Folland Gnat
Thunder & Lightnings

Folland Gnat

"Both, please!"
- Ray Hanna, on being offered a choice between a Spitfire and a Gnat.

Brainchild of the designer of both the Canberra and Lightning, the Gnat was intended to be a lightweight fighter for the Royal Air Force, but ended up only seeing service as a trainer with the RAF with some success as a fighter and light ground attack aircraft with the Indian and Finnish Air Forces. In service with the RAF from 1958 until 1979 (and as late as 1991 with the Indian Air Force), it was Folland's last product before merger with Hawker Siddeley Aviation.

Read on for the history of the Gnat.