de Havilland Mosquito NF Mk 30
de Havilland · GB · first flew 1944 · fighter
The NF Mk 30 was the high-altitude night-fighter Mosquito, combining the centimetric AI Mk X radar with a pressurised cockpit and two-stage Merlin engines for interception of high-flying German aircraft.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 12.43 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- AI Mk X centimetric radar in a thimble nose radome — smooth, circular black nose rather than the glazed or cannon-equipped nose of other marks
- Pressurised cockpit (same as PR XVI) with port-side canopy bulge
- Merlin 72/73 two-stage engines give deeper, longer nacelles than Merlin 21-powered variants
The thimble nose radome is definitive — a smooth, curved black disc replacing the glazed nose of bombers and the cannon-equipped nose of FB marks. Port canopy bulge confirms pressurisation, distinguishing it from earlier non-pressurised NF marks (II, XII, XIII, XVII). The two-stage Merlin nacelles are deeper than the Merlin 21 nacelles on FB VI.
Specifications
- The de Havilland Mosquito NF Mk 30 has a length of 12.43 m (41 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 16.51 m (54 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 655 km/h (407 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
526 built, entering service in 1944. It replaced earlier NF marks and was optimised for high-altitude operations. The pressurised cockpit allowed sustained operations above 10,000 m. Post-war it served with several export customers.
Variants
The NF 30 succeeded the NF XIX. The NF 36 and NF 38 were post-war developments with updated radar.
Where you'll see it
RAF night fighter squadrons 1944-51. Several export customers including Belgium and Yugoslavia. Museum examples exist; no confirmed airworthy NF 30s.
Related aircraft
- de Havilland Devon
- de Havilland Devon C.2
- de Havilland Mosquito PR Mk XVI
- de Havilland Mosquito FB Mk VI
- Arado E.580
- Bell XP-77
- Blohm & Voss BV 155
- Curtiss SC Seahawk
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