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Folland / Hawker-Siddeley Gnat

1959 COLD WAR INDO-PAK WAR

The Story of the Folland/Hawker-Siddeley Mosquito

The Folland Gnat was a swept-wing jet fighter of British origin, introduced in the mid-1950s. As a light, inexpensive aircraft, the performance figures are impressive, and the small Gnat has proven to be more successful in the export market than as a British homegrown product. Design by Gnat - from Folland Private Venture Fo. 1954 'Midge' Prototype 139 - Handled by aircraft engineer W.E.W. 'Teddy' Petter, the Gnat prototype first flew on 18 July 1955.

Initial performance tests were promising, and the Supply Department forwarded the Gnat project to include another six test aircraft. The design of the all-metal aircraft makes it relatively easy for any interested operator to manufacture.

The fighter was rejected by the RAF and replaced with a modified two-seater trainer. Gnat entered service with the RAF in 1959.

The Gnat has a fully swept wing surface and a clean fuselage design. The cockpit layout leads the fuselage design with a two-piece glass canopy. The trainer version has an extended cockpit position with two tandem seats for students and instructors. Air intakes were installed on the sides of the fuselage to power a single jet engine. Trainers vary when using different engines, wings and tail sections.

The tail is controlled by a single vertical tail and conventional horizontal stabilizers. The landing gear is a tricycle arrangement with two main and one nose gear. The performance of the F.Mk 1 is impressive - considering it's all subsonic - powered by a single Bristol-Siddeley Orpheus 701-01 series turbojet that puts out about 4,705 pounds of force. Top speed may exceed 695 mph, and range may reach 500 miles.

Finished with a climb rate of 20,000 feet per minute and service capped at 48,000 feet. The standard armament at the Gnat base is modest, consisting of 2 x 30mm ADEN cannons. Lethality can be increased slightly by adding 18 rockets or 2 500lb bombs under the wings.

The Gnat was available in several models, with a total production of only 449. Production is mainly by Folland in the UK and HAL (Hindustan Aircraft, Limited) in India. Variations include the original Fo. 141 Gnat as a single-seat jet fighter.

This became the Gnat F. Mk 1 in Finland and became the HAL production Gnat in India (manufactured under license). The Fo 144 Gnat became the base designation for the modified two-seater trainer which appeared under its designation Gnat T. Mk 1 (after Folland was acquired by Hawker-Siddeley) while in service with the Royal Air Force. HAL continues to produce the HAL Ajeet (meaning "invincible" or "invincible") as an upgraded version of the Gnat F. Mk 1 and complements the HAL Ajeet two-seat advanced trainer, but is derived from extensive modifications of the RAF Gnat T. Mk 1.

The UK, India, Finland and Yugoslavia become the sole operators of Gnat. The UK operates a Gnat trainer model for the Royal Air Force and was selected to perform with the Red Arrows acrobatics from 1964 to 1979.

From July 1958 to 1974, Finland used 13 Gnat fighters - two of which were reconnaissance types - while Yugoslavia received only two Gnat for evaluation purposes. Gnats' Finnish operations have been plagued by technical problems and accidents that have grounded the planes for a while. Ultimately, the aircraft proved too costly to maintain and was abandoned by the Swedish Saab 35 Drakes.

Finnish Air Force Major Lauri Pekuri is credited with being the first Finn to break the speed of sound in a mosquito.

The UK retired its Gnats in 1979 and the Red Arrows were replaced by the British Aerospace Eagle T.1A aircraft. In addition to the nickname "Saber Slayer", the Mosquito also enjoys the nickname "Pocket Fighter".