Topic: folland gnat

There is a Gnat stuck on the top of a pole in Hamble if you live anywhere near there

Hi Gordon the light is a 5w 6 volt halagen fiber optic xmas tree bulb cost £3.50 works great,i switch it with a unit that a friend of mine makes which he designed for petrol engines to swtich them of  from the tx but it will switch anything regards Keith

Thanks Keith.  The light shows up pretty well.

Gordon

Pete Nye has let me borrow his videos of the DF meets back then, Ron Sweeney has also let me have some film as well. There are Gnats all over them! and quite a bit of film of yourself, Gordon, Pim, Ted Cooke, Pete Nye, Paul Gray, Dave Nieman etc etc

Pete was telling me about you, Dave N, himself and a blue Granada estate with a Phantom on the roof at Radlett . . . . . . . . sounded lke a really good laugh!
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Wouldn't mind a refresher on that stuff after all these years.  Had some good times, some you wouldn't believe!

John,

I can make you up a few discs, no problem at all! i have copied the test flight of Pete's lightning at Radlett to disc as well as the rest of the day . . . . . . have attached a copy of a picture you may remember. The video of Pete's Lightning is at Kemble being flown by Dick Spreadbury.

PETE NYE DUCTED FAN LIGHTNING

BARJAY AT RAF ABINGDON 1983

The video of Pete's Lightning is at Kemble being flown by Dick Spreadbury.

I don't suppose you've got one of it with the twin K&Bs fitted   Now that was impressive


Mark

I do! the Radlett flight i have mentioned was the test flight and it was then fitted with twin K&B 45's. I hope to have the video on Youtube this weekend . . . . . an impressive model!

Ref the Granada pic, if you look closely that may be me in the car getting ready to hold onto the phantom for the run down the runway.

Yes it is, Pete said it was you in the passenger seat with Dave Nieman behind.

John,

I can make you up a few discs, no problem at all! i have copied the test flight of Pete's lightning at Radlett to disc as well as the rest of the day . . .


I would certainly appreciate a copy of that stuff if Pete agrees.  Can't locate your email  Fisty so can you PM me and I'll send details..

John,

PM sent, let me know what you are wanting . . . . there is quite a bit!

Well done Jamie on the videos, : great to see all that old stuff,i saw the BayJay fly at Sandown many years ago regards Keith

Well done Jamie on the videos, : great to see all that old stuff,i saw the BayJay fly at Sandown many years ago regards Keith

Are you sure about Sandown Keith  
Apart from Greenham, I thought the only other flights were at Abingdon, and on the second take off it spat the turbine out the back end, and according to other reports on here it never flew again.


Mark

It may have been the Zanin Saggitario powered by a JPX T240, being flown by John Marsden? will never forget that! i was in the pits at the time, looked up and saw the stands were Packed! had never seen it so full . . . . . and so quiet as everyone was listening to the plane.

I posted the Lightning test flight video on Youtube last night.

PETE NYE LIGHTNING AT RADLETT

i am sure it was the Bayjay it was a red model with twin booms that much i can remember regards keith

Ok, will have a chat with Barry would be interested in knowing more about that. Test flight is now two weeks away so hopefully the unique weather system around Wroughton will be kind to us.

 I think the saggittario was flown by John palmer, i still have video
 of him setting up & flying it at long marston .
 Had the jpx 240 in.
 Not sure what year this was so i will dig out the video find the date
 & post it later.

 Rgds    Martin.

Martin,

It was definitely John Marsden who flew it at Sandown, John Palmer did fly John Franklins Aviation design Starjet though.

 Sorry i didn,t realise they were a few flying around at that time
 I thought that john palmer had the only one flying.
 
 Rgds   Martin.

  Jamie, as you say it was a starjet that John palmer was fllying,
  I do remember john greenfield from ghost squadron flying a saggittario with a JPX
 in at Elvington again many years ago.

 Rgds   Martin.

 Ps   I have dug out that D/F  pipe for you.

Cheers Martin, looking forward to the AGM. Flying season makes a start for myself and a few friends next weekend as we wilbe heading up for the first JMA meet of the year at West Raynham.

Watching these old vids makes me appreciate how much things have come on in a few short years! Talk about marginal thrust! 

I like the excess thrust available from modern turbines! If you have to slow down, that's what the throttle is for!    Jeez, even my foamy edf has better than 1:1 thrust to weight!

Loved the skyleader radio in the lightning vid! Reminds me of a Volvo - 'Boxy, but good!'

The Original Yellow Jacks built by Dennis, flies superb!!

How are the kits coming along?

Hi Alex
Kits are coming on well, I now have plans and build manual although just need photos of a build to add to the manual.
I have made two fuselages from the mould but was not 100% happy with the join.
The mould is currently in a friends composite workshop, the new mould should be ready in the next week or so.
I have also just completed CAD drawings of a set of oleos for the Gnat, prototype ready soon for testing.
Finally wing tanks are being made to finish the model off.
It has been a lot bigger undertaking than first thought but it will be worth it.
Russ

Just a note on flying, I now have dozens of flights with the Gnat, After playing with the CofG and throws. The model now flies even better, she is a fast model but can be slowed on landing. Fairly short landings have been achieved even without flaps or wheel brakes!
I intend to build another one with flaps, gear doors, wheel brakes etc. When time permits.

Hi, are these kits being produced/sold yet? Im a big fan of the Gnat and ould love one (more to build then fly, but possbbly fly in the future). I've looked everywhere for a 1/6th Scale John Carpenter kit but never found one.

If they are let me know some details.

Many Thanks

Tom

Hi, are these kits being produced/sold yet? Im a big fan of the Gnat and ould love one (more to build then fly, but possbbly fly in the future). I've looked everywhere for a 1/6th Scale John Carpenter kit but never found one.

If they are let me know some details.

Many Thanks

Tom

There's one for sale on BMFA by a certain Russ Delaney....   

http://www.bmfaclassifieds.co.uk/detail.php?id=77045

Or if you fancy a challenge, a slightly bigger version here:

http://jmajets.co.uk/board/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=2575

Yes
The kits are available for sale 

I do have a kit for sale on bmfa but this is an original jim fox kit with a polyester fuselage and not the epoxy fuzz I do with my kits.

Pm me if you would like a kit.

Hello

Do you mind emailing me the price and perhaps a few photos of the kit please?

Cheers, Alex

At gatwick at the mo doing ATPL exams.
I will get some pics at the weekend for you. 

Good luck

Found various GNAT pic sites but still yet to find a shot of the dashboard square on. Anyone seen one?

Is this one any good http://www.abpic.co.uk/popup.php?q=1242319

Perfect, thanks very much! 

Sorry for the delay, now have more time as I have my CPLH
Here is a pic of the kit, the CNC former set is now being finalised. Photo to follow

This looks extremely close to the old John Carpenter kit. (Ask me how I know).  This isn't an accusation.  If it is I am actually rather flattered.

It is, back in the thread these are being produced from the Jim Fox kit moulds. Dennis Wyman spent many months before he sadly passed away, developing it for turbine use.
I took the project on and have done more improvements. Including the CNC formers for turbine use.
The elevator setup is being made much stronger for turbine. Nearly finalised but will be alloy bearing blocks bolted to the the former.

Any dimensions and power required? 

1/6th Scale
Wingspan : 52"
Length :   67"
Engine :   Wren 54 prototype flown on Wren 70