‘The Clockwork Gnat’.
A very good friend of mine was a technician in Station Workshops at Laarbruch, Germany between May 1979 and May 1982. Sometimes during this period a bright red-painted Gnat would fly in from either Farnborough or Boscombe Down, perhaps for the purpose of carrying out some ‘Hush Hush’ tests on equipment carried on board the aircraft. At the end of each day of the Gnat’s visit it would be towed into the VASF (Visiting Aircraft Service Flight) hangar and unobtrusively parked between some Buccaneer or Tornado aircraft of Laarbruch’s own squadrons, so as not to draw the attention of any casual onlooker by being left outside.
At the end of one particular day the bright red Gnat was parked up as usual between the green and grey squadron aircraft but when my friend arrived for duty the next day he found everyone falling about themselves with laughter and pointing at the Gnat. Overnight someone had made a large, wooden or cardboard clockwork-type key and placed it on top of one of the radio masts located behind the cockpit. The sight of this tiny aircraft, with the key for its clockwork motor, coyly parked between the much larger Buccaneer and Tornados must have been something to behold!
Apparently many photographs were taken, including some, my friend believes, by the Laarbruch station photographer and I wonder if it would be possible to ask your readers whether any photographs of this unique event still survive?
By: AdlerTag - 31st March 2025 at 14:23
Are you sure it was all over red? I ask as around this time the RAe were using XP505 for various purposes, which might also explain the ‘hush hush’ nature of its visits.
http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/gnat/survivorspics4.html#XP505
By: CADman - 31st March 2025 at 14:23
Interesting story. Not sure the dates 1979 to 1982 would be correct for an RAF Gnat ? Think the last service user was the Red Arrows and thier final season was 1979. Arnold Glass bought XS101 straight from RAF service, registered G-GNAT, it was around at that time, maybe thats your bird ?
By: CADman - 31st March 2025 at 14:22
Forgot about that one. Retired to the science museum in 1983
By: John Aeroclub - 31st March 2025 at 14:21
I and a colleague carried out the ‘key mod’ to Fiat G.91’s at Treviso in 83. I made them from discarded cardboard tubes and stuck them into the side starter hatches. sadly no photos of the keys.
John
By: Cking - 31st March 2025 at 14:21
I was at RAE Farnborough from 1978 to 1985 in Aircraft department. They did not operate a flying Gnat during that time.
Rgds Cking
By: CADman - 31st March 2025 at 14:20
I was at RAE Farnborough from 1978 to 1985 in Aircraft department. They did not operate a flying Gnat during that time.
Rgds Cking
XP505 was on Flight Systems at Bedford, probably on wind shear trials ? untill 1983
By: bravoalpha - 31st March 2025 at 14:19
Buccaneers and Hunters only over this period. Tornado did not arrive until mid-1983.
Wrong i’m afraid. The Tornado was a regular visitor to all the RAFG Stations at this time. Remember, we are talking VASF here, not Squadrons
By: Batman - 31st March 2025 at 14:19
‘The Clockwork Gnat’.
A very good friend of mine was a technician in Station Workshops at Laarbruch, Germany between May 1979 and May 1982. At the end of each day of the Gnat’s visit it would be towed into the VASF (Visiting Aircraft Service Flight) hangar and unobtrusively parked between some Buccaneer or Tornado aircraft of Laarbruch’s own squadrons,
Buccaneers and Hunters only over this period. Tornado did not arrive until mid-1983.
By: lothar - 31st March 2025 at 14:16
Another clockwork steed
A 151 Sqn Hawk that was amended by 29 Sqn at Decimomannu in 1986.
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January 16, 2010 at 10:22 am