Armstrong Whitworth Meteor NF.12
Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft · United Kingdom · first flew 1953 · fighter
The Armstrong Whitworth Meteor NF.12 was a two-seat night fighter variant of the Meteor, featuring a lengthened nose housing American-derived AI.21 radar and wider-span wings to improve handling for the heavier airframe.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbojet, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 14.78 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Two-seat night fighter Meteor with lengthened nose for AI.21 radar
- Twin Derwent 9 turbojets
- Tandem cockpit, pilot forward and navigator/radar operator aft
Distinguished from single-seat Meteors by the longer nose, tandem two-seat cockpit, and wider wingspan; the NF.12 has a shorter nose than the NF.14.
Specifications
- The Armstrong Whitworth Meteor NF.12 has a length of 14.78 m (48 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.11 m (43 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 930 km/h (578 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed by Armstrong Whitworth as a stop-gap night fighter for the RAF pending the introduction of the de Havilland Venom NF and later the Javelin, the NF.12 entered service in 1953 and equipped several Air Defence squadrons through the mid-1950s.
Variants
The NF.12 was developed from the NF.11; the NF.14 followed with a longer nose and revised canopy.
Where you'll see it
Served with RAF Fighter Command night fighter squadrons 1953–1958.
Related aircraft
- Armstrong Whitworth Meteor NF.14
- Armstrong Whitworth Meteor F8 Prone Pilot
- Armstrong Whitworth A.W.52
- Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle
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- Convair F-102 Delta Dagger
- Convair F2Y-1 Sea Dart
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