'Reds' need not bother, but for the true story of the Gnat, fighter or trainer, the last copy of 'Aeroplane' magazine carried quite a few pages on the aircraft.
Unfortunately no mention was made of Mike Oliver, despite his being Chief Test Pilot on the Gnat and featured in several of the photographs - mainly by the late & great Cyril Peckham & Arthur Gibson; I was lucky enough to work with ( briefly ) and attend lectures by Mr.Gibson who I happened to agree heartily with - one good still shot is worth a hundred hours of film !
I remember he got one great shot of the Reds' as they passed beneath him in formation while he was hanging out of the basket of a hot air balloon; 1 shot per pass, and photoshop was but a twinkle in some software git's eye !
John Farley later did four low passes in a Sea Harrier FRS1 for me ( from the ATC balcony, that's idiot me not the Harrier ) - with the same camera - Hasselblad 500CM - I got 2 out of four...I would add that the maximum shutter speed - though inter-lens not focal plane - was 1/500th of a second, so I weep when I see modern digital results !
PM me for photo's, or for the Harrier shots google the aircraft name & look under 'history' & 'Harrier testing'.
Andy
Last edited by Double Zero; 10th September 2008 at 20:18.