F.1 11601 at Belgrade, July 2002; Saso Knez	F.1 11602 at Belgrade, July 2002; Saso Knez

One of the two Gnat F.1s bought by the Yugoslavs, 11601 is preserved in the museum at Belgrade Airport and thankfully survived nearby US bombing raids without damage. Saso's photos show her to be in excellent condition, at least externally. This was the one that suffered hydraulic failure and landed wheels-up - ironically now in far better condition that the other Yugoslav example. Information current as of 06/2003.

Seemingly abandoned to its fate outside the museum at Belgrade, the second Yugoslav Gnat is in storage in the open air, and judging by the paintwork has been there for some years. The nose gear seems to be locked into an unnaturally extended position and the main gear oleos have bottomed out so that the tailpipe is actually only held off the ground by a couple of bits of wood. Despite this the aircraft does appear to be in fairly complete condition. Information current as of 06/2003.

F.1 E1051 at Ambala, October 2003; Jagan Pillarisetti/Warbirds of India	F.1 E1059 at Ajmer; Rishu Mandolia/Mayo College

Ambala has a war memorial called the 'Frozen Tear', dedicated to pilots who flew operations from this airfield. E1051 forms the backdrop for this monument which is in the shape of an elongated tear and bears the names of the fallen on plaques around its base. Information current as of 10/2003.

Mayo College has on its premises this aircraft, serialled E1059. The aircraft is on display in a barbed wire enclosure with a board giving the type's background and performance particulars; it is stated to be an Ajeet but as it only has two underwing hardpoints is far more likely to be a Gnat. Also, the serial number of the aircraft is not in sequence with known serials of Ajeets. E1059 sounds too much of a coincidence as there is a Gnat with the serial IE1059 at the IAF Museum in Delhi.

F.1 E1076 at March; John Hamilton	F.1 E1205 at Delhi; Stewart Lanham/Warbirds of India

Noted Warbird Collector Dave Talichet had acquired at least five Ajeet airframes through his warbird company Military Aircraft Restoration Corporation (MARC). One of the aircraft was E-1076 which was donated to the March Field Museum for display at the March Air Force Base in California. Initially displayed in IAF plain aluminium finish, this aircraft was repainted in this Red Arrows Scheme, but still carries the IAF Serial number on its fuselage. Of course the Reds never operated F.1s - such a shame it wasn't left in its correct IAF colours. Information current as of 11/2003.

The Indian Air Force HQ at Vayu Bhawan proudly displays three HAL Gnat/Ajeets in a vic formation on poles on the front lawn facing the main entrance. The three aircraft were installed here sometime in the mid-1990s. E1205 was the first Gnat built completely by HAL. Information current as of 12/2003.

F.1 E1222 at Liberal; Mid America Air Museum	F.1 E1973 at Pune; Kapil Chandni/Warbirds of India

Another of Dave Talichet's acquisitions, this one was donated to the Mid America Air Museum in Kansas. The Museum's Restoration Chief Frank Young had to build a replacement tail for the Gnat from drawings and photographs supplied by the original manufacturer HAL. E1222 is now preserved in IAF colors at the Museum and was presumably original IE1222. Information current as of 05/2002.

Displayed on a roundabout just outside St Mary's School is HAL Gnat E1973. The Gnat carries the emblem of the School on the nose, and overall seems to be in good condition, though the nosewheel oleo has sunk because of the weight of the aircraft. Information current as of 31/01/2002.

F.1 E232 at Kalaikunda; Warbirds of India	F.1 E246 at Delhi; Stewart Lanham/Warbirds of India

The ATC Tower at Kalaikunda has a unique display of two Gnat airframes erected vertically resting on their tail pipes. The aircraft are secured by outrigger cables and point vertically towards the sky. DJ1992 is just visible on the right-hand side of the picture. E232 served with 23 Squadron.

Displayed outside the Indian Air Force HQ are three Gnats wearing serials E1975, IE1205 and IE246. The authenticity of the last serial number is in question, as no such serial can be found in most publicly available records. The aircraft could either be IE1246 or E246. If its the former then it would have been the last of the IE serialled Gnats. Since Vayu Bhawan is located on a public throughfare, it is quite easy to take photographs of the aircraft on display but foreigners in particular should probably seek permission to do so as the security guards are vigilant! Information current as of 12/2003.