The Hawker Siddeley Gnat T1: Historic Red Arrows Trainer

The Folland Gnat, a compact subsonic fighter aircraft developed by Folland Aircraft and designed by W. E. W. Petter, entered service for the first time in 1959. The aircraft was initially created to be a cost-effective alternative to the Royal Air Force’s larger, more expensive combat aircraft and was also intended to serve in combat and non-combat training roles. The aircraft was based on the earlier Folland Midge and was intended to be easy to maintain without specialized tools, making it a more fitting choice for less industrialized nations, something that was meant to increase the aircraft’s export potential.