The rising cost of jet fighters in the 1950s led to a number of attempts to create an affordable but capable jet fighter for home and export use. The Folland Gnat was a subsonic fighter which saw RAF service as a trainer but also combat service with India.
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| Gnat F1 XK724 at RAF Cosford |
| Information |
| Manufacturer: |
Folland Aircraft |
| First flight: |
1955 |
| Propulsion: |
Bristol Siddeley Orpheus 701-01 turbojet |
| Withdrawn: |
1979 |
| Number built: |
449 |
Based on the
Midge, a private venture by Folland, the Gnat was small and light and also designed to be maintainable without specialised tools by smaller air forces. The fighter version was sold to Finland and India, who later also licence built the type as the
HAL Ajeet. In Indian hands the Gnat saw service against Pakistan and Bangladesh. Yugoslavia also bought two for evaluation.
The
Gnat F.1 lost out to the
Hawker Hunter in a competition to choose a new RAF light fighter but a trainer version, the
T.1, was bought by the RAF and served until 1979. Most notably the Gnat was the equipment of the Red Arrows until being replaced by the
BAe Hawk. Many Gnats have been preserved, some still in a flyable condition.
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| Gnat T1 XR977, former Red Arrow, at RAF Museum London |
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| Another view of XR977 |
