A new aircraft arrived at the museum recently, it is a Folland Gnat XR541 which first flew on 8th July 1963 and served operationally with the RAF until 1978. It served with 4 FTS at RAF Valley and the Central Flying School and also took part in the Finningley Jubilee flypast 1977. The aircraft remained in active service until 7th February 1978 when the aircraft suffered on engine failure on take-off at RAF Mona.
It was subsequently used for instructional use and spares finishing her carreer at RAF St. Athan with the Civilian Craft Apprentices School where she was was painted in the camouflage colours with the mock serial of PF179 added, as part of a Painters and Finishers course number.
It has now arrived at Bournemouth Aviation Museum and hopefully we can put the aircraft back together again as XR541 and give her a nice new paint job that will do justice to this fine old aircraft.
