Gnat Display Team of ex Royal Air Force Folland Gnat jet trainer planes. Civilian jet formation team flying an airshow
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 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 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. The first production Gnat for the Royal 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 to be built was delivered to the Red Arrows. The Gnat was replaced by the Hawker Siddeley Hawk in RAF service and the Red Arrows The Gnat Display Team is owned and operated by Heritage Aircraft Limited, which is the trading arm of The Heritage Aircraft Trust, a charity registered in England & Wales flying restored Gnats Billericay, Essex, UK - Folland Gnat serial number XS111 G-TIMM is seen here to the left of the photograph whilst displaying in 2014. It crashed today - 1 August 2015 - at Carfest North, killing the pilot, Kevin Whyman
Size: 4319px × 2861px
Location: Essex, UK
Photo credit: © Avpics / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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