Gnat XM697

Here is one I beleive to be XM697 (G-NAAT) taken at Exeter in April 04.

I too was a member of the Woking air cadets, from 1973 through to 1979, and ‘697 was sold shortly thereafter IIRC…..

Great stuff guys. Any photo’s of that period ?

Does this one jog your memory perhaps ?
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Not so… XM697 was recently restored (2006), sold and moved Reynards Nursery (a garden center) in Carluke, Scotland, where it is on external display, thus….

Theres a large garden centre local to me with a decent amount of space out front. I wonder if I could persuade them to put a historic jet on display, a Hunter perhaps painted as if from ETPS at nearby Boscombe Down?

XM697 in Woking

I too was a member of the Woking air cadets, from 1973 through to 1979, and ‘697 was sold shortly thereafter IIRC. She was, of course one of the pre-production examples, and her rear cockpit was pretty empty, having been used for test equipment, which was removed (I presume) before the airframe ever came to Woking. She was also engine-less.

Whilst at Woking some of her systems were re-activated – the simple electrics such as nav lights, cockpit lights etc were powered up via a suitable mains/transformer connection, and a few months work by officers and willing cadets got her undercarriage working again – we put her up on jacks and lo and behold we succesfully cycled the gear a few times.

I seem to remember we also used to remove, and refit, the wing ferry tanks occasionally.

In terms of restoration to flight, I seem to remember the story went that her back had been broken at some point – possibly over stressed in service, possibly due to inappropriate jacking or storage during her time in Woking – I am sure one of the ATC officers (who worked for BAC at Brooklands(as was in those days) fabricated an extra spine panel to fit the “gap” that developed?

Anyway, good to see her looking neat ‘n tidy again, I spent many happy hours sitting in that cockpit dreaming I was flying alongside Dicky Duckett et al… happy days.

Paul F

P.S. In those days the squadron also had an unused Gnat canopy stored in the HQ building rafters – wonder if that was also sold with ‘697 or whether it’s still sitting there gathering dust….

Nice looking Gnat. Always thought it was a neat looking little jet that just seemed to “look”right” like the hunter!

Mike,

Yes i have lots more photo’s but don’t wish to post all here due to the limit/quota for such things. Perhaps we could trade info’ if you have any to share also ?

And welcome to the forum btw….!!

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XM697

Thats great news. Have you got any more photos details? Originally it was intended that it would fly again however I think the work was going to be to extensive. Also as a prototype it was pretty much flown to distruction before it came to us. She does make a great display though.

Regards, Mike:cool:

…. Although its sale has made us financial strong for the last 20 years, we all miss her. I here it is now sitting rotting at Exeter airport which is a crime.

Not so… XM697 was recently restored (2006), sold and moved Reynards Nursery (a garden center) in Carluke, Scotland, where it is on external display, thus….

Gnat XM697

Good Morning.

I notice this is an old posting but I am a committee member and former officer & cadet from Woking Sqn ATC. We owned this aicraft from @ 1968 to the mid 80’s. If you are still interested I could probably find out more for you. Plus I could find some photos. I spent a lot of my cadet days helping maintain the Gnat at the squadron. Although its sale has made us financial strong for the last 20 years, we all miss her. I here it is now sitting rotting at Exeter airport which is a crime.

Regards.

Mike:cool:

There’s a short paragraph of info and a fairly recent piccy on DamienB’s Thunder and Lightnings site.Looks like she’s been moved to Exeter airport…

http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/gnat/survivorspics3.html#XM697