 10 (SCR 720) radar with the four 20mm cannon rehoused in the wing just outboard of the engines. The NF11 retained the heavily-framed canopy of the T7 and entered service with 29 Sqn at Tangmere in May 1951 following the arrival of WD585. A total of 358 NF11's were built with the majority serving the RAF. They ceased front-line service with the RAF in June 1960 when 5 Sqn became operational on the Javelin. A significant number of NF11's were later refurbished and sold on to overseas airforces including Belgium and three squadrons for France.

WM167 is the sole surviving airworthy NF11. Converted to a TT20 for target towing duties
it was restored to its original configuration in the 1980's and is now owned and operated at
Coventry by the Air Atlantic historic collection.

The NF11 retained the Derwent 8 engines of the F8 and had a T7 style canopy over a new pressurised cockpit and an F8 tail with increased fin area to offset the longer nose containing the A1 Mk10 radar equipment. The cannons were moved to the wings outboard of the engines which also reverted to the longer span of the early Meteors. To increase range NF11's routinely carried both 175 gallon ventral and 100 gallon underwing tanks which required further strengthing of the overall aircraft which now weighed in empty at just over 12,000 lbs.