tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1382854410055463830.post8098411297452779934..comments2024-03-22T11:27:23.011+05:30Comments on The Stamps of Velu: Indian Air force - The Gnat (Mk I)Veluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09663873372964194895noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1382854410055463830.post-58085380393623825342007-08-05T15:42:00.000+05:302007-08-05T15:42:00.000+05:30I like what you have written . However some factua...I like what you have written . However some factual errors have crept in your text . <BR/><BR/>There never was an aircraft called "Ajeet Gnat (Mk I). It was Ajeet and Gnat Mk I. These were two different aircraft.<BR/><BR/>The Gnat went into IAF service in the spring of 1958 with fully built imported aircraft, with the first Gnat assembled by HAL from a kit flying in Bangalore on 18 November 1959. HAL then went on to build 195 Gnats themselves up to early 1974. The first completely HAL-built Gnat flew on 21 May 1962. <BR/><BR/>Gnat Mk I was a well loved aircraft by its pilots , still it had some problems with controls and hydraulics . In 1972,IAF asked HAL to design and build on to the gnat airframe to eliminate these problems , with additional requirement of "wet wings " and four hard points . Last two gnat aircraft from the assembly lines were used for redesigning a new aircraft to meet IAF requirements .The redesigned air craft type was named "AJEET" and it first flew on 06-03-1975 . <BR/><BR/>Gnat had acquitted itself well in both the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 AND 1971 . Shooting down enough Pak Sabres to earn nick name of "Sabre Slayers .PM Velankar.https://www.blogger.com/profile/18306126267675711168noreply@blogger.com