IAF Mig 21 ejection
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: USA
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There was a Naidu on Gnat Mk 1s (a contemporary of my father) but I don't think there was ever an IAF Gnat exchange instructor. There were a quite few who did the CFS course, the DFCL (Day Fighter Combat Leader) and the PAI courses but no one who actually did an exchange stint in the 60s-70s-80s timeframe. The only attachments for more than courses were for ETPS trained test pilots as far as I know. UK trained instructors were needed too badly at home.
Exchange postings to the UK and USA are relatively new and started only in the late 90s. My good friend was the first T-38 exchange instructor with the USAF in the 1996-99 timeframe.
Talking about the Gnat reunion - Beagle and others on the RAF Gnat might enjoy the site Gnat50Years which has some truly amazing stories which included the development of the Gnat at Chilbolton with Folland. The RAF Gnat was an entirely different machine of course.
Worf
Exchange postings to the UK and USA are relatively new and started only in the late 90s. My good friend was the first T-38 exchange instructor with the USAF in the 1996-99 timeframe.
Talking about the Gnat reunion - Beagle and others on the RAF Gnat might enjoy the site Gnat50Years which has some truly amazing stories which included the development of the Gnat at Chilbolton with Folland. The RAF Gnat was an entirely different machine of course.
Worf