Folland Gnat Mk.1
British designer Edward Teddy Peter, on his own initiative, designed the plane under the designation Fo 141 and the symbolic name "Gnat" (en. mosquito ). In the tests, the Gnat achieved better performance for three times lower price than the aircraft for the same purpose. Production of Folland Gnat began in 1956.
Finland and India have shown interest for this plane. In September 1956 India also started licensed production of this aircraft and engines. The light fighter proved good in two short Indo-Pakistani wars, in 1965 and 1971, when it was much more successful than Pakistani Saber-type aircraft.
At that time, Yugoslavia made great efforts to buy a license for the production of a jet fighter plane. The production program of fighter planes of reduced dimensions seemed quite acceptable and fitted into the war doctrine, and that is why the Yugoslav Air Force bought two Gnats in the summer of 1958. Due to the observed shortcomings related to maintenance and operation, as well as too high prices, further procurement was abandoned. The entire program was permanently abandoned with the decision to purchase a Soviet MiG-21 fighter.
The example from the collection of the Aeronautical Museum was withdrawn from use in 1962, and in 1963 it was handed over to the Museum.
