Folland Gnat - Survivor XP505

XP505 first flew on 21st September 1962 and began her career with the manufacturers, on loan from the Ministry of Aviation. She finally entered RAF service with the CFS in February 1966 but went back MoA charge in April and returned to Hawker-Siddeley at Dunsfold. In January 1969 HS sold her to the Ministry of Technology and she joined the A&AEE at Boscombe Down for a few weeks before being overhauled at Bitteswell and allocation to RAE Bedford's Aero Flight. She served there on gust and turbulence research (hence the large probes on the nose and wingtip) and was not retired until the 1980s, thus becoming the last flying Gnat in UK service. Sold to the Science Museum, XP505 was on display at the Museum's central London site until 1992 when she was moved into obscurity at their out-station at Wroughton, where she remains to this day.

Information on this page current as of 19/02/2004, last updated by Damien

Find other photos of XP505 on the following sites:

Air-Britain - Airliners.net - Airplane-Pictures.net - flickr.com - WorldAirPics.com - JetPhotos.net - PlanePictures.net