Folland Gnat

Developed as a private venture by Folland Aircraft, the Gnat first flew on 18 July 1955. The Folland Gnat was a British compact swept-wing subsonic fighter aircraft that was developed and produced by Folland Aircraft. It was designed to be produced quickly and affordably. As such, it was a small aircraft with a length of 9 metres and a wingspan of only 6.7 metres.

The Gnat was armed with two 30 mm cannons and had an excellent power-to-weight ratio. The aircraft also proved to be extremely manoeuvrable. The Finnish Air Force, which had ordered thirteen Gnats, was the first operator to use the aircraft type operationally. The Indian Air Force received its first Gnats in 1958 and used these aircraft effectively in combat against Pakistan during the 1960s and ‘70s. India’s Hindustan Aeronautics built almost 200 Gnats under licence. The Indian-built variant of the Gnat was named the ‘Abet.’ The Royal Air Force received its Gnats in 1962 and used its aircraft for advanced training and aerobatic displays. The only other Gnat operator was the Yugoslav Air Force, which received two aircraft for evaluation purposes. Ultimately, about 450 Gnats and Ajeets were produced.