Gnats

[treadigraph]

Pilots in Hot Shots were:

Chuck Thornton
Alan Preston
Skip Holm
Brent Barker
Charles Johnson
Paul Metz

Presumably Chuck Thornton flew his T-38 and I seem to recall a couple of F-5s as well?

I believe two Gnats were lost during the filming but I don't remember how.

Up at Cosford yesterday - nice to see the F1 and T1 preserved there.

[forget]

Hot Shots on UK TV Monday, 17th October. Film 4 at 7:10pm.

[Double Zero]

After a chat with Kieron Kirk, it transpired we were talking about a different though mutually known Gnat Test Pilot.

He meant 'Dick' Whittington - only knew him very briefly, never heard a bad word about him and the subject of awful personal tragedy;

I meant Mike Oliver, who I had the honour of flying with on various photo' sorties.

I was a technical photographer at Hawkers' Dunsfold, which had 'inherited' the Follands archives, in my opinion very well lit and taken.

I printed off a few examples, but my 'photobucket' set-up seems to be sulking.

If anyone cares to PM me with an e-mail address so that they may reproduce the Folland pic's here, they are welcome.

[bkm]

Re the Hot Shots Gnats, don't know if this is related...

Photos: Hawker Siddeley Gnat T1 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net

[allthecoolnamesarego]

Great Thread!

Hi,

I Have read this thread with much interest. If there are any ex (or current) Gnat pilots there who would like to offer some advice, I would greatly appreciate it.

What would be the three or so points/tips/words of advice, you would give to someone on their Gnat conversion?

Many thanks

coolnames

[Lightning Mate]

I'll offer you one if I may.

Know the hydraulic failure drill.

[Double Zero]

Follands Archives

I was at Dunsfold Photographic 1979-93, we had inherited the very well lit and shot Follands Archives, I managed to run a few prints off ( yes I know not all Gnats ! ) There are more in the attic inc' some beautifully clear B&W air-airs, will get them shortly;









I'll find the rest ASAP if there's any interest ? DZ

Here uou are then ! All Courtesy of Mike Oliver, Folland Test Pilot & Hawker/BAe Dunsfold Operations Controller - photo's by Russel Adams











I must add that the copy quality does not do the originals justice...

[neilf92]

I'm interested - lets see some more Gnats.

[Double Zero]

Neilf92, I may have some more - clearer too - in the attic, if so will try to put them up later today / tomorrow. DZ

[PFR]

Yes please....more, more!!

[BEagle]

Know the hydraulic failure drill.

Absolutely! It's 35 years since I last flew a Gnat and I can still recite the STUPRECC drill!

Also, you must have a very good knowledge and understanding of all aircraft systems. 'Cancel warning, read procedure' simply won't be sufficient if you have an Amber or Red caption illuminated.

But when all's fine, the Folland Pocket Rocket is a pure delight!

[allthecoolnamesarego]

Thanks for the tips guys. I'm interested to hear any other tid-bits of operating info you might like to through my way.

As for the photos - love 'em, more please

Coolnames

[l.garey]

Maybe not as nice as the ones above, but here is a photo of an Indian Gnat (not Ajeet) displayed at the Pakistan Air Force Museum in Karachi. It strayed into Pakistan during the 1965 war and was later flown and tested by the PAF.

Laurence

[India Four Two]

Laurence,

What nice timing - I've just seen three more of the same. I'm just leaving Delhi after my first ever trip to India. Unfortunately I didn't have time to go to the IAF museum, but on my way to the airport this morning, I saw these outside the IAF HQ:



As we approached, I thought they were three Migs, but as we got closer, I realized they were too small. This is not my photo, but with "500 m in smog", I couldn't have taken as good a picture!

Apparently No 1 is an Ajeet and 2 and 3 are Mk. 1 Gnats. The first time I've seen a single seater. More information here:
Gnats display at Vayu Bhawan

Simon

[l.garey]

Thanks for that Simon. When I visted the Palam IAF museum in Delhi in 1981 there were Gnat IE1059 and also Ajeet E2004.

According to Indian Air Force Museum - Modern Era Aircraft
Ajeet E2015 arrived there later.

Laurence

[Tee Emm]

There is a former CFS Gnat (flyable I believe) and privately owned, in a glass fronted display room at Essendon Airport, Melbourne (Australia). You can see it from the Tullamarine Freeway about 80 metres away and I can't tell you how many times I have nearly driven up someone's rear bumper while rubber necking at the Red Gnat

[Krystal n chips]

If you are the owner of said Gnat, in addition to the advice offered by the aircrew on here, I would seriously suggest you ensure the engineers who maintain it for you are fully conversant with it's little quirks....such as setting the tailplane for example... .it's not an "easy" aircraft even with experience on the type.

[Proplinerman]

Here's a shot of the Red Arrows in the days when they were flying Gnats:

ScanImage9e | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[gunshy67]

What a classic thread. Full of memories of a wonderful time in my own career.

When asked, I would describe the Gnat as the closest thing to flying a broomstick. The 12 foot pitot tube seemed to be the vehicle you straddled as you did what the aircraft did best ............. manoeuvre and in all sorts of weather.

EX RAAF change for me and based at Rissington, Fairford then Kemble. Not part of the Team as such but with C flight. Those posted to the team we refreshed and did the formation aero bit and then passed to Ray Hanna.

Formation Aeros were done with 10 degrees of flap ....due pitch stability. Ray took over from Lee Jones (Yellow Jacks) and developed the routine in a highly skilful way.......yes a real pro.

Names like Ray, Roy Cope-Lewis, Bill Brewer, Alex Wickham, Dennis Hazel (Sadly Passed On) and others I can't recall. My brain has limits these days but I will check my log book if I can find it.

The aircraft - supersonic advanced turning was a test - but Offset Computer for Tacan, separate emergency radio (something of a novelty for me for an Uxbridge fix) ) and "zero reader (now known a Flight director) made it a total visual and IFR package with "grunt".

And as a snow removal vehicle it worked wonders for the instructors' course we ran. Six weeks behind was the course due snow at Fairford. Alex Wickham suggested the "antipodean" should do the job so after about an hour of flapless touch and goes (flapless to get the tail down) at Alex's suggestion, managed to clear a six foot line for about the first 2000 feet of each end of the runway .

Great incentive to keep on the centre line for the rest of the winter..........and if I recall it was like a tunnel....snow banks to assist.

Wonderful aircraft and wonderful people I was proud to know and work with.

Thanks so much for the memories.

[allthecoolnamesarego]

Mach Tuck?

Could any of you ex (or current!) Gnat drivers tell me if the Gnat experienced any mach tuck?

Thanks

Coolnames