The Gloster Meteor NF-11 was a night fighter variant of the Gloster Meteor fighter fitted with Airborne Intercept radar, designed in response to Air Ministry specification F.44/46 of January 1947, the prototype making it's first flight on the 31st of May 1950, production aircraft were made under licence by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Company at their Baginton Coventry factory, the main visual diference when compared to a standard fighter is the longer nose required to accommodate the AI.10 radar. The first Gloster Meteor NF-11's were delivered to the RAF's 29, 141 and 85 Squadrons in 1951 replacing their existing Mosquito night fighters, the last batch was delivered in 1955 completing the conversion from the older de Havilland Mosquito night fighters. The aircraft pictured above is powered by twin 3,800lbs thrust Rolls Royce Mk 9 Derwents and was delivered to the RAF's 228 Squadron Operational Conversion Unit in August 1952 as WM167, it's now registered privately as G-LOSM and is the only example still airworthy in the UK. Specifications: Meteor NF.14 wingspan: 13.1 meters (43 feet) length: 15.5 meters (51 feet 4 inches) Height: 4.2 meters (13 feet 11 inches) Empty weight: 5,725 kilograms (12,620 pounds) Maximum loaded weight: 9,625 kilograms (21,200 pounds) Engines: Twin 16.9 kN (1,725 kgp / 3,800 lbf) Rolls Royce Derwent 9 engines Maximum speed: 587 KPH (930 MPH / 810 KT) Service ceiling: 12,200 meters (40,000 feet) Maximum Range: 1,530 kilometers (950 MI / 825 NMI)
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