Despite expensive enquiries I have not been able to determine the authenticity of this unusual paint job. Pima's site states that these are RAF test colours from 1961 at Dunsfold but I think it more likely that the colours were simply inherited from the previous private owner who had the aircraft painted like this, perhaps to look like an Indian Gnat/Ajeet. Pima's Head of Collections was very helpful in correspondence, but we were not able to resolve this question. What we do know is that the aircraft was used by the A&AEE, Bristol Siddeley Engines and the RAE before becoming a ground trainer.

On display at the Defence Exhibition Pavilion at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. An improvement over the battle-tested Folland Gnat, the Ajeet entered IAF service in 1977 till retired in 1991. Just 89 of the type were built or updated by HAL. The left wing shows two of the four hardpoints.

Sabre Killer on display at IAF Museum Palam. It was notable for its small size and impressive performance, especially the rate of climb. The first Gnat unit was No. 23 Sqn. "Panthers", which flew the type from Feb 1960 to Jan 1978, downing a PAF F-86 on 3 Sep 1965 as IAF'S first jet kill. Other units to fly the type were No. 2 Sqn. "Winged Arrows", 9 "Wolfpack", 15 "Flying Lances", 18 "Flying Bullets", 21 "Ankush", 22 "Swifts" and 24 "Hawks". Behind the aircraft is the photo of Fg Offr Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, PVC, killed in action in the 1971 Indo-Pak War while flying a Gnat.

Photograph received via Tuomo T. Mäkinen.

Arrived at MAM from being in storage at Cosford in December 2022.

This bright scheme is from the Royal Air Force flight test colors, 1961.

Rare participant in the Farnborough Show.

The 2nd single-seat development aircraft. Used as a touring exhibit by 71MU and here recently painted into "Red Arrows" colours. On display at Solent Sky in 2022.

This Gnat was testflown in Jun-1958 as G-39-8 and acquired the same month by the Yugoslav Air Force for evaluation with serial 11601. It was withdrawn from use in 1962 and handed over to the Muzej Vazduhoplvstva Beograd on 31-Aug-1963. It is not carrying its assigned serial 11601 here.

Finland received 13 Gnats from 1958 (nine F.1s and two FR.1s) and had intended licence building them in addition, but that did not proceed. As the first operational user of the Gnat F.1, many challenges had to be faced by the Finnish Air Force. In the harsh Scandinavian conditions, operation and maintenance was challenging, with four being lost in accidents. Once maintenance issues were overcome, it proved to be a good performer with excellent manoeuvrability, but was replaced in 1972 by the introduction of the Draken.

The fuselage of RAF Gnat F.1 XK741 has been restored as 'GN-101' of the Finnish AF. The original GN-101 was c/n FL.8 and is preserved in Finland.

Used at Bicester for ground instruction as 8396M from 2 August 1961, and moved to Cosford for preservation in 1975. It was refurbished at Hamble in 1986/7 before being put on display on 5 March 1987 at Solent Sky, Southampton in grey/green camouflage.