Originally Posted by
BEagle
However did a small company like Folland secure an order for a private venture aircraft for a lightweight fighter which became the Gnat T Mk1? Unlike Aeralis, at least Folland had an aeroplane which actually flew before being considered.
At least Folland had a factory and had been assembling major components and sub assemblies of Spitfires, Beauforts, Blenheim's and Mosquito's during the war as well as designing and flying some of its own designs to meet Ministry research specifications, Folland himself having set up his own company in the late 30's having been Gloster's chief designer. So, while Folland may have been a small company at the time the Gnat was developed from the Midge, it was an established company which also had an established chief designer in Teddy Petter, so much further up the food chain than Aeralis are (and likely ever will be)