History of Indian Air Force

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HAL Ajeets from No.2 Winged Arrows Squadron. At least one Ajeet from No.2 Squadron had joined the IAF's Historic Flight. The HAL Ajeet was different from the Gnat Mk.1, with updated avionics, up-rated engines & wet wings. An estimated 90 HAL Ajeets were built for the Indian Air Force. The fourth aircraft in the line up is in a camoflage scheme - a very rare color scheme for the Gnat / Ajeet family

 

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Four HAL-built Gnats rehearse for a Republic Day flypast over New Delhi. Two under wing fuel tanks are normally carried by the Gnat Mk.1, an increase in internal fuel capacity being one of the major advances planned for the Gnat Mk.2 or Ajeet.

 

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Operational conditions in India, with a prevalence of high temperatures and sand & dust in the atmosphere, led to some early problems with the Gnat, but these were later overcome. Portable shades help to reduce cockpit temperatures while aircraft are on the apron.

 

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An enemy pilot's nightmare was always to be faced with the Gnat when attacking Indian targets. This image shows a line up of 12 Gnats at a forward airfield in the early 1970s.

 

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Folland Gnat IE-1059 was the first Gnat received by the Indian Air Force in 1957. The aircraft is seen at Chilbolton, U.K. shortly before it was flown to Delhi in the cargo hold of a Fairchild C-119G Packet. The aircraft had a more blunt nose as opposed to the pointed nose in other Gnat models. IE 1059 is still on display at the IAF Museum, Palam.

 

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Folland Gnat IE-1059 was the first Gnat received by the Indian Air Force in 1957. The aircraft is seen at Chilbolton, U.K. shortly before it was flown to Delhi in the cargo hold of a Fairchild C-119G Packet. The aircraft had a more blunt nose as opposed to the pointed nose in other Gnat models. IE 1059 is still on display at the IAF Museum, Palam.

 

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With an overall blue finish - unlike the later Gnats which were unpainted - this is the second of a batch of Gnats built for the IAF by Folland and supplied as major assemblies for erection by HAL. Serial IE1061, it was photographed at the Aircraft & Armament Testing Unit, Kanpur in early 1958. This aircraft was the 9th Production aircraft of Folland. Today the aircraft can still be seen displayed at the Western Air Command Head Quarters at Subroto Park, New Delhi.

 

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Ground up view of a Gnat shows the under wing detail and the pitot boom on the starboard wing. Around 235 HAL Gnats served with the IAF operating in the fighter and fighter-bomber roles. The aircraft is possibly IE1074

 

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Gnat IE1244 was one of the examples built prior to the 1965 India Pakistan War. Its history and fate are not known.

 

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