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Folland Gnat Prototype (G-39-2) on take off run in 1955
The Folland Gnat fighter, designed by W.E.W. (Teddy) Petter, was the result of a private venture development of the Folland Midge and the prototype (G-39-2) first flew on 18th July 1955.
Simple engineering was a key feature of the design, eliminating the need for sophisticated machinery in the manufacturing process and allowing for production in less industrialised countries. Despite successful evaluation however, no substantial orders were forthcoming from the British Government who favoured the Hawker Hunter for the RAF.
The Gnat fighter saw a small amount of service in Finland, India and Yugoslavia in its F1 & FR1 variants and although a F3 & F4 development was planned, these were never built.Greater success was seen with the 2 seat Gnat trainer after the take-over of the company by Hawker Siddeley and at last the production turned towards reasonable numbers (105 Fo144's were built) with orders coming from the Ministry of Aviation between 1960 and 1962.In all, 449 airframes bearing the Gnat designation were built in 6 main variants plus the HAL Ajeet fighter and trainer, built under licence in India.
The Gnat is probably most famous however as being the aircraft of choice for the world-famous RAF Display Team, The Red Arrows who flew Folland Gnats at air displays and show around the world before finally switching to BAe Hawk in 1979.
Folland Gnat Image Gallery
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Folland Gnat Prototype
Folland Gnat Prototype (G-39-2) air to air in 1955
Folland Gnat T1
Folland Gnat T1 (XM700)
Folland Gnat
Folland Gnat (XK740) air to air
Folland Gnat RAF
Folland Gnat RAF (XM706) & AN Other
Specification (F.1)
| Powerplant | 1 x Bristol Siddeley Orpheus 701-01 turbo jet – 4,705lbf (20.9kN) |
| Span | 28 ft 8 in (6.73 m) |
| Maximum Weight | 9,040 lbs (2,175 kg) |
| Capacity | 1 Pilot |
| Armament | 2 x 30mm Aden / 2 x 500 lb bombs (227 kg) or 18 x 3” Rockets (76mm) |
| Maximum Speed | 695 mph (1,120 kph) at 20,000 ft |
| Maximum Range | 500 miles (800 km) |
Number built
| Fo.140 | 1 Private Venture |
| Gnat F.1 | 235 |
| Gnat FR.1 | 1 |
| Gnat F.2 | 1 Prototype |
| Gnat T.1 | 105 |
| HAL Ajeet | 89 |
Survivors
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Gnat T.1
(XS101)
|
Essendon Aviation Museum, Essendon Airport, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
|
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Gnat F.1
(GN-101)
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Central Finland Aviation Museum, Tikkakoski, Finland. www.airforcemuseum.fi |
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Gnat F.1
(GN-104)
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Central Finland Aviation Museum, Tikkakoski, Finland. www.airforcemuseum.fi |
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Gnat F.1
(GN-105)
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Finnish Aviation Museum in Vantaa, Finland. www.ilmailumuseo.fi |
|
Gnat F.1
(GN-107)
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Karhula Aviation Museum, Lentokentäntie 234, 48720 Kotka, Finland karhulanilmailukerho.fi/lentomuseo/en/ |
|
Gnat F.1
(GN-110)
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Gate Guardian at Rovaniemi Airport, Finland |
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Gnat F.1
(GN-112)
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Aviation Guild of Lahti, Vesivehmaa Museum, Lentotie 89, FI-17130 Finland www.lahdenilmasilta.fi |
|
Gnat F.1
(GN-103)
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Karelia Aviation Museum, Lentokentäntie 37, 53600 Lappeenranta, Finland www.etelakarjalanmuseot.fi/karelia-aviation-museum |
|
Gnat F.1
(GN-106)
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Karelia Aviation Museum, Lentokentäntie 37, 53600 Lappeenranta, Finland www.etelakarjalanmuseot.fi/karelia-aviation-museum |
| Gnat F.1 | Diamond Garden area, Chembur, Mumbai, India. |
| Gnat F.1 | District Court, Feroz Gandhi Market, Ludhiana, India |
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Gnat F.1
(IEI083)
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PAF Museum Karachi, PAF Faisal Air Base Shahrah-e-Faisal, Pakistan www.pafmuseum.com.pk |
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Gnat F.1
(XK724)
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RAF Museum Cosford, Shropshire, UK www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford |
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Gnat F.1
(XK741)
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Midland Air Museum, Coventry, UK www.midlandairmuseum.co.uk |
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Gnat F.1
(XK740)
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Solent Sky, Southampton, Hampshire, UK www.solentskymuseum.org |
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Gnat T.1
(XM697 / XM693)
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Outside GE Aviation factory at Hamble, Hampshire. |
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Gnat T.1
(XP505)
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Science Museum, London, UK www.sciencemuseum.org.uk |
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Gnat T.1
(XP516)
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Farnborough Air Sciences Trust, Farnbrough, Hampshire. www.airsciences.org.uk |
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Gnat T.1
(XP542)
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Solent Sky, Southampton, Hampshire, UK www.solentskymuseum.org |
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Gnat T.1
(XR534)
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Newark Air Museum, Winthorpe, Newark, Nottinghamshire, UK. www.newarkairmuseum.org |
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Gnat T.1
(G-NATY (XR537)
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De Havilland Aviation, Bournemouth Airport, UK. www.dehavillandmuseum.co.uk |
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Gnat T.1
(XR538)
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Heritage Aircraft Trust, North Weald Airfield, UK www.gnatdisplayteam.org |
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Gnat T.1
(XR571)
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Red Arrows, RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire. |
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Gnat T.1
(XR977)
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RAF Museum Cosford, Shropshire, UK www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford |
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Gnat T.1
(XR991)
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Heritage Aircraft Trust, North Weald Airfield, UK www.gnatdisplayteam.org |
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Gnat T.1
(XS111 / XP504)
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Heritage Aircraft Trust, North Weald Airfield, UK www.gnatdisplayteam.org |
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Gnat F.1
(G-FRCE / XS-104)
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North Weald Airfield, UK |
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Gnat T.1
(XM694 / N694XM)
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Pima Air and Space Mueum, Arizona, USA www.pimaair.org |
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Gnat F.1
(E-1076)
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March Field Air Museum, Riverside, California, USA. www.marchfield.org |
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Gnat T.1
(XP538 / N19GT)
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Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California, USA. www.planesoffame.org |
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Gnat T.1
(XR572 / N572XR)
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Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, Colorado, USA. www.jeffco.us/airport |
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Gnat F.1
(11601)
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Museum of Aviation, Belgrade, Serbia www.muzejvazduhoplovstva.org.rs |