XR537 G-NATY – Permit to Fly (merged)

G-NATY flew today 04/03/08 I saw it land at 13.10hrs
I have no other info about whether this flight was a preliminary to moving elsewhere other than Bournemouth and there is none on the website

G-NATY was finishing off her Test flights and, I am delighted to say, has now completed all OK.

Yesterday, the CAA and our Chief Engineer completed the paperwork formalities and she is now fully Permitted to Fly. She will not be moving and will stay at our hangar at EGHH being displayed on the air-show circuit and for type-conversion training. If anyone wants to know more about those opportunities, then please contact us at DHA.

In the meantime, out sincere thanks to all the team, Brian for testing her, the CAA and the MoD for supporting the project… it has been a long hard struggle for over three years, but we got there in the end. 🙂

Its not clear, but the old thread seems to refer to a permit to test, not a permit to fly.

Bruce

Did this not occur last year?

Yipee!!! Congratulations.

G-NATY

After many years of try, finally today I have been given G-NATY’s “Permit to Fly”,so now we get get her out and about!!!

Gnat G-NATY

G-NATY flew today 04/03/08 I saw it land at 13.10hrs
I have no other info about whether this flight was a preliminary to moving elsewhere other than Bournemouth and there is none on the website

It’s parked in our hangar at De Havilland Aviation or it’ll be out the back being prepped for flight… it’s not in the museum at the moment, nor does it belong to the museum. Contrary to popular belief, the museum doesn’t actually own any of the operational aircraft… they simply put a roof over them in return for having them on display. Both the Gnat and Sea Vixen are maintained and operated by De Havilland Aviation.

We are looking at smokebox options.
Most of the old RAFAT Gnats used part of the fuel compartment to store the diesel which used up a lot of fuel room. With the decommissioning of most of the old comms, there’s plenty of room in the body behind seat 2 to put a smoke generation system which will probably be the easier option and more effective option. Just a case of looking at who offers what.

Thank you for info cant wait too see her ,how many operational aircraft are there that are around the museum .And does De Havilland Aviation still own a Gloster Meteor , Cant wait too see her displaying or doing a flypast at Bournemouth in the near future 😎

BTW Is XM692 the Grey Gnat?

Regards
James

heck why not a Foxy Lady supporters club, it work’s for Sally-B and VTS even Classic Flight have their Members club

😀 seriously though XR537 are we likely to see an increased De Hav fleet in the future. The matter of sponsership for G-CVIX has been mooted several times by the looks of things and the trail seems to have gone cold. Unlike other high maintenance aircraft like XH588 there has been little if no media coverage of G-CVIX’s plight nor any mention of her current fate, which we can only assume is languishing in a dark dusty corner of De Hav’s hanger, or worse outside exposed to the elements. You may laugh at the idea of contributions to G-CVIX’s running but give us the means to do so and advertise it, as VTS and Air Atlantique Classic Flight have done in the past not to mention Sally-B, and the vast majority of us would whole heartedly contribute what little or much we could, if it meant seeing such a rare beast fly again.

now that G-NATY is finally airborne will there be a concerted effort to have de hav’s other aircraft in the air in the not too distant future? I think I can speak for any number of people here that the loss of G-CVIX from our skies is a crying shame and we’d gladly do what it takes to get her airborne again.

Thanks for the offer… cheques can be made payable to “De Havilland Aviation Ltd” and sent to Hangar 600, Bournemouth International Airport, Christchurch, Dorset BH23 6DQ

About 100k does the trick for a full year, and you can have any colour you want on the paintwork (plus any decals as your heart desires) as part of the sponsorship deal.

You are right, G-CVIX as it should be seen!

http://www.caa.co.uk/applicationmodules/ginfo/ginfo_photo.aspx?regmark=G-CVIX&imgname=G-CVIX004&imgtype=jpg

now that G-NATY is finally airborne will there be a concerted effort to have de hav’s other aircraft in the air in the not too distant future? I think I can speak for any number of people here that the loss of G-CVIX from our skies is a crying shame and we’d gladly do what it takes to get her airborne again.

The other four flying Gnats in the UK, including G-MOUR at Kemble use the rear fuel tanks for diesel to generate smoke. This is the same as the Reds, minus the colour dye tanks for red/blue. By using the slipper tanks for extra fuel, it isnt a big problem operating in UK so long as the slippers are empty before you display.

Thanks for info, will take this advice on board along with all the alternatives. At the end of the day, I think we’ll have to weigh up complexity, cost, et al, of fitting anything before deciding on the final solution.

Gnat smoke

The other four flying Gnats in the UK, including G-MOUR at Kemble use the rear fuel tanks for diesel to generate smoke. This is the same as the Reds, minus the colour dye tanks for red/blue. By using the slipper tanks for extra fuel, it isnt a big problem operating in UK so long as the slippers are empty before you display.

We are looking at smokebox options.
Most of the old RAFAT Gnats used part of the fuel compartment to store the diesel which used up a lot of fuel room. With the decommissioning of most of the old comms, there’s plenty of room in the body behind seat 2 to put a smoke generation system which will probably be the easier option and more effective option. Just a case of looking at who offers what.

Might be worth contacting Kemble to see what smoke system is fitted to their ‘Yellowjack’ Gnat ‘XR991′(G-MOUR)?

Pix

Haven’t got mine off the camera so far, but here’s a couple from Julian’s camera and one from Nick Dardani…

which is a considerably better position to be in than this, sat lonely in the corner collecting dust!…

Fantastic news and well done too all the team involved, Be great having a Gnat over Dorset skies. I be on hoilday in Dorset next friday for two weeks and I hope I can pop in to see the Gnat when me brother goes to the nearby ski slope:) Hope too see it flying over me nan and grandads house. Do you park it at the Museum? and when your doing airshows will she have smoke?

All the best

James

It’s parked in our hangar at De Havilland Aviation or it’ll be out the back being prepped for flight… it’s not in the museum at the moment, nor does it belong to the museum. Contrary to popular belief, the museum doesn’t actually own any of the operational aircraft… they simply put a roof over them in return for having them on display. Both the Gnat and Sea Vixen are maintained and operated by De Havilland Aviation.

We are looking at smokebox options.
Most of the old RAFAT Gnats used part of the fuel compartment to store the diesel which used up a lot of fuel room. With the decommissioning of most of the old comms, there’s plenty of room in the body behind seat 2 to put a smoke generation system which will probably be the easier option and more effective option. Just a case of looking at who offers what.

I have to ask… Is the sig a self-composition in honour of a nasty moment, or is it something you found?

Adrian

No it wasn’t found… it’s just something I made up… just a bit of a joke variation on ‘High Flight’ in honour of all those airports who ask jets to start up on tarmac (and then moan when it gets a bit toasty) … :rolleyes:

But there are a few birdie strikes at Bournemouth and around the Purbecks… ducks don’t matter – just get the panckaes and Hoi Sin sauce ready (and don’t forget the cucumber and spring onions a la julienne) … but lapwings had a tendency to punch through aiframes if they hit you right. It’s almost that they know they’re going to die, so they might as well take out the comms panel when they go…

Fantastic news and well done too all the team involved, Be great having a Gnat over Dorset skies. I be on hoilday in Dorset next friday for two weeks and I hope I can pop in to see the Gnat when me brother goes to the nearby ski slope:) Hope too see it flying over me nan and grandads house. Do you park it at the Museum? and when your doing airshows will she have smoke?

All the best

James

More testing tomorrow and the weekend, but looking good so far.

I was at Hurn today and saw her take off and land. Did not realise the significance! All the best to you.