Folland Gnat Mk.1 - XK740

The Gnat was designed as a light weight fighter and although rejected in this role by the RAF was built in large numbers for the Finnish and Indian air forces. The larger trainer version was used by the RAF and is best known as the mount of the Red Arrows.

The first Gnat proper was preceded by a smaller prototype, the Midge, which was powered by a Viper turbojet and first flew in 1954. The prototype Gnat was built at Folland's Hamble factory in 1955 and made its first flight from Chilbolton under the "B-Conditions" civil registration G-39-2. This was followed by a development batch of six aircraft for the Ministry of Supply for evaluation. In the event, the RAF did not order the Gnat fighter but did take the larger two-seat trainer version as a replacement for the Vampire T.11 and this became famous as the original mount of the RAF Aerobatic Team, The Red Arrows.

XK740 is the second of the Ministry of Supply development batch aircraft, it first flew on 6 March 1957 and was flown at the SBAC Display at Farnborough that year, later it was used by Bristols at Filton for Orpheus development after which it became ground instructional airframe number 8396M, was painted in spurious Red Arrows markings and used by the RAF Inspectorate of Recruiting as a moblile display aircraft; after retirement it was displayed at the Aerospace Museum, RAF Cosford until 1986 when it was obtained for display in Southampton. In February 1987 it was returned to the old Folland factory at Hamble, now British Aerospace, where it was repainted in its original colour scheme ready for display in the museum.

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