Gnats
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Swindon, Wiltshire
Age: 74
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Ah sweet memories of the Red Arrows at Fairford and Kemble in the mid 60s when rules hadn't been invented and neither had H&S. Frequent practises ending up in hair-raising beat-ups BETWEEN the hangars at both locations. I was standing on Fairford's ATC tower balcony in August 1966 when the team came down and beat up the tower. I took a photo looking DOWN on the Gnat as it passed beneath me!!!
Things were exciting in those days!
Things were exciting in those days! 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: NW England
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It actually came down on the beach at Rhosneigr at the end of Harrison drive! My wife was there sunbathing, she has a photo of it somewhere. I will try to find it and post it here. Her father is Dougie Mee - often called Mr Gnat after his time on the aircraft! Still going strong at 86.
Great to hear that Dougie Mee is still going strong! A true gent in all senses (although the local water baliffs might have thought otherwise on occasion) - and supplier of wives to officers various as his daughters were married off over the years, I gather.
The normal SCT ride (for passengers) was a charge around at low level, followed by a few aeros. Whilst holding after finishing my Gnat course in 1975, Douggie took me on a superb sight-seeing tour of Wales - including seeing the remains of a Dakota prang of many years earlier.
Please say 'Hi' to Douggie; my last trip with him was a Wx check on 4 Nov 1975 in XP540.
The normal SCT ride (for passengers) was a charge around at low level, followed by a few aeros. Whilst holding after finishing my Gnat course in 1975, Douggie took me on a superb sight-seeing tour of Wales - including seeing the remains of a Dakota prang of many years earlier.
Please say 'Hi' to Douggie; my last trip with him was a Wx check on 4 Nov 1975 in XP540.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Swindon, Wiltshire
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[QUOTE]The first of Lawyer's pics was taken by my old mate Tom Hamill of Flight International.
He told me that he kept hold of the low ones to avoid bother...
[UNQUOTE]
...in that case, what do you call this.....
He told me that he kept hold of the low ones to avoid bother...
[UNQUOTE]...in that case, what do you call this.....
Per Ardua ad Astraeus
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: UK
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Wow - that Hanna guy is going to be in REAL trouble when the RAF see that - nice pic to remember him by.
The thing about the Geenat was that your little pink bottom was only a few inches above the little red bottom, so the pucker factor was a great altitude control (ok, ok, height
)
The thing about the Geenat was that your little pink bottom was only a few inches above the little red bottom, so the pucker factor was a great altitude control (ok, ok, height
)
BOAC
The thing about the Geenat was that your little pink bottom was only a few inches above the little red bottom, so the pucker factor was a great altitude control (ok, ok, height
The thing about the Geenat was that your little pink bottom was only a few inches above the little red bottom, so the pucker factor was a great altitude control (ok, ok, height
These shots taken at Colt, now that's gone too
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Bristol
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Slightly older!
It looks like a Midge. Midge style canopy. gun ports, dielectric nose cone for the radar ranging set. Can't see the ailerons, which would be the clincher. Have we got a definitive description?
Dick
It looks like a Midge. Midge style canopy. gun ports, dielectric nose cone for the radar ranging set. Can't see the ailerons, which would be the clincher. Have we got a definitive description?
Dick
Per Ardua ad Astraeus
Join Date: Mar 2000
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It's a Gnat - possibly the prototype s/seater (F1) or an IAF model.
EDIT: To add - I believe there was only 1 Midge (I saw it fly at Farnborough, I think) and I'm pretty sure it was destroyed in a crash somewhere.
EDIT: To add - I believe there was only 1 Midge (I saw it fly at Farnborough, I think) and I'm pretty sure it was destroyed in a crash somewhere.
Last edited by BOAC; 29th Sep 2010 at 10:47.
Midge
I can confirm the "Midge" (Blue paint job) flew at Farnborough Airshow 1954, I was there as a young lad. I still have the Airshow programme to back this up.
It was early in its flight programme having first flown Aug. 11th 1954.
Later written off in a fatal crash ,flown by a Swiss pilot, in Sept. 1955.
OPF
It was early in its flight programme having first flown Aug. 11th 1954.
Later written off in a fatal crash ,flown by a Swiss pilot, in Sept. 1955.
OPF
Last edited by Old Photo.Fanatic; 29th Sep 2010 at 14:04.
In August 1955, the Ministry of Supply placed a contract for 6 single seat Gnats. These were:
XK724 (Now at the RAF Museum, Cosford)
XK739 (Scrapped)
XK740 (Now at Solent Sky Museum, Southampton)
XK741 (Now at Midland Air Museum, Coventry)
XK767 (Fate not known)
XK768 (Now preserved in Delhi)
So yes, XK740 is indeed a Fo.141 Gnat and not the Fo.139 Midge (which was destroyed in a fatal prang in September 1955).
XK724 (Now at the RAF Museum, Cosford)
XK739 (Scrapped)
XK740 (Now at Solent Sky Museum, Southampton)
XK741 (Now at Midland Air Museum, Coventry)
XK767 (Fate not known)
XK768 (Now preserved in Delhi)
So yes, XK740 is indeed a Fo.141 Gnat and not the Fo.139 Midge (which was destroyed in a fatal prang in September 1955).
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: norwich, norfolk, UK
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The photo, from Colin Lourie, which I posted above was taken at the Leuchars Battle of Britain Airshow 1961 ! I have studied the original and can find no form of identity .....
Keith.
Keith.