The graceful Gnat

You can’t really miss the association that the yachting mecca of Hamble has with the aircraft industry with this plane mounted in a permanent prominent position alongside the main road into the village.
This is the Folland Gnat, a two seater training aircraft, produced at an aircraft factory in the village close to Southampton Water around 50 years or more ago, and which came to fame as the display aircraft at one time used by the Red Arrows.
It was originally developed as a small fighter aircraft although not taken up in that role by the Royal Air Force. Instead the RAF used it as a training aircraft, as well as it’s role for the RAF’s Red arrows aerobatics team.
It did win export orders though, and was eventually made under licence in India.
 
Folland subsequently became part of Hawker Siddeley Aviation, and in turn became part of British Aerospace