The Gnat was designed
to be small and economical, yet
capable of high performance. Derived from the Midge
prototype, the Gnat possessed outstanding performance
features including a 10,000 foot-per-minute climb rate, and
a roll rate in excess of 360 degrees per second.
The prototype first flew in 1955, when it demonstrated
performance impressive enough to warrant the manufacture
of six test aircraft for the Ministry of Supply. However, the
British government subsequently lost interest in the Gnat
as a possible fighter, deciding instead to employ it as an
advanced two-place trainer.
For that role, Folland installed a second seat, a larger engine,
a different wing and tail, and revised control-surface installation.
The plane entered production as the Gnat T.Mk1 but not until
Folland was taken over by Hawker Siddeley at the insistence
of the British government.
In the meantime, however, Folland sold 13 Gnats to the Finnish
Air Force, which kept them in service until 1974. Two Gnats
were also sold to Yugoslavia, but the bulk of sales went to
India, which purchased 40 airframes in various stages of
completion and, under license, built 175 of the aircraft at the
Hindustani Aircraft facilities at Bangalore as the Gnat Mk.II
"Ajeet."
In their training role in the UK, Gnats were effective training
aircraft for several generations of student jet pilots, and were
a common sight in the skies above RAF Valley, UK before
their retirement in November 1978.
The CD includes three
flight manuals (titled Pilot's Notes) for
both single and two-seat versions of the Gnat, has been scanned
from the original manuals and retains any colour pages.
This CD contains:
1. Manufacturers
Pilot's Notes for the Gnat Mk 1 for the Finnish
Air Force, dated 1958/60, approx 129 pages.
2. RAF Pilot's
Notes for the Gnat T.Mk.1 (Development Batch),
dated Nov 62 approx 288 pages.
3. RAF Aircrew
Manual for the Gnat T.Mk.1, AP 101B-1801-15
2nd Edition dated Dec 76, approx 190 pages.
4. RAF Operating
Data Manual for the Gnat T.Mk.1, AP 101B-1801-16
at A/L4 dated Feb 75, approx 87 pages.
| CD TITLE | GNAT |
| PRICE | US$19.95 plus postage |
| POSTAGE AND ORDERING DETAILS |