i read that in 1960 britain offered israel the license and tools to make these locally but because they couldn't carry a substantial payload and were only transonic they were rejected for buying the mirage III. so india was offered and went with it. it proved to be so good their local update the ajeet proved to be a really potent little fighter and stayed in use until recent years. i forget if the ajeet was supersonic in level flight however.
In Finland we used these jets in the 60`s. My father, who was a pilot in the FAF, told me that 2 officers had an argue (drunk ofcourse) on which could outmanuvre the other.....the Mig 21 (bis) or Folland gnat. We used both at that time. So, one day they met at 20000 ft. The "dogfight" begun. He said "The Gnat could draw 8 around him"...the MIG had NO chance :-)
The Gnat was an amazing little plane capable of nearly 700 mph. In the comedy film "Hot Shots," Gnats (ex-RAF and maybe some ex-Indian AF), repainted in US insignia, are used extensively and even (or so it appears) landing on and taking off American aircraft carriers.
@Gruntol5 I've seen film of how this was done. They were on a section of road on the coast with some props to make it look as though they were on a carrier
hi !in India it's known as saber killer(saber jets)
srijit8227 8 months ago
i read that in 1960 britain offered israel the license and tools to make these locally but because they couldn't carry a substantial payload and were only transonic they were rejected for buying the mirage III. so india was offered and went with it. it proved to be so good their local update the ajeet proved to be a really potent little fighter and stayed in use until recent years. i forget if the ajeet was supersonic in level flight however.
nomadnametab 1 year ago
To fly the Gnat is to Know exhilaration, acceleration and ecstacy. I Know.
AVMamfortas 1 year ago
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kamasutrair 2 years ago
In Finland we used these jets in the 60`s. My father, who was a pilot in the FAF, told me that 2 officers had an argue (drunk ofcourse) on which could outmanuvre the other.....the Mig 21 (bis) or Folland gnat. We used both at that time. So, one day they met at 20000 ft. The "dogfight" begun. He said "The Gnat could draw 8 around him"...the MIG had NO chance :-)
scandiguy75 2 years ago
The Gnat was an amazing little plane capable of nearly 700 mph. In the comedy film "Hot Shots," Gnats (ex-RAF and maybe some ex-Indian AF), repainted in US insignia, are used extensively and even (or so it appears) landing on and taking off American aircraft carriers.
Gruntol5 2 years ago
@Gruntol5 I've seen film of how this was done. They were on a section of road on the coast with some props to make it look as though they were on a carrier
binaway 5 months ago
Some how a jet named after one of the smallest bugs does not seem intimidating.
StormRisingOriginal 2 years ago
Isn't it about speed and agility? Plus even the small Gnat has a nasty 'bite'!
Doubledig 2 years ago
Great Posts....love your site keep em coming!
Greenhornet270 2 years ago