T.1 XR537 at Hurn, 7th April 2006; Geoff Beck	T.1 XR538 at Kemble, 15th June 2003; author

XR537 was built by Folland at Hamble in the spring of 1963, being delivered from Dunsfold to the RAF. Initially issued to No.4 FTS at Valley in July, it later served with the Central Flying School. During its days with the CFS, XR537 was operated by the Red Arrows team, initially as a spare but in 1976 became the No. 1 aircraft. On withdrawal from flying duties in September 1979, it was delivered to No 2 School of Technical Training at Cosford to serve as an instructional airframe, receiving serial 8642M. It was maintained in a ground running condition, still in its Red Arrows colours, until surplus to requirements at the end of 1989. Sold at a Sotheby's Auction in March 1990, XR537/8642M was moved by road to Bournemouth on 5th April, being placed on the civil register as G-NATY in June. Purchased by a private owner in December 1990, overhaul commenced with engine runs undertaken the following spring. However problems arose over obtaining vital replacement parts, and so XR537 remained on display in the Museum until the untimely death of her owner in 2000 put a stop to the restoration. Thankfully in 2005 Drilling Systems of Bournemouth bought her and brought de Havilland Aviation onboard to continue the restoration. XR537 is now re-registered back as G-NATY and has received official approval from the RAF to fly in her former Reds colours. She has completed half of her non-airborne tests and should be airborne in the next month or so. She's seen her on her first own-power run in 18 years. Information current as of 07/04/2006.

Recently restored in a beautifully accurate rendition of the 4 FTS colours of the mid 1970s, XR538 had previously spend her time in civilian hands wearing a rather less attractive black and yellow scheme before being acquired by Delta Jets and repainted as shown above. 'Rori' continued to be a regular performer on the UK airshow circuit, but was sold to a new owner in early 2005. Information current as of 21/05/2005.

T.1 XR569 at Bruntingthorpe, 11th June 2000; author	T.1 XR571 at Scampton, May 2003; Tom McGhee

XR569 retired to storage at Bruntingthorpe and was then sold on to a private owner in the USA, departing on 16th December 2001. Any updates would be welcome. Information current as of 16/12/2001.

The Red Arrows display this Gnat outside their HQ at RAF Scampton. Wearing 1970s style Red Arrows scheme, as far as I can tell this is yet another red-painted Gnat that never actually served with the team. XR571's career appears to have been entirely with 4 FTS and was retired in 1975 after a heavy landing at RAF Valley. Information current as of 05/2003.

T.1 XR574 at Cosford, 8th May 2003; author	T.1 XR977 at Cosford, 14th March 2004; Rob Leigh

Retired but still in active service, XR754 (now marked 8631M) resides with the Engineering Skills Trading Squadron at RAF Cosford and is probably the only airframe that could possibly have fitted into the room in which it is located. Quite how they got it in (or how they'll ever get it out) is a mystery! Information current as of 08/05/2003.

Part of the collection at the RAF Museum at Cosford is this rather nice example in Red Arrows colours, wearing one of many variations on the colour scheme that the team tried out during their Gnat years, though I don't believe this airframe ever flew with the team, having spent most of its life with 4 FTS and latterly the RAE before retiring to Cosford as an instructional airframe in 1979 - and thenceforth to preservation at the Museum. Information current as of 14/03/2004.

T.1 XR991 at Kemble, 15th June 2003; author	T.1 XR993 at Kemble, 16th June 2002; author

Serving with 4 FTS between 1964 and 1978, XS102 was retired to instructional use at RAF Halton and later RAF Cosford. Auctioned in 1990, it was acquired by Dave Gilmour and after a year of work to restore it to full airworthiness was registered as G-MOUR and painted in the scheme it still wears. After a decade of so of Dave's ownership, XR991 was sold to Delta Jets and is now operated by the Yellowjack Group, retaining her Yellowjack team colours (the Red Arrows' predecessors), though XS102 never flew with the team. She is a regular airshow performer. Information current as of 15/06/2003.

Serving with 4 FTS between 1963 and 1979, XP534 was retired to ground instructional duties as 8620M at RAF Halton and ended up owned by a consortium and maintained by Kennet Aviation. Painted up as XR993 in Red Arrows colours, she is, as usual it seems, not a genuine ex-Red Arrow airframe. Information current as of 02/2003.

T.1 XS101 at Cranfield, 16th August 1998; author	T.1 XS111 at Fairford, 19th July 2003; author

A rare genuine ex-Red Arrows airframe, XS101 was owned by Arnold Glass and was seen at a few shows before becoming reclusive and only undertaking the occasional local flight out of Cranfield. Stored there for some time and looked after by Kennet Aviation, with their move to North Weald XS101 went with them and was then sold to a new owner in Australia. Information current as of 17/06/2004.

Well, this one's really XP504 but spent most of it's post-RAF life wearing a silver training scheme with yellow bands and wearing the serial 'XM693'. However when Kennet Aviation moved from Cranfield to North Weald they decided to repaint her again, and she now represents Ray Hanna's aircraft - XS111 - from when he was the Red Arrows team leader; XP504 never flew with the team for real though (how did you know I was going to say that?!). Information current as of 02/2003.