Gnat sighted at Bournemouth
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Gnat restoration at Bournemouth
Sighted XR537 (G-NATY), the former Red Arrows Gnat T1, leaving Aim's paintshop at Hurn on Monday, being towed back towards De Havilland's engineering hangar.
Decked out in very shiny new Reds livery (proper fuselage lightning stripe from the look of things) ... she looked very
Later enquiries around the museum confirmed that she's being restored to flight status!
... which will (I think - checks book) make her the only genuine Reds Gnat on the UK circuit?
Two local biz guys are apparently arranging for her to be put back in the sky and things must be pretty advanced, or why bother with a 5-figure respray?
Anyone else know anything?
Decked out in very shiny new Reds livery (proper fuselage lightning stripe from the look of things) ... she looked very
Later enquiries around the museum confirmed that she's being restored to flight status!
... which will (I think - checks book) make her the only genuine Reds Gnat on the UK circuit?Two local biz guys are apparently arranging for her to be put back in the sky and things must be pretty advanced, or why bother with a 5-figure respray?
Anyone else know anything?
Last edited by Gnat-trap; 20th Dec 2005 at 07:14.
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Aha... things a definitely happening then...
Looks a pretty serious attempt then to get it all going again, especially if they're cannabalising that other body for parts. There's no way anyone would buy another carcass just to get a static Gnat on display.
Must be a very serious effort!
Am I right in saying that she'll be the only genuine Reds Gnat flying in the UK, if not Europe...the rest (3?) are in the States, I think. I heard the rest got bent.
Does anyone have a list of where they all are, and which ones were genuine Reds ones?
XR537 is definitely one of them as the 25th Reds Anniversary book shows them in formation, belly-side up, with XR537 underwing reg. showing clearly.
Must be a very serious effort!
Am I right in saying that she'll be the only genuine Reds Gnat flying in the UK, if not Europe...the rest (3?) are in the States, I think. I heard the rest got bent.
Does anyone have a list of where they all are, and which ones were genuine Reds ones?
XR537 is definitely one of them as the 25th Reds Anniversary book shows them in formation, belly-side up, with XR537 underwing reg. showing clearly.
Could the spares ship Gnat be XR954, recently advertised for sale, unrestored?
I would guess that once it's christmas tree days are over, it would go into the Museum as a static airframe?
I would guess that once it's christmas tree days are over, it would go into the Museum as a static airframe?
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Local paper carried story this afternoon
Bournemouth Daily Echo has an article on it today. Looks like it's a very serious project. Two local MDs sorting her out by the looks of it.
Someone I was on squadron with is involved in a museum in the San Diego area that I believe has a Gnat. They also have a Mig21 dual. I'd post a photo of the Mig if I knew how.
Found their URL, it is www.sandiegoflightmuseum.org
The web site seems a bit out of date in some sections.
Found their URL, it is www.sandiegoflightmuseum.org
The web site seems a bit out of date in some sections.
Last edited by innuendo; 6th Aug 2005 at 18:34.
I have just returned from Hurn after a visit to the Bournemouth Aviation Museum.
XR537 was inside the de-Havilland Aviation hangar, though sadly not in a position to photograph. It looks awesome in its new livery.
I got a photo of the spares ship, which is indeed XR954, and I'll post it later tonight.
It had a 8xxxM number on it, so I'm guessing it's a former RAF Halton training aircraft?
Mark
XR537 was inside the de-Havilland Aviation hangar, though sadly not in a position to photograph. It looks awesome in its new livery.
I got a photo of the spares ship, which is indeed XR954, and I'll post it later tonight.
It had a 8xxxM number on it, so I'm guessing it's a former RAF Halton training aircraft?
Mark
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fradu----that's a very nostalgic shot of a dismembered Gnat---many thanks.
My logbooks reveal that I flew a few hours in XR 954 many years ago at Valley....Hope she gets put on static if she can't be returned to the sky!
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Sighted XR537 (G-NATY), the former Red Arrows Gnat T1, leaving Aim's paintshop at Hurn on Monday.
Credit where credits due, I believe it was Airtime Aviation that did the paint job. Also did the Vixen.
Credit where credits due, I believe it was Airtime Aviation that did the paint job. Also did the Vixen.
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Onan your not far out with that comparison---the little beast was actually quite easy to take apart, almost modular in fact --unbolt the tail section, disconnect the cables,slide out the donk, remove saddle and slipper tanks, unbolt the wing and ----bingo !
The real "fun" comes with component changes however--it helps if you have 11/32 fingers for a start, the pulley box ( for the flying controls ) offers hours of cramped knees due to it's location--behind the rear seat--the LOX charging point was, "not designed for access in-situ"--to put ir mildly----but the really, really " interesting bit was a Hobson unit change--and the setting up of the tailplane---- ----the compensation however--for me at least--was several back seat rides--and some very panoramic views of Wales at low level--when--coughs---"hooligans" were still--- ahem-- tacitly condoned in the RAF.
The real "fun" comes with component changes however--it helps if you have 11/32 fingers for a start, the pulley box ( for the flying controls ) offers hours of cramped knees due to it's location--behind the rear seat--the LOX charging point was, "not designed for access in-situ"--to put ir mildly----but the really, really " interesting bit was a Hobson unit change--and the setting up of the tailplane----
----the compensation however--for me at least--was several back seat rides--and some very panoramic views of Wales at low level--when--coughs---"hooligans" were still--- ahem-- tacitly condoned in the RAF.
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There is a red painted RAF Gnat in bits and pieces in a hangar at Essendon airport, Victoria, Australia. No. 101 I think. Belonged to someone called Arnold Glass some years back. Been at Essendon in that state for two years. Suspect it will be like that for a few more years due costs of putting into flying condition.
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Hmm, Glass certainly had at least one Gnat at Cranfield a few years ago, plus a number of Lightnings. Think it was XS101/G-GNAT, which according to Gin-Flow is now in Oz.
Might also have been owned by Stephen Grey/TFC for a short while in the early 80s, before he focused on piston types.
Might also have been owned by Stephen Grey/TFC for a short while in the early 80s, before he focused on piston types.
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Yes, it's me... Red Rolling...now!
Yes, you're all very correct... it is XR537 being restored to flight status, although we have had to carve up her sister 954 to be the donor on several vital parts. It might be possible to get the remaining shell of 954 at least put back together for static purposes. Gnat-trap is correct in assuming that 537 will the only genuine former Arrow in flight condition, having served on the team between Autumn 1975 until the Hawks came in in 1979. 537 also had the honour of being Red 1's kite during her time on the team, and both Arthur Gibson and Richard Cooke have shot her on film in that position.
537 in her new paintjob...more news will be released once she's got her MOT
...
537 in her new paintjob...more news will be released once she's got her MOT
...
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Nice to see an upright Sparrows Gnat from underneath - all my memories are an impression of looking down on the team, unless they were rolling or looping or otherwise upwardly mobile. Not like those nasty, brash Hawks...
Happy days... Good luck XR537, I look forward to seeing her in the air.
Happy days... Good luck XR537, I look forward to seeing her in the air.
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Paintwork
Yankee is correct.. it was Airtime Aviation, not Aim, who did the respray. I think Gnat-trap assumed it was Aim as it went past their building.
Engine tests are scheduled to be run soon.
Will post some new pix, when I've downloaded the camera.
Engine tests are scheduled to be run soon.
Will post some new pix, when I've downloaded the camera.
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IIRC 537 moved in from the 'thrashing' positions to the lead to preserve fatigue life mid seventies. I have not looked at my scrap books but I believe (the sadly departed) 'Eccles' had her for a time as Red 4. I flew it a bit too, probably contributing to its fatigue!
Last edited by BOAC; 22nd Aug 2005 at 16:49.