167 Folland Gnat T1 XR977 - Red Arrows
Folland Gnat F1
Maiden Flight 18th July 1955
Dates is Service 1959-79
AIRCRAFT ALBUM
www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/albums/72157626970256152
Designed by W. E. W. Petter for Folland Aircraft the Gnat is a swept-wing subsonic fighter aircraft , designed 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. Its design allowed for its construction and maintenance tasks to be carried out without specialised tools, making it suitable for use in countries that had not yet become highly industrialised
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 licence.
This is one of two Gnats in the Museum, this one is in Red Arrows colours, wearing one of many variations on the colour scheme that the team tried out during their Gnat years. XR977 first flew on 1st January 1964 and served with 4 FTS, suffering a number of incidents including a belly landing on 7th May 1970. Transferred to the CFS in March 1976 and joined the Red Arrows as No.3 aircraft, staying with them until it was flown into Cosford on 5th October 1979 for ground instructional use as 8640M and eventual allocation to the RAF Museum. She's seen here on a rare trip outside during the 2002 airshow.
Many thanks for a fantabulous
49,537,747 views
Shot 13.04.2016 at RAF Cosford Air Museum REF 115-167
167 Folland Gnat T1 XR977 - Red Arrows
Folland Gnat F1
Maiden Flight 18th July 1955
Dates is Service 1959-79
AIRCRAFT ALBUM
www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/albums/72157626970256152
Designed by W. E. W. Petter for Folland Aircraft the Gnat is a swept-wing subsonic fighter aircraft , designed 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. Its design allowed for its construction and maintenance tasks to be carried out without specialised tools, making it suitable for use in countries that had not yet become highly industrialised
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 licence.
This is one of two Gnats in the Museum, this one is in Red Arrows colours, wearing one of many variations on the colour scheme that the team tried out during their Gnat years. XR977 first flew on 1st January 1964 and served with 4 FTS, suffering a number of incidents including a belly landing on 7th May 1970. Transferred to the CFS in March 1976 and joined the Red Arrows as No.3 aircraft, staying with them until it was flown into Cosford on 5th October 1979 for ground instructional use as 8640M and eventual allocation to the RAF Museum. She's seen here on a rare trip outside during the 2002 airshow.
Many thanks for a fantabulous
49,537,747 views
Shot 13.04.2016 at RAF Cosford Air Museum REF 115-167