When our fellow RAG member Ray Ball needed some detail pictures and measurements of the Gnat in order to build an accurate model of Gnat XR992 Oliver Wheeldon, the Gnat Display Team's chief pilot, invited Ray down to North Weald. Yours truly tagged along to take some pictures too.
As reported in the aviation press a little while ago, the GDT are restoring an ex- Indian Air Force Gnat F1 to flying condition, which is not without its challenges, especially because it is very different from the Gnat T1 in several aspects, not least the engine, which is a much more powerful version of the Rolls Royce Orpheus turbojet.
The pictures below show some of the aircraft found in the GDT hangar.
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| Gnat F1 is undergoing a return to flight restoration |
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| F1 with long range tanks. |
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| Gnat F1 tail cone |
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| XR992 having some issue sorted |
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| N513X was used in the film " Hot Shots - Part Deux" and will eventually be restored to flying condition. |
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| XR538 in good condition with slipper tanks. |
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| XR538 front cockpit right side |
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| XR538 rear cockpit right side |
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| XR538 front cockpit left side wall |
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| XR538 front cockpit right side wall |
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| One of two UH-1 Hueys flying in the UK |
Our thanks to Oliver Wheeldon whose endless patience allowed us to take our pictures.
The Group will meet Oliver next year when he will be coming to give us a talk.
Burbage, 15 October 2017
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