FSX French Meteor NF11

This freeware repaint showcases the Armstrong-Whitworth Meteor NF11 in a distinctive French Armee De L’Air scheme. It draws inspiration from NF11-30, one of the 41 examples that served under ECN 1-30 “Loire” during the early 1950s. Created by Peter Watkins, this livery is designed for Rob Richardson’s original Meteor NF11 base package, which you will need to acquire separately. Enthusiasts of vintage jet interceptors will find this repaint especially engaging, as it highlights both the practical design of the Meteor and its unique deployment in French service.

French Livery Details and Notes

In this repaint, you will notice the hallmark features of the French NF11 series—particularly the unit markings of ECN 1-30 “Loire”. The fuselage displays historical insignias, reflecting the period-correct look. Although rooted in the T.7 trainer’s front and rear cockpit configuration, the Meteor NF11 utilized the tail and fuselage found in the F.8, paired with the longer wings from the F.3 variant. The extended nose housed an AI Mk 10 radar (noted in some references as the Westinghouse SCR-720), enabling effective nighttime interception.

Steps for Installing the Repaint

• Insert the provided texture folder into the “Armstrong Whitworth Meteor NF11” directory found within the “SimObjects ? Airplanes” location in FSX.
• Access your aircraft.cfg file in the same folder, then implement the entry shown below. Replace “[fltsim.xx]” with the subsequent number in your sequence.

[fltsim.xx] title=Armstrong Whitworth Meteor NF11 Armee de L'Air 2 sim=Armstrong Whitworth Meteor NF11 model= panel= sound= texture=NF11-30 kb_checklists=AW_Meteor_NF11_check kb_reference=AW_Meteor_NF11_ref ui_manufacturer=Armstrong Whitworth ui_type=Meteor NF11 ui_variation=Armee de L'Air 2 ui_typerole="Twin engine jet night fighter" ui_createdby="RJR" atc_id=NF11-30 atc_airline=Air Force atc_flight_number=346 description=As a night fighter, the Meteor again replaced the Mosquito however it was never more than an interim measure. The Mosquito night fighter had remained in use even though it was largely obsolete. Gloster proposed a night fighter design to meet the Air Ministry specification for the Mosquito replacement, based on the two seater trainer, with the pilot in the front seat and the navigator in the rear. Once accepted however, the work passed to Armstrong Whitworth for both the detail design and production; the first prototype flew on 31 May 1950. Although based on the T.7 twin seater, it used the fuselage and tail of the F.8, and the longer wings of the F.3. An extended nose contained the AI Mk 10 (the 1940s Westinghouse SCR-720) Air Intercept radar. As a consequence the 20 mm cannons were moved into the wings, outboard of the engines. A ventral fuel tank and wing mounted drop tanks completed the Armstrong Whitworth Meteor NF.11.

Historical Background

The Meteor NF11 filled a crucial gap in various air forces, acting as a short-term solution after the de Havilland Mosquito grew outdated in its night-fighting role. In its French iteration, this version played a specialized part in intercept missions. Although development of the night-fighter variant began at Gloster, the final stages of engineering and production were handed over to Armstrong Whitworth, culminating in a reliable platform that served a key purpose in the early jet era.

Additional Remarks

This repaint, brought to you by Peter Watkins, reflects the unique identity of a French-operated Meteor. To leverage it fully, ensure that you have Rob Richardson's Meteor NF11 base model. You can find that freeware package in the Fly Away Simulation library. Once installed, enjoy piloting this historically significant jet fighter in FSX and delve into a piece of post-war aviation heritage.

Leave a comment