FOLLAND GNAT T.1

Folland Gnat is a British, single-engine, light, subsonic fighter-training aircraft with a duralumin, half-shell structure. The creator of the plane was the famous designer William "Teddy" Petter. The flight of the prototype took place on July 18, 1955, using a pre-production version of the Bristol-Siddeley Orpheus engine as the power unit. The RAF did not express much interest in the machine, despite its good performance and maneuverability, ordering only 8 copies. In general, the RAF only used the T.Mk.1 version for training and aerobatic flights. However, the great reputation allowed to export Folland Gnat to Finland, Yugoslavia, and above all to India, which became the main recipient of this aircraft. Folland Gnats entered Indian service in 1958. By producing under license, HAL had built 195 more airplanes of this type by 1974. From 1977, the same plants began serial production of the modernized version of the aircraft, known as the Ajeet, which had min. higher payload, new tail and new avionics (e.g. the new Ferranti sight). Folland Gnat did an excellent job in the hands of well-trained Indian Air Force pilots in the Second Kashmiri War (1965) and the Bangladesh War of Independence (1971), with numerous air victories in them. Technical data: length: 8.74 m, wingspan: 6.73 m, height: 2.46 m, maximum speed: 1120 km / h, climb speed: 101.6 m / s, maximum range: 800 km, maximum ceiling: 14630 m, armament: permanent -2 30mm ADEN cannons, outboard 454 kg bombs or 16 unguided 76mm shells.