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Gnat cleared for take-off
A GNAT is buzzing over Bournemouth airport after the former Red Arrows jet was cleared for take-off following a lengthy restoration.
Now operated and maintained by the De Havilland Aviation concern, the Folland Gnat two-seater trainer entered service with the RAF in 1964 and was used as the lead plane with the RAF Red Arrows from 1976 until the aerobatic display team switched to its current BAe Hawk aircraft.
Given the civil registration G-NATY, the aircraft kept its Red Arrows livery and RAF service number XR537 when it passed into private ownership and later became a popular exhibit at the Bournemouth Aviation Museum.
But "Gnaty", as the plane became affectionately known, looked destined to remain grounded as efforts to restore the aircraft to flying condition repeatedly stalled.
Now after a concerted effort by De Havilland Aviation, Gnaty has again taken to the skies with former Red Arrows number two Justin Hughes taking the controls to become one of the few Red Arrows pilots to have flown both types of aircraft used by the team.
Geoff Beck, managing director of DHA, said: "It is great to have Justin on board with Gnaty's operations programme, and it certainly adds more prestige to our team by having had a former Red flying this famous aircraft."
Flying duties are also shared by chief pilot and former Red Arrow veteran Brian Grant and his successor Lt Cdr Matt Whitfield, Officer Commanding of Fixed Wing Standards for the Royal Navy.
And De Havilland Aviation is offering a limited number of syndicate shares in the aircraft to allow serious thrill-seekers the chance to enjoy the experience of flying in Gnaty.
1:00pm Friday 18th April 2008
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CommentPosted by: storm, poole on 2:13pm Fri 18 Apr 08
What a wonderful opportunity! If only I was a brave ole soul. I think the Red Arrows are great, I have seen this Gnat at the Bournemouth Aircraft Museum; and I strongly recommend readers to visit if they have not been. Whatever people do, they must simply keep supporting the Red Arrows, for as long as the planes keep going; they are very popular but also very expensive so keep donating, we would all be sad to lose them wouldn't we? Thousands of people will view and this year the return of a free display over a long weekend incorporating many vintage planes...excellent!!
!
What a wonderful opportunity! If only I was a brave ole soul. I think the Red Arrows are great, I have seen this Gnat at the Bournemouth Aircraft Museum; and I strongly recommend readers to visit if they have not been. Whatever people do, they must simply keep supporting the Red Arrows, for as long as the planes keep going; they are very popular but also very expensive so keep donating, we would all be sad to lose them wouldn't we? Thousands of people will view and this year the return of a free display over a long weekend incorporating many vintage planes...excellent!!
!
Posted by: Christopher, Wallisdown & Winton West on 3:52pm Fri 18 Apr 08
Sadly the Bournemouth Aviation Museum is closed as of the 16th December last year. Because of redevelopments at the airport, the present museum needed to be relocated, but the offer of new premises was not of a size to hangar all the aircraft and other exhibits. Therefore the BAM remains shut down until such times as alternative grounds can be found.
A sad thing when we read of the G-NATY Folland Gnat being put through its paces in the skies over Bournemouth again. We can not lose the BAM, it has been part of Bournemouth and the airport for a very long time. Another piece of tourism cannot be taken from us.
Support the BAM by showing your support and views on
http://www.aviation-
museum.co.uk/framese
t.htm
Sadly the Bournemouth Aviation Museum is closed as of the 16th December last year. Because of redevelopments at the airport, the present museum needed to be relocated, but the offer of new premises was not of a size to hangar all the aircraft and other exhibits. Therefore the BAM remains shut down until such times as alternative grounds can be found.
A sad thing when we read of the G-NATY Folland Gnat being put through its paces in the skies over Bournemouth again. We can not lose the BAM, it has been part of Bournemouth and the airport for a very long time. Another piece of tourism cannot be taken from us.
Support the BAM by showing your support and views on
http://www.aviation-
museum.co.uk/framese
t.htm
Posted by: Rich W, Bournemouth on 5:52pm Fri 18 Apr 08
It is an absolute tragedy that all the hard work done by BAM and DHA may come to nothing because of Manchester Airport Group's ignorance of culture, history, and heritage.
The idiots 'ooop nooorth' will probably evolve into Vogons who will demolish the planet to build a hyper-space bypass.
It is an absolute tragedy that all the hard work done by BAM and DHA may come to nothing because of Manchester Airport Group's ignorance of culture, history, and heritage.
The idiots 'ooop nooorth' will probably evolve into Vogons who will demolish the planet to build a hyper-space bypass.
Posted by: Geof, Wimborne on 9:23pm Fri 18 Apr 08
Your aircraft flying over JT's funeral yesterday was a moving moment - thanks from all RMA's there
Your aircraft flying over JT's funeral yesterday was a moving moment - thanks from all RMA's there
Posted by: GeoffBeck, Corfe Mullen on 9:32am Sat 19 Apr 08
[quote][bold]Geof[/bold] wrote:
Your aircraft flying over JT's funeral yesterday was a moving moment - thanks from all RMA's there[/quote] It was the least we could do. JT was a good friend of my younger brother at ATC and on the occasions that I met him, I was always impressed by him.
Hopefully the flypast commemorated just one of the amazing feats he achieved in his short but very full life.
RIP JT, and High Flight
Geof wrote:
Your aircraft flying over JT's funeral yesterday was a moving moment - thanks from all RMA's there
It was the least we could do. JT was a good friend of my younger brother at ATC and on the occasions that I met him, I was always impressed by him.
Hopefully the flypast commemorated just one of the amazing feats he achieved in his short but very full life.
RIP JT, and High Flight
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