Folland Gnat
Encyclopedia
The Folland Gnat was a small, swept-wing British
subsonic
jet trainer
and light fighter aircraft
developed by Folland Aircraft for the Royal Air Force
, and flown extensively by the Indian Air Force
.
The Gnat was designed by W.E.W. Petter as a development of the private venture Folland Midge
and first flew in 1955. Its design allowed its construction without specialised tools by countries not highly industrialised
. Although never used as a fighter by the Royal Air Force (RAF), the Gnat T.1 trainer variant was widely used. The Gnat became well known as the aircraft of the RAF's Red Arrows
aerobatic team.
The Gnat was exported to Finland, Yugoslavia and India
, The Indian Air Force became the largest operator and eventually manufactured the aircraft under licence
. India then developed the HAL Ajeet, a modified and improved variant.
and English Electric
. Designed to meet the 1952 Operational Requirement
OR.303 calling for a lightweight fighter, Petter believed that a small, simple fighter would offer the advantages of low purchase and operational costs. New lightweight turbojet engines that were being developed enabled the concept to take shape. Petter's first design resulted in the private venture Folland Midge
which had a short lifespan, but served as a proof-of-concept design. It failed to interest the RAF as a combat aircraft, but they encouraged the development of a similar aircraft for training purposes.
The Midge first flew on 11 August 1954 but was destroyed in a crash on 20 September 1955. The Gnat, being developed in parallel with the Midge, was an improved version of the original fighter design, differentiated by larger air intakes for the Bristol Orpheus engine (the Midge had a Armstrong Siddeley Viper engine), a slightly larger wing, and provision for a 30 mm ADEN cannon
in each intake lip.
The first prototype Gnat was built as a private venture project by Folland but subsequently six further aircraft were ordered by the British Ministry of Supply
for evaluation. The Folland prototype, serial number
G-39-2, first flew on 18 July 1955 from Boscombe Down.
Although the evaluation by the British did not end up in an order for the lightweight fighter orders were placed by Finland, Yugoslavia and a large order from India which included licence production by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
. Although the Gnat's development was attributed as motivating the Mutual Weapons Development Team to issue a NATO requirement for a low level light fighter
, the Gnat was not evaluated in the competition, won by the Fiat G.91. The Gnat was evaluated in 1958 by the Royal Air Force as a de Havilland Venom
replacement, as well as other light fighters such as the BAC Jet Provost
, the Hawker Hunter
was the eventual winner of the fly-off competition.
and operational fighters such as the English Electric Lightning
. Folland proposed the two-seat Fo. 144 Gnat Trainer, it had a new wing with additional fuel capacity, this allowed more room in the fuselage for additional equipment. A more powerful variant of the Orpheus engine was used, the front fuselage length was increased and had larger tail surfaces. The inboard ailerons of the fighter variant were changed to outbound ailerons and conventional flaps.
An initial contract for 14 pre-production Gnat trainers was issued in 7 January 1958. The prototype Gnat Trainer first flew on 31 August 1959 from Chilbolton airfield
, The Ministry did not at first place a production order as they were concerned about the size and ability of the company to take on a large order. Following the take over of Folland by Hawker Siddeley Aviation (becoming the Hamble division) further orders for 30, 20 and 41 trainers were placed between February 1960 and March 1962 with the designation
Gnat T Mk 1.
received the first of its 13 Gnats on 30 July 1958. It was soon found to be a problematic aircraft in service and required a lot of ground maintenance. Finland had considered licence manufacturing
the aircraft but eventually decided not to. On 31 July 1958, the Finnish Air Force Major Lauri Pekuri
broke the sound barrier
for the first time in Finland at Lake Luonetjärvi with a Folland Gnat.
All Gnats were grounded on 26 August 1958 for six months after the destruction of GN-102 due to a technical error, and the aircraft soon became the subject of severe criticism. Three other aircraft were also destroyed in other accidents. The Gnats were removed from active service in 1972 when the Häme Wing moved to Rovaniemi, and when the new Saab 35 Drakens were taken into use.
The first flight of an Indian Air Force Gnat was in the United Kingdom on the 11 January 1958, it was delivered to India in the hold of a C-119 and accepted by the Air Force on the 30 January 1958. The first Gnat squadron was No. 23 (Cheetah) Squadron which converted from Vampire FB.52
on 18 March 1960 using six Folland-built Gnats. The first aircraft built from Indian-built parts first flew in May 1962. The last Indian-built Gnat F.1 was delivered on 31 January 1974.
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Serving primarily with the Indian Air Force
, the Gnat is credited by many independent and Indian sources to have shot down seven Pakistan
i Canadair Sabres in the 1965 war
. The Pakistan Air Force
(PAF) claims only three Gnat victories over F-86s in air to air combat
, while two Gnats were downed by PAF fighters. During the initial phase of the 1965 war, an IAF
Gnat, piloted by Squadron Leader
Brij Pal Singh Sikand, landed at an abandoned Pakistani airstrip at Pasrur
and was captured by the PAF. Two Lockheed F-104 Starfighters forced the Gnat down. This Gnat is displayed as a war trophy in the Pakistan Air Force Museum, Karachi
.
After the ceasefire, one Pakistani Cessna O-1 was shot down on 16 December 1965 by a Gnat.
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
The Gnats were used again by India in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
against Pakistan. The most notable action was the Battle of Boyra
where the first dogfight
s over East Pakistan
(Bangladesh
) took place. The IAF
Gnats downed two PAF
Canadair Sabres in minutes and badly damaged one. The Pakistan Air Force claims that one Gnat was shot down, which was proved incorrect. Another notable dogfight involving a Gnat was over Srinagar
airfield where a lone Indian pilot
held out against six Sabres, scoring hits on two of the Sabres in the process, before being overwhelmed. Gnat pilot Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon
was posthumously honoured with Param Vir Chakra
(India's highest gallantry award), becoming the only member of the IAF to be given the award.
By the end of 1971, the Gnat proved to be a frustrating opponent for the larger and heavier Sabre. The Gnat was referred to as "Sabre Slayers" by the Indian Air Force since all its combat "kills" during the two wars were against Sabres. The Canadair Sabre Mk 6 was widely regarded as the best dogfighter of its era. Tactics called for Gnats taking on the Sabres in the vertical arena, where the Sabres were at a disadvantage. Moreover, because the Gnat was lightweight and compact in shape, it was hard to see, especially at the low levels where most of the dogfights took place. Apart from air defence operations, the aircraft performed multiple roles in the Bangladesh Liberation War
, being used in anti-shipping operations, ground attack, bomber/transport escort and close air support
with devastating effects on the PAF. The success of the indigenously produced Gnats against the more sophisticated Pakistani-flown aircraft was viewed as a significant achievement.
After 1971
The IAF
were impressed by the Gnat's performance in the two wars, but the aircraft had problems including hydraulics
and unreliable control systems. To address these issues, the IAF issued a requirement for an improved "Gnat II" in 1972, at first specifying that the new version was to be optimized as an interceptor, but then expanding the specification to include the ground-attack role. Over 175 of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
-built licenced version, the Ajeet ("Unconquerable"), were produced in Bangalore
, while about 40 were purchased directly from Folland.
Gnats served in India from 1958–1978, and several remain in use in private hands. Some IAF Gnats, one of which had participated in the 1971 war in East Pakistan
(present day Bangladesh
), were presented to the Bangladesh Air Force
.
were delivered in February 1962 to the Central Flying School
at RAF Little Rissington
. The major operator of the type was 4 Flying Training School at RAF Valley
, the first aircraft being delivered in November 1962. In 1964 4 FTS formed the Yellowjacks
aerobatic team with all-yellow painted Gnats. The team reformed in 1965 as part of the Central Flying School as the Red Arrows
which operated the Gnat until 1979 as the RAF aerobatic demonstration team. On 14 May 1965, the last Royal Air Force Gnat T.1 to be built was delivered to the Red Arrows.
Once a pilot had graduated from basic training on the BAC Jet Provost
and gained their wings they were selected for one of three streams, fast jet, multi-engined or helicopters. Those selected for fast jets were posted to RAF Valley
for advanced training on the Gnat T.1, typically 70 hours of flying. Student would then move on to operational training using the Hawker Hunter
then a posting to an operational conversion unit for the type of aircraft to be flown.
Following the introduction of the Hawker Siddeley Hawk into the training role as a replacement the Gnats were withdrawn from service. The largest operator 4 FTS retired its last Gnat in November 1978. Most of the retired Gnats were delivered to No. 1 School of Technical Training
at RAF Halton
and other training establishments to be used as ground training airframes. When the RAF had no need for the Gnats as training airframes they were sold off and many were bought by private operators.
Fo.140 Gnat
Fo.141 Gnat
Fo.142 Gnat / Gnat F.2
Fo.143 Gnat / Gnat F.4
Fo.144 Gnat Trainer / Gnat T.1
HAL Ajeet
HAL Ajeet Trainer
A number of Gnats survive including a number of airworthy examples (particularly in the United States and the United Kingdom) and others on public display:
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
subsonic
Subsonic aircraft
A subsonic aircraft is an aircraft with a maximum speed less than the speed of sound ....
jet trainer
Jet trainer
A Jet trainer is typically a turbofan or turbojet powered training aircraft, intended either for general aviation flying training or for more advanced jet aircraft. Jet trainers are typically divided into civilian and military, and custom designs versus versions of existing aircraft...
and light fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
developed by Folland Aircraft for the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, and flown extensively by the Indian Air Force
Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
.
The Gnat was designed by W.E.W. Petter as a development of the private venture Folland Midge
Folland Midge
|-See also:-References:***-External links:...
and first flew in 1955. Its design allowed its construction without specialised tools by countries not highly industrialised
Industrialisation
Industrialization is the process of social and economic change that transforms a human group from an agrarian society into an industrial one...
. Although never used as a fighter by the Royal Air Force (RAF), the Gnat T.1 trainer variant was widely used. The Gnat became well known as the aircraft of the RAF's Red Arrows
Red Arrows
The Red Arrows, officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, is the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force based at RAF Scampton, but due to move to RAF Waddington in 2011...
aerobatic team.
The Gnat was exported to Finland, Yugoslavia and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, The Indian Air Force became the largest operator and eventually manufactured the aircraft under licence
Licence-built
The term licence-built refers to an object manufactured by one organisation with the authorisation of the organisation that owns the intellectual property of the design...
. India then developed the HAL Ajeet, a modified and improved variant.
Origins
The Gnat was the creation of W.E.W. "Teddy" Petter, a British aircraft designer formerly of Westland AircraftWestland Aircraft
Westland Aircraft was a British aircraft manufacturer located in Yeovil in Somerset. Formed as a separate company by separation from Petters Ltd just before the start of the Second World War, Westland had been building aircraft since 1915...
and English Electric
English Electric
English Electric was a British industrial manufacturer. Founded in 1918, it initially specialised in industrial electric motors and transformers...
. Designed to meet the 1952 Operational Requirement
Operational Requirement
An Operational Requirement or was a UK Air Ministry document setting out the required characteristics for a future military aircraft or weapon system....
OR.303 calling for a lightweight fighter, Petter believed that a small, simple fighter would offer the advantages of low purchase and operational costs. New lightweight turbojet engines that were being developed enabled the concept to take shape. Petter's first design resulted in the private venture Folland Midge
Folland Midge
|-See also:-References:***-External links:...
which had a short lifespan, but served as a proof-of-concept design. It failed to interest the RAF as a combat aircraft, but they encouraged the development of a similar aircraft for training purposes.
The Midge first flew on 11 August 1954 but was destroyed in a crash on 20 September 1955. The Gnat, being developed in parallel with the Midge, was an improved version of the original fighter design, differentiated by larger air intakes for the Bristol Orpheus engine (the Midge had a Armstrong Siddeley Viper engine), a slightly larger wing, and provision for a 30 mm ADEN cannon
ADEN cannon
The Royal Small Arms Factory ADEN is a 30 mm revolver cannon used on many military aircraft, particularly those of the British Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm...
in each intake lip.
The first prototype Gnat was built as a private venture project by Folland but subsequently six further aircraft were ordered by the British Ministry of Supply
Ministry of Supply
The Ministry of Supply was a department of the UK Government formed in 1939 to co-ordinate the supply of equipment to all three British armed forces, headed by the Minister of Supply. There was, however, a separate ministry responsible for aircraft production and the Admiralty retained...
for evaluation. The Folland prototype, serial number
United Kingdom aircraft test serials
United Kingdom aircraft test serials are used to externally identify aircraft flown within the United Kingdom without a full Certificate of Airworthiness...
G-39-2, first flew on 18 July 1955 from Boscombe Down.
Although the evaluation by the British did not end up in an order for the lightweight fighter orders were placed by Finland, Yugoslavia and a large order from India which included licence production by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited based in Bangalore, India, is one of Asia's largest aerospace companies. Under the management of the Indian Ministry of Defence, this state-owned company is mainly involved in aerospace industry, which includes manufacturing and assembling aircraft, navigation and...
. Although the Gnat's development was attributed as motivating the Mutual Weapons Development Team to issue a NATO requirement for a low level light fighter
Light fighter
A light fighter or lightweight fighter is a type of fighter aircraft with a diminutive airframe, deliberately designed to fill a performance niche based on a high power-to-weight ratio...
, the Gnat was not evaluated in the competition, won by the Fiat G.91. The Gnat was evaluated in 1958 by the Royal Air Force as a de Havilland Venom
De Havilland Venom
The de Havilland DH 112 Venom was a British postwar single-engined jet aircraft developed from the de Havilland Vampire. It served with the Royal Air Force as a single-seat fighter-bomber and two-seat night fighter....
replacement, as well as other light fighters such as the BAC Jet Provost
BAC Jet Provost
The BAC Jet Provost was a British jet-powered trainer aircraft used by the Royal Air Force from 1955 to 1993. The Jet Provost was also successfully exported, serving in many air forces worldwide....
, the Hawker Hunter
Hawker Hunter
The Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet aircraft developed in the 1950s. The single-seat Hunter entered service as a manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles in numerous conflicts. Two-seat variants remained in use for training and secondary...
was the eventual winner of the fly-off competition.
Gnat Trainer
Although RAF interest waned in its possible use as a fighter, the Gnat was modified to meet the 1957 Trainer Specification T.185D that called for an advanced two-seat trainer that could transition pilots between the current DH Vampire T 11De Havilland Vampire
The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served...
and operational fighters such as the English Electric Lightning
English Electric Lightning
The English Electric Lightning is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft of the Cold War era, noted for its great speed and unpainted natural metal exterior finish. It is the only all-British Mach 2 fighter aircraft. The aircraft was renowned for its capabilities as an interceptor; Royal Air Force ...
. Folland proposed the two-seat Fo. 144 Gnat Trainer, it had a new wing with additional fuel capacity, this allowed more room in the fuselage for additional equipment. A more powerful variant of the Orpheus engine was used, the front fuselage length was increased and had larger tail surfaces. The inboard ailerons of the fighter variant were changed to outbound ailerons and conventional flaps.
An initial contract for 14 pre-production Gnat trainers was issued in 7 January 1958. The prototype Gnat Trainer first flew on 31 August 1959 from Chilbolton airfield
RAF Chilbolton
RAF Station Chilbolton is a former World War II airfield in Hampshire, England. The airfield is located approximately south-southeast of Andover; about southwest of London...
, The Ministry did not at first place a production order as they were concerned about the size and ability of the company to take on a large order. Following the take over of Folland by Hawker Siddeley Aviation (becoming the Hamble division) further orders for 30, 20 and 41 trainers were placed between February 1960 and March 1962 with the designation
British military aircraft designation systems
British military aircraft designations are used to refer to aircraft types and variants operated by the armed forces of the United Kingdom.Since the end of the First World War, aircraft types in British military service have generally been known by a name British military aircraft designations are...
Gnat T Mk 1.
Finland
The Finnish Air ForceFinnish Air Force
The Finnish Air Force is one of the branches of the Finnish Defence Forces. Its peacetime tasks are airspace surveillance, identification flights, and production of readiness formations for wartime conditions...
received the first of its 13 Gnats on 30 July 1958. It was soon found to be a problematic aircraft in service and required a lot of ground maintenance. Finland had considered licence manufacturing
Licence-built
The term licence-built refers to an object manufactured by one organisation with the authorisation of the organisation that owns the intellectual property of the design...
the aircraft but eventually decided not to. On 31 July 1958, the Finnish Air Force Major Lauri Pekuri
Lauri Pekuri
Lauri Pekuri was a World War II fighter ace of the Finnish Air Force and a Finnish jet aircraft pioneer. Pekuri had changed his name in 1942, having before been named Lauri Ohukainen...
broke the sound barrier
Sound barrier
The sound barrier, in aerodynamics, is the point at which an aircraft moves from transonic to supersonic speed. The term, which occasionally has other meanings, came into use during World War II, when a number of aircraft started to encounter the effects of compressibility, a collection of several...
for the first time in Finland at Lake Luonetjärvi with a Folland Gnat.
All Gnats were grounded on 26 August 1958 for six months after the destruction of GN-102 due to a technical error, and the aircraft soon became the subject of severe criticism. Three other aircraft were also destroyed in other accidents. The Gnats were removed from active service in 1972 when the Häme Wing moved to Rovaniemi, and when the new Saab 35 Drakens were taken into use.
India
The first 13 aircraft for the Indian Air Force were assembled at Hamble, they were followed by partly completed aircraft and then sub-assemblies as Hindustan Aircraft slowly took over at first assembly then production of the aircraft.The first flight of an Indian Air Force Gnat was in the United Kingdom on the 11 January 1958, it was delivered to India in the hold of a C-119 and accepted by the Air Force on the 30 January 1958. The first Gnat squadron was No. 23 (Cheetah) Squadron which converted from Vampire FB.52
De Havilland Vampire
The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served...
on 18 March 1960 using six Folland-built Gnats. The first aircraft built from Indian-built parts first flew in May 1962. The last Indian-built Gnat F.1 was delivered on 31 January 1974.
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Serving primarily with the Indian Air Force
Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
, the Gnat is credited by many independent and Indian sources to have shot down seven Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i Canadair Sabres in the 1965 war
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 was a culmination of skirmishes that took place between April 1965 and September 1965 between Pakistan and India. This conflict became known as the Second Kashmir War fought by India and Pakistan over the disputed region of Kashmir, the first having been fought in 1947...
. The Pakistan Air Force
Pakistan Air Force
The Pakistan Air Force is the leading air arm of the Pakistan Armed Forces and is primarily tasked with the aerial defence of Pakistan with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy. The PAF also has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport...
(PAF) claims only three Gnat victories over F-86s in air to air combat
Dogfight
A dogfight, or dog fight, is a form of aerial combat between fighter aircraft; in particular, combat of maneuver at short range, where each side is aware of the other's presence. Dogfighting first appeared during World War I, shortly after the invention of the airplane...
, while two Gnats were downed by PAF fighters. During the initial phase of the 1965 war, an IAF
Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
Gnat, piloted by Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
Brij Pal Singh Sikand, landed at an abandoned Pakistani airstrip at Pasrur
Pasrur
Pasrur is a city of Sialkot District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located at 32°16'0N 74°40'0E with an altitude of 238 metres . The nearest big cities are Sialkot, Narowal and Gujranwala...
and was captured by the PAF. Two Lockheed F-104 Starfighters forced the Gnat down. This Gnat is displayed as a war trophy in the Pakistan Air Force Museum, Karachi
PAF Museum, Karachi
PAF Museum, Karachi is an Air Force museum and park situated between PAF Base Faisal and Awami Markaz on main Shahra-e-Faisal at Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan....
.
After the ceasefire, one Pakistani Cessna O-1 was shot down on 16 December 1965 by a Gnat.
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
The Gnats were used again by India in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military conflict between India and Pakistan. Indian, Bangladeshi and international sources consider the beginning of the war to be Operation Chengiz Khan, Pakistan's December 3, 1971 pre-emptive strike on 11 Indian airbases...
against Pakistan. The most notable action was the Battle of Boyra
Battle of Boyra
The Battle of Boyra, on 22 November 1971, was the first engagement between the Air Forces of India and Pakistan of the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971...
where the first dogfight
Dogfight
A dogfight, or dog fight, is a form of aerial combat between fighter aircraft; in particular, combat of maneuver at short range, where each side is aware of the other's presence. Dogfighting first appeared during World War I, shortly after the invention of the airplane...
s over East Pakistan
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
(Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
) took place. The IAF
Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
Gnats downed two PAF
Pakistan Air Force
The Pakistan Air Force is the leading air arm of the Pakistan Armed Forces and is primarily tasked with the aerial defence of Pakistan with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy. The PAF also has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport...
Canadair Sabres in minutes and badly damaged one. The Pakistan Air Force claims that one Gnat was shot down, which was proved incorrect. Another notable dogfight involving a Gnat was over Srinagar
Srinagar
Srinagar is the summer seasonal capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated in Kashmir Valley and lies on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus. It is one of the largest cities in India not to have a Hindu majority. The city is famous for its gardens, lakes and houseboats...
airfield where a lone Indian pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
held out against six Sabres, scoring hits on two of the Sabres in the process, before being overwhelmed. Gnat pilot Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon
Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon
Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, PVC was an officer of the Indian Air Force. He was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military decoration, in recognition of his lone defence of Srinagar Air Base against a Pakistani air raid during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971...
was posthumously honoured with Param Vir Chakra
Param Vir Chakra
The Param Vir Chakra is India's highest military decoration awarded for the highest degree of valour or self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy. It can be, and often has been, awarded posthumously....
(India's highest gallantry award), becoming the only member of the IAF to be given the award.
By the end of 1971, the Gnat proved to be a frustrating opponent for the larger and heavier Sabre. The Gnat was referred to as "Sabre Slayers" by the Indian Air Force since all its combat "kills" during the two wars were against Sabres. The Canadair Sabre Mk 6 was widely regarded as the best dogfighter of its era. Tactics called for Gnats taking on the Sabres in the vertical arena, where the Sabres were at a disadvantage. Moreover, because the Gnat was lightweight and compact in shape, it was hard to see, especially at the low levels where most of the dogfights took place. Apart from air defence operations, the aircraft performed multiple roles in the Bangladesh Liberation War
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....
, being used in anti-shipping operations, ground attack, bomber/transport escort and close air support
Close air support
In military tactics, close air support is defined as air action by fixed or rotary winged aircraft against hostile targets that are close to friendly forces, and which requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of these forces.The determining factor for CAS is...
with devastating effects on the PAF. The success of the indigenously produced Gnats against the more sophisticated Pakistani-flown aircraft was viewed as a significant achievement.
After 1971
The IAF
Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
were impressed by the Gnat's performance in the two wars, but the aircraft had problems including hydraulics
Hydraulics
Hydraulics is a topic in applied science and engineering dealing with the mechanical properties of liquids. Fluid mechanics provides the theoretical foundation for hydraulics, which focuses on the engineering uses of fluid properties. In fluid power, hydraulics is used for the generation, control,...
and unreliable control systems. To address these issues, the IAF issued a requirement for an improved "Gnat II" in 1972, at first specifying that the new version was to be optimized as an interceptor, but then expanding the specification to include the ground-attack role. Over 175 of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited based in Bangalore, India, is one of Asia's largest aerospace companies. Under the management of the Indian Ministry of Defence, this state-owned company is mainly involved in aerospace industry, which includes manufacturing and assembling aircraft, navigation and...
-built licenced version, the Ajeet ("Unconquerable"), were produced in Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
, while about 40 were purchased directly from Folland.
Gnats served in India from 1958–1978, and several remain in use in private hands. Some IAF Gnats, one of which had participated in the 1971 war in East Pakistan
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
(present day Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
), were presented to the Bangladesh Air Force
Bangladesh Air Force
The Bangladesh Air Force , is the air arm of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. Bangladesh Air Force currently employs more than 22,000 personnel including 600+ Pilots.-History:...
.
United Kingdom
The first production Gnat T.1s for the Royal Air ForceRoyal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
were delivered in February 1962 to the Central Flying School
Central Flying School
The Central Flying School is the Royal Air Force's primary institution for the training of military flying instructors. Established in 1912 it is the longest existing flying training school.-History:...
at RAF Little Rissington
RAF Little Rissington
RAF Little Rissington is an RAF aerodrome and former RAF station in Gloucestershire, England. It was once home to the Central Flying School, the Vintage Pair and the Red Arrows.Built during the 1930s, the station was opened in 1938 and closed in 1994...
. The major operator of the type was 4 Flying Training School at RAF Valley
RAF Valley
RAF Valley is a Royal Air Force station on the island of Anglesey, Wales, and which is also used as Anglesey Airport. It provides fast-jet training using the BAE Hawk and provides training for aircrew working with Search and Rescue. Unofficially the motto for RAF Valley is 'One Valley, Training...
, the first aircraft being delivered in November 1962. In 1964 4 FTS formed the Yellowjacks
Yellowjacks
The Yellowjacks were a Royal Air Force aerobatic display team who flew Folland Gnat trainers painted yellow. The team was formed informally in the summer of 1963 by a group of flying instructors, led by Flight Lieutenant Lee Jones, at No 4 Flying Training School at RAF Valley...
aerobatic team with all-yellow painted Gnats. The team reformed in 1965 as part of the Central Flying School as the Red Arrows
Red Arrows
The Red Arrows, officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, is the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force based at RAF Scampton, but due to move to RAF Waddington in 2011...
which operated the Gnat until 1979 as the RAF aerobatic demonstration team. On 14 May 1965, the last Royal Air Force Gnat T.1 to be built was delivered to the Red Arrows.
Once a pilot had graduated from basic training on the BAC Jet Provost
BAC Jet Provost
The BAC Jet Provost was a British jet-powered trainer aircraft used by the Royal Air Force from 1955 to 1993. The Jet Provost was also successfully exported, serving in many air forces worldwide....
and gained their wings they were selected for one of three streams, fast jet, multi-engined or helicopters. Those selected for fast jets were posted to RAF Valley
RAF Valley
RAF Valley is a Royal Air Force station on the island of Anglesey, Wales, and which is also used as Anglesey Airport. It provides fast-jet training using the BAE Hawk and provides training for aircrew working with Search and Rescue. Unofficially the motto for RAF Valley is 'One Valley, Training...
for advanced training on the Gnat T.1, typically 70 hours of flying. Student would then move on to operational training using the Hawker Hunter
Hawker Hunter
The Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet aircraft developed in the 1950s. The single-seat Hunter entered service as a manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles in numerous conflicts. Two-seat variants remained in use for training and secondary...
then a posting to an operational conversion unit for the type of aircraft to be flown.
Following the introduction of the Hawker Siddeley Hawk into the training role as a replacement the Gnats were withdrawn from service. The largest operator 4 FTS retired its last Gnat in November 1978. Most of the retired Gnats were delivered to No. 1 School of Technical Training
No. 1 School of Technical Training
No.1 School of Technical Training is the Royal Air Force's aircraft engineering school, based at RAF Halton from 1919 to 1993, as the Home of the Aircraft Apprentice scheme...
at RAF Halton
RAF Halton
RAF Halton is one of the largest Royal Air Force stations in the United Kingdom, located near the village of Halton near Wendover, Buckinghamshire.HRH The Duchess of Cornwall is the Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Halton.-History:...
and other training establishments to be used as ground training airframes. When the RAF had no need for the Gnats as training airframes they were sold off and many were bought by private operators.
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia ordered two Gnat F.1s for evaluation, the first aircraft flew on 7 June 1958 and both were delivered to Yugoslavia by rail. The aircraft were flown by the flight test centre but no further aircraft were ordered and one aircraft was destroyed in a crash in October 1958 while the other is preserved and on display in Serbia.Variants
- Private-venture prototype fighter, one built.
Fo.141 Gnat
- Gnat F.1
- Single seat lightweight fighter exported to Finland, India and Yugoslavia, 50 built by Folland at Hamble. This was also built in India under licence as the HAL Gnat
- Gnat FR.1
- One aircraft for Finland was built with three nose-mounted 70mm Vinten cameras and designated FR.1, it was joined by a Ministry of Supply aircraft purchased by Folland and modified to the same standard. Both aircraft were delivered to Finland on 12 October 1960
Fo.142 Gnat / Gnat F.2
- Proposed improved F.1 with more powerful engine and thinner wing, not built.
Fo.143 Gnat / Gnat F.4
- Proposed improved F.2 with air intercept radar and ability to carry guided weapons, not built.
Fo.144 Gnat Trainer / Gnat T.1
- Two-seat advanced trainer aircraft for the Royal Air Force, 105 built by Hawker Siddeley.
HAL Ajeet
- Indian development of the Gnat F.1
HAL Ajeet Trainer
- Two-seat tandem trainer version for the Indian Air ForceIndian Air ForceThe Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
. This version was derived from the HAL Ajeet and differed considerably from the Gnat T.1 used by the RAF.
Operators
- Finnish Air ForceFinnish Air ForceThe Finnish Air Force is one of the branches of the Finnish Defence Forces. Its peacetime tasks are airspace surveillance, identification flights, and production of readiness formations for wartime conditions...
- Häme Wing
- HävLLv 11
- HävLLv 21
- Häme Wing
- Indian Air ForceIndian Air ForceThe Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
- No.2 SquadronNo. 2 Squadron, Indian Air ForceNo.2 Squadron , Indian Air Force is a unit dedicated to CAS. Based at Kalaikunda AFS, it forms, along with No. 18 Squadron IAF, No. 5 Wing IAF.No. 2 Sqn falls under the Eastern Air Command....
- No.9 Squadron
- No.15 SquadronNo.15 Squadron, Indian Air ForceNo. 15 Squadron Indian Air Force is a fighter squadron of the Indian Air Force. It was formed on August 20, 1951, and currently operates the Mikoyan MiG-21 from Jodhpur....
- No.18 Squadron
- No.21 Squadron
- No.22 SquadronNo.22 Squadron, Indian Air ForceNo. 22 Squadron Indian Air Force is a CAS unit based out of Hasimara AFS. Along with No. 222 Squadron Tiger Sharks, No. 22 Squadron forms a part of the 16 Wing of the IAF.- History :...
- No.23 Squadron
- No.24 Squadron
- No.2 Squadron
- Royal Aircraft EstablishmentRoyal Aircraft EstablishmentThe Royal Aircraft Establishment , was a British research establishment, known by several different names during its history, that eventually came under the aegis of the UK Ministry of Defence , before finally losing its identity in mergers with other institutions.The first site was at Farnborough...
operated one former Royal Air Force Gnat T.1 from Bedford for trials work. - Royal Air ForceRoyal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
- 4 Flying Training School, RAF ValleyRAF ValleyRAF Valley is a Royal Air Force station on the island of Anglesey, Wales, and which is also used as Anglesey Airport. It provides fast-jet training using the BAE Hawk and provides training for aircrew working with Search and Rescue. Unofficially the motto for RAF Valley is 'One Valley, Training...
- Red ArrowsRed ArrowsThe Red Arrows, officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, is the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force based at RAF Scampton, but due to move to RAF Waddington in 2011...
aerobatic team
- Red Arrows
- Central Flying School
- YellowjacksYellowjacksThe Yellowjacks were a Royal Air Force aerobatic display team who flew Folland Gnat trainers painted yellow. The team was formed informally in the summer of 1963 by a group of flying instructors, led by Flight Lieutenant Lee Jones, at No 4 Flying Training School at RAF Valley...
aerobatic team
- Yellowjacks
- 4 Flying Training School, RAF Valley
- SFR Yugoslav Air ForceSFR Yugoslav Air ForceThe Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslav Air Force , was the air force of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia . Formed in 1945, it was preceded by the Yugoslav Royal Air Force which was disbanded in 1941, following the German occupation of Yugoslavia...
two aircraft for evaluation.
Survivors
- Gnat T.1 XS101 is being restored to flying condition in Essendon. Operated by Xjet.
- The Central Finland Aviation Museum in Tikkakoski has two Gnats (GN-101 and GN-104).
- The Finnish Aviation MuseumFinnish Aviation MuseumThe Finnish Aviation Museum is a museum specialising in aircraft, located in Vantaa, Finland.-History:The museum was founded on 4 December 1969 by Ilmailumuseoyhdistys ry. The museum was placed next to the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport but received its own facilities in 1980...
in Vantaa has two Gnats (GN-105 and GN-106). - The Karhula Aviation Museum has one Gnat (GN-107).
- One Gnat is erected as a monument at Someronharju, near Rovaniemi (GN-110).
- The Aviation Guild in Lahti has GN-112 on display at the Vesivehma museum.
- One former FAF Gnat (GN-113) is in private possession and based at Malmi airport.
- GN-103 is on display in Aviation Museum of South-Eastern FinlandAviation Museum of South-Eastern FinlandThe Karelia Aviation Museum is located at Lappeenranta Airport in Lappeenranta, Finland. The museum is run by Kaakkois-Suomen ilmailumuseoyhdistys ry...
, where it was moved from Halli.
- One Indian Gnat which was captured by Pakistan Air Force is on display at PAF museum Karachi.
- Gnat F.1 XK724 is on display at the RAF Museum CosfordRoyal Air Force Museum CosfordThe Royal Air Force Museum Cosford is a museum dedicated to the history of aviation, and the Royal Air Force in particular. The museum is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and a registered charity...
, Shropshire. - Gnat F.1 XK741 is on display at the Midland Air MuseumMidland Air MuseumThe Midland Air Museum is situated just outside the village of Baginton in Warwickshire, England, and is adjacent to Coventry Airport. The museum includes the Sir Frank Whittle Jet Heritage Centre , where many exhibits are on display in a large hangar...
, Coventry, painted in Finnish colours. - Gnat F.1 XK740 is on display at Solent SkySolent SkySolent Sky is an aviation museum in Southampton, Hampshire, previously known as Southampton Hall of Aviation.It depicts the history of aviation in Southampton, the Solent area and Hampshire. There is special focus on the Supermarine aircraft company, based in Southampton, and its most famous...
, Southampton, Hampshire. - Gnat T.1 XM697 (originally XM693) is on display outside BAE Systems factory at Hamble, Hampshire.
- Gnat T.1 XP505 is on display at the Science MuseumScience museumA science museum or a science centre is a museum devoted primarily to science. Older science museums tended to concentrate on static displays of objects related to natural history, paleontology, geology, industry and industrial machinery, etc. Modern trends in museology have broadened the range of...
, London. - Gnat T.1 XP516 is on display at the Farnborough Air Sciences TrustFarnborough Air Sciences TrustThe Farnborough Air Sciences Trust museum holds a collection of aircraft, wind tunnel and Royal Aircraft Establishment related material. It is based in Farnborough, Hampshire immediately adjacent to Farnborough Airfield....
museum, Hampshire. - Gnat T.1 XP542 is on display at Solent SkySolent SkySolent Sky is an aviation museum in Southampton, Hampshire, previously known as Southampton Hall of Aviation.It depicts the history of aviation in Southampton, the Solent area and Hampshire. There is special focus on the Supermarine aircraft company, based in Southampton, and its most famous...
, Southampton, Hampshire. - Gnat T.1 XR534 is on display at Newark Air MuseumNewark Air Museumright|thumb|200px|[[Handley Page Hastings]] T5 TG517 at the Newark Air Museum.Newark Air Museum is an air museum located on a former Royal Air Force station at Winthorpe, near Newark on Trent in Nottinghamshire, England. The museum contains a variety of aircraft...
, Winthorpe, near Newark on Trent in Nottinghamshire, England. - Gnat T.1 XR537 is operated by De Havilland AviationDe Havilland AviationDe Havilland Aviation is a licenced aircraft company based in Bournemouth, United Kingdom. It maintains and operates a number of post-War vintage and modern aircraft, owned by both the company and on behalf of private clients...
, Bournemouth AirportBournemouth AirportBournemouth Airport is an airport located north-northeast of Bournemouth, in southern England...
. Fully airworthy following a restoration project and registered on the civilian register as G-NATY, painted in its former RAF Red Arrows livery. - Gnat T.1 XR571 is on display at the headquarters of the Red ArrowsRed ArrowsThe Red Arrows, officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, is the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force based at RAF Scampton, but due to move to RAF Waddington in 2011...
, RAF ScamptonRAF ScamptonRoyal Air Force Station Scampton is a Royal Air Force station situated north of Lincoln in England, near the village of Scampton, on the site of an old First World War landing field.-First World War:...
, LincolnshireLincolnshireLincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
. - Gnat T.1 XR977 is on display at the RAF Museum CosfordRoyal Air Force Museum CosfordThe Royal Air Force Museum Cosford is a museum dedicated to the history of aviation, and the Royal Air Force in particular. The museum is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and a registered charity...
, Shropshire. - Gnat G-FRCE is based at North Weald AirfieldNorth Weald AirfieldNorth Weald Airfield is an operational airfield, near the village of North Weald Bassett in Epping Forest, Essex, England. It was an important fighter station during the Battle of Britain, when it was known as the RAF Station RAF North Weald. It is the home of North Weald Airfield Museum...
in Essex.
- Gnat T.1 XM694 (N694XM) is on display at Pima, Arizona.
- Gnat T.1 XR572 (N572XR) is painted in the markings of the Red ArrowsRed ArrowsThe Red Arrows, officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, is the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force based at RAF Scampton, but due to move to RAF Waddington in 2011...
and operates from Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport. - Gnat T.1 XS105 (N18GT) is on display in flying condition at the Planes of FamePlanes of FamePlanes of Fame Air Museum is an aviation museum located in Chino, California, and Valle, Arizona. The museum has many flying and static aircraft, along with multiple rare examples under restoration.-History:...
Air Museum, Chino.
- Gnat F.1 11601 is on display at the Belgrade (Beograd) Aviation Museum.
Specifications (Gnat F.1)
Accidents and incidents
- 31 July 1956 the prototype G-39-2 crashed at Stockbridge and was destroyed after structural failure caused by tailplane flutter.
- 15 October 1958 a development F.1 XK767 fatally crashed at Stapleford in Wiltshire following presumed control failure.
- 13 April 1966 RAF Gnat T.1 XP507 of 4FTS flew into the sea on approach to RAF ValleyRAF ValleyRAF Valley is a Royal Air Force station on the island of Anglesey, Wales, and which is also used as Anglesey Airport. It provides fast-jet training using the BAE Hawk and provides training for aircrew working with Search and Rescue. Unofficially the motto for RAF Valley is 'One Valley, Training...
. - 26 March 1969 RAF Gnat T.1 XR573 of the CFS crashed into tree during formation display practice.
- 20 January 1971 two RAF Gnat T.1s XR545 and XR986 of CFS collided and both crashed during practice display flying at RAF KembleRAF KembleRAF Kemble was a Royal Air Force airfield that was linked from 1966 with the Red Arrows, the RAF Aerobatic display team; which operated Gnat and laterly Hawk trainers from there...
. - 3 September 1975 RAF Gnat T.1 XS103 of the CFS collided with an Italian Air Force Lockheed F-104 Starfighter near Leck, both aircraft landed safely but due to damage the Gnat was written off.
- 30 April 1976 two RAF Gnat T.1s XP536 and XR983 of 4FTS collided and both crashed over North Wales.
- 30 June 1976 RAF Gnat T.1 XM707 of the CFS was abandoned near RAF KembleRAF KembleRAF Kemble was a Royal Air Force airfield that was linked from 1966 with the Red Arrows, the RAF Aerobatic display team; which operated Gnat and laterly Hawk trainers from there...
following loss of control of tailplane.
Notable appearances in media
The Gnat portrayed the fictional carrier-based fighters flown by U.S. Navy pilots in the 1991 comedy Hot Shots!Hot Shots!
Hot Shots! is a 1991 comedy spoof film starring Charlie Sheen, Cary Elwes, Valeria Golino, Lloyd Bridges, Kevin Dunn, Jon Cryer and Ryan Stiles . It was directed by Jim Abrahams, co-director of Airplane! , and was written by Abrahams and Pat Proft...
.