Folland Gnat

The Folland Gnat is a British compact swept-wing subsonic fighter aircraft that was developed and produced by Folland Aircraft. Envisioned as an affordable light fighter in contrast to the rising cost and size of typical combat aircraft, it was procured as a trainer aircraft for the Royal Air Force (RAF) as well as by export customers, who used the Gnat in both combat and training capacities.

Designed by W. E. W. Petter, the Gnat has its origins in the preceding private venture Folland Midge. The issuing of Operational Requirement OR.303 by the British Air Ministry served to motivate the type's development, the Gnat was later submitted to meet this requirement. Its design allowed for its construction and maintenance tasks to be carried out without specialized tools, making it suitable for use in countries that had not yet become highly industrialized. The Gnat has been viewed as a major motivating factor towards the issuing of the NATO NBMR-1 requirement, which sought to make available a common strike/attack light fighter with which to equip the air forces of the various NATO members.

Although never used as a fighter by the Royal Air Force (RAF), the Gnat T.1 jet trainer variant was adopted and operated for some time. In the United Kingdom, the Gnat became well known due to its prominent use as the display aircraft of the RAF's Red Arrows aerobatic team. The Gnat F.1 was exported to Finland, Yugoslavia and India. The Indian Air Force became the largest operator and eventually manufactured the aircraft under license. Impressed by its performance during combat, India proceeded to develop the improved HAL Ajeet, a modified variant of the Gnat. In British service, the Gnat was replaced by the Hawker Siddeley Hawk.

Variants

• Folland Fo.140 Gnat: Private-venture prototype fighter, one built.
• Folland 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 October 12^th, 1960.
• Folland Fo.142 Gnat/Gnat F.2: This was to be an improved F.1 using a wing with a 6% thickness to chord ratio and powered by a Bristol Orpheus with simplified reheat (BOr.12SR), developing 8000 lbF (35.6 kN) thrust. A prototype wing was built but not mated to a fuselage or engine. It was anticipated that this would be capable of M 1.5 and have a "marked increase in rate of climb" Development was ended because Bristol declined to back development of the reheat.
• Folland Fo.143 Gnat/ Gnat F.4: Proposed improved F.2 with air intercept radar and ability to carry guided weapons, not built.
• Folland Fo.144 Gnat Trainer/Gnat T.1: Two-seat advanced trainer aircraft for the Royal Air Force, 105 built by Hawker Siddeley.
• Gnat F.5: Proposed development from January 1960, with larger wing (and flap) area. It was to be powered by two Rolls-Royce RB153 engines with reheat. The design also considered operation from aircraft carriers.
• Fo.146 Gnat: This was a two seat design with variable geometry wings based on a combination of the Gnat Mk5 and the Gnat Trainer. It was to be powered by two Rolls-Royce RB153 engines with reheat and thrust-reversers. it was to be produced as either an advanced trainer with weapons capability or as a fighter. This, and later studies were led by Maurice Brennan.
• HAL Ajeet: Indian development of the Gnat F.1
  • HAL Ajeet Trainer: Two-seat tandem trainer version for the Indian Air Force. This version was derived from the HAL Ajeet and differed considerably from the Gnat T.1 used by the RAF.

Users

• Finland
  • Finnish Air Force
• India
  • Indian Air Force
• United Kingdom
  • Royal Air Force
• Yugoslavia
  • Yugoslav Air Force

See Also

Related Development

• HAL Ajeet

Comparable Aircraft

• Fiat G.91