Selwyn Posted February 16, 2017 Share Posted February 16, 2017 When the Red arrows transitioned to Hawk some of their Gnats were then used for aircraft handling training at Cosford in C. 1979. Can anyone tell me what RA airframes went to Cosford, and what was the final paint/marking scheme used on the RA Gnat? Selwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Edmundson Posted February 16, 2017 Share Posted February 16, 2017 (edited) Can't help with the airframe numbers but the final Red Arrows scheme of '78-'79 was the nose lightning bolt replaced by a stripe including the sloped ROYAL AIR FORCE in white. Cheers, Tony Edited February 16, 2017 by Tony Edmundson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweeky Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 There was a few RA Gnat's at Halton in 1980 remember pushing a few out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 (edited) maybe worth having a look on Airliners.net or ABPics etc if you haven't already, 'mazing what turns up there for retired airframes in my experience. Found this one after googling for red arrows gnat raf halton, maybe representative? Steve. Edited February 18, 2017 by stevehnz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selwyn Posted February 18, 2017 Author Share Posted February 18, 2017 11 hours ago, stevehnz said: maybe worth having a look on Airliners.net or ABPics etc if you haven't already, 'mazing what turns up there for retired airframes in my experience. Found this one after googling for red arrows gnat raf halton, maybe representative? Steve. I have done this,but they are are all Halton aircraft. the question was specifically about cosford airframes! Selwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coors54 Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Is there anything in the Red Arrows Special produced by the IPMS mag a few years ago? (I'm away from base at the mo' so can't check myself) If memory serves it listed in quite a bit of detail all the schemes through the years backed with photos and drawings, it was a labour of love. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dambuster Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 The answer is probably to be found in various older editions of Wrecks and Relics. Unfortunately, my collection is boxed up pending removals. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberraman Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Selwyn According to my records, the RAFAT Gnats that were on strength in 1979 - the final year before transition to Hawk T1 - were disposed of as follows: XP514 - to RAFC Eng Flt XP535 - to RN SAH Culdrose XR540 - to RAFC Eng FLT XR572 - to RN SAH Culdrose XR955 - to RN SAH Culdrose *XR977 - to 2 SoTT Cosford *XR987 - to 2 SoTT Cosford XR991 - to RAFC Eng Flt XR993 - to RN SAH Culdrose XS101 - to RAFC Eng Flt *XS107 - to 2 SoTT Cosford. Hope this helps Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Edmundson Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 4 hours ago, Coors54 said: Is there anything in the Red Arrows Special produced by the IPMS mag a few years ago? (I'm away from base at the mo' so can't check myself) If memory serves it listed in quite a bit of detail all the schemes through the years backed with photos and drawings, it was a labour of love. Dave Yes, that was the reference I used for my post above. No info of any disposal to Cosford, though. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 (edited) 8 hours ago, Selwyn said: I have done this,but they are are all Halton aircraft. the question was specifically about cosford airframes! Selwyn ,I didn't find any refs to Cosford either, there may be a reason for that. I think Tweeky's post above mine popped Halton into my head. Steve. Edited February 18, 2017 by stevehnz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMB Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 Well XR977 definately went to Cosford as it was passed on to the RAFM collection there and is current in the final 1978/79 scheme with "ROYAL AIR FORCE" titles on the nose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selwyn Posted February 20, 2017 Author Share Posted February 20, 2017 (edited) On 18/02/2017 at 3:27 PM, canberraman said: Selwyn According to my records, the RAFAT Gnats that were on strength in 1979 - the final year before transition to Hawk T1 - were disposed of as follows: XP514 - to RAFC Eng Flt XP535 - to RN SAH Culdrose XR540 - to RAFC Eng FLT XR572 - to RN SAH Culdrose XR955 - to RN SAH Culdrose *XR977 - to 2 SoTT Cosford *XR987 - to 2 SoTT Cosford XR991 - to RAFC Eng Flt XR993 - to RN SAH Culdrose XS101 - to RAFC Eng Flt *XS107 - to 2 SoTT Cosford. Hope this helps Mark Mark thats cracking Just the information I was looking for! The reason I asked this question is that I am presently modelling all "My aircraft." Thats alrcraft that had a special meaning to me from my career. Back in 1979 I was training at Cosford and during the airfields phase, we were being taught aircraft starting. We were using a red arrows Gnat as our aircraft, and on the very first start an instructor acted the part of the pilot and I was chosen from the course members to sit in the back seat. The start went very well using a paluste, and the "Pilot" throttled up, but suddenly there was a mad panic outside with the starter crew franticaly giving us the emergency shut down signal. There was a mad panic shutting down the engine and opening he canopy to get out ASAP! On vacating the aircraft we found that the kerfuffle was down to the jet blast from the aircraft, which had torn up a great patch of the tarmac taxiway behind the jet, sending great lumps of black everywhere! That surprisingly was the end of the lesson for the day. All I could remember was that the Jet was a red arrows Gnat, and the registration was XS something. Thanks to this list it looks like XS107 was the culprit as it was the only XS reg Gnat present. Therefore a nice red 1/48 Airfix Gnat is in the offing! Again Many thanks! Edited February 20, 2017 by Selwyn 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberraman Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 4 hours ago, Selwyn said: Mark thats cracking Just the information I was looking for! The reason I asked this question is that I am presently modelling all "My aircraft." Thats alrcraft that had a special meaning to me from my career. Back in 1979 I was training at Cosford and during the airfields phase, we were being taught aircraft starting. We were using a red arrows Gnat as our aircraft, and on the very first start an instructor acted the part of the pilot and I was chosen from the course members to sit in the back seat. The start went very well using a paluste, and the "Pilot" throttled up, but suddenly there was a mad panic outside with the starter crew franticaly giving us the emergency shut down signal. There was a mad panic shutting down the engine and opening he canopy to get out ASAP! On vacating the aircraft we found that the kerfuffle was down to the jet blast from the aircraft, which had torn up a great patch of the tarmac taxiway behind the jet, sending great lumps of black everywhere! That surprisingly was the end of the lesson for the day. All I could remember was that the Jet was a red arrows Gnat, and the registration was XS something. Thanks to this list it looks like XS107 was the culprit as it was the only SX reg Gnat present. Therefore a nice red 1/48 Airfix Gnat is in the offing! Again Many thanks! Glad to be of service! That's an interesting tale as well about the Gnat jet blast. Good luck with your model. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selwyn Posted February 20, 2017 Author Share Posted February 20, 2017 Even better just seen that XS107 is one of the schemes in the airfix kit. It's the earlier RA scheme but by amalgamating it with the late scheme it should come out perfect! Selwyn Being very happy today! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Britman Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 Does not reflect too well on your instructors Selwyn. Did they not assess the surroundings beforehand? Always drummed into me before starting an engine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selwyn Posted February 21, 2017 Author Share Posted February 21, 2017 2 hours ago, Britman said: Does not reflect too well on your instructors Selwyn. Did they not assess the surroundings beforehand? Always drummed into me before starting an engine. In their defence Gnats had been taxying past (marshalling training) for the previous hour on the taxiway without problems, and there were no obvious obstructions etc and the slot was used regularly for engine start training, its hard to see what more they could have done! Selwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Britman Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 Sods law isn't it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JagRigger Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 Funnily enough I had the same thought on 'my' aircraft, The Airfix JP 3 building at the moment will be an M serial from Halton, as it's the background machine to a course photo, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selwyn Posted February 21, 2017 Author Share Posted February 21, 2017 2 hours ago, JagRigger said: Funnily enough I had the same thought on 'my' aircraft, The Airfix JP 3 building at the moment will be an M serial from Halton, as it's the background machine to a course photo, My "in production" model at this moment is a 1/48 Airfix Sea Vixen. Building it as my first Weapon load training airframe at Cosford weapon school, Sea Vixen 8143M (ex XN691). Selwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truro Model Builder Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 On 2/20/2017 at 1:16 PM, Selwyn said: Back in 1979 I was training at Cosford and during the airfields phase, we were being taught aircraft starting. We were using a red arrows Gnat as our aircraft, and on the very first start an instructor acted the part of the pilot and I was chosen from the course members to sit in the back seat. The start went very well using a paluste, and the "Pilot" throttled up, but suddenly there was a mad panic outside with the starter crew franticaly giving us the emergency shut down signal. There was a mad panic shutting down the engine and opening he canopy to get out ASAP! On vacating the aircraft we found that the kerfuffle was down to the jet blast from the aircraft, which had torn up a great patch of the tarmac taxiway behind the jet, sending great lumps of black everywhere! That surprisingly was the end of the lesson for the day. Ah, the power of the mighty Orpheus! And that's not something you can say often. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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