Author Topic: Folland Gnat Versus Fiat G-91  (Read 4126 times)

Offline Alvis 3.1

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Folland Gnat Versus Fiat G-91
« on: September 20, 2013, 02:04:39 PM »
I recently bought the Meng G-91 (Ouch! $47.00 for a G-91???) and began to think, it's not much different in size from the Gnat...which would be the victor in a dogfight? What types of schemes would you envision them in, if sold to third world countries?

Discuss...


Alvis 3.1

Offline upnorth

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Re: Folland Gnat Versus Fiat G-91
« Reply #1 on: September 20, 2013, 04:41:18 PM »
Difficult to say

I should imagine either of them would be quite popular in Africa or Central America.

Basically, they'd do well in any smaller economy that needed to procure a simple jet in numbers cheaply.

Being as how Brazil got on board the AMX project with Italy, I could see them using the G.91 prior to the AMX.

As for the Gnat,  I could see it taking over from the Vampire or Venom in a lot of places.

If the Yugoslav evaluation of the Gnat had been successful and SOKO given a production license, that could take the Gnat to some unexpected places.

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Offline Weaver

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Re: Folland Gnat Versus Fiat G-91
« Reply #2 on: September 20, 2013, 07:26:50 PM »
I recently bought the Meng G-91 (Ouch! $47.00 for a G-91???) and began to think, it's not much different in size from the Gnat...which would be the victor in a dogfight? What types of schemes would you envision them in, if sold to third world countries?

Discuss...


Alvis 3.1


Not much different in size huh?  ;)



(that's Bristol's Orpheus test fleet, in case you're wondering.)

Given that the Gnat is much smaller but has the same engine, I suspect it would win the dogfight with the G.91. However overall pros and cons might lead a third-world country to the G.91 anyway:
 

Gnat Pros:

Smaller
Probably more agile
Probably better climb rate
Better guns (unless the G.91 is an R.3)


Gnat Cons:

High-pressure tires so needs hard runways
Very little fuel
Only two hardpoints, so choice between bombs or tanks
Small cockpit: too small for some pilots
Dodgy tailplane jack that causes crashes


G.91 Pros

Four pylons
Rough field capable
Built-in recce capability
Full size cockpit
Easy maintenance and quick turnaround


G.912 cons

Bigger than the Gnat
Probably lower performance than the Gnat
Weak guns (unless it's an R.3)


Colours schemes for G.91s? Well they'd probably be used as fighter-bombers rather than pure fighters, so appropriate local cammo uppers and blue or grey undersides.
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Offline Alvis 3.1

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Re: Folland Gnat Versus Fiat G-91
« Reply #3 on: September 20, 2013, 08:36:46 PM »
Whoa, I didn't actually compare them in size, I was just shocked how small the Gina looked in the box, and thought the Gnat was aboot the same size. Ack, so much for those fantasies of Gnats and Ginas mixing it up over the back country of Upper Yours, or some such other place.

Alvis 3.1

Offline upnorth

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Re: Folland Gnat Versus Fiat G-91
« Reply #4 on: September 20, 2013, 09:49:16 PM »
Whoa, I didn't actually compare them in size, I was just shocked how small the Gina looked in the box, and thought the Gnat was aboot the same size. Ack, so much for those fantasies of Gnats and Ginas mixing it up over the back country of Upper Yours, or some such other place.

Alvis 3.1

I wouldn't say never to that.

The Gnat would likely have a chance against the Gina. India used Gnats with some success against Sabres during the Indo-Pakistani wars.

Could make for some interesting mix ups.
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Offline Volkodav

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Re: Folland Gnat Versus Fiat G-91
« Reply #5 on: September 20, 2013, 09:56:19 PM »
Whoa, I didn't actually compare them in size, I was just shocked how small the Gina looked in the box, and thought the Gnat was aboot the same size. Ack, so much for those fantasies of Gnats and Ginas mixing it up over the back country of Upper Yours, or some such other place.

Alvis 3.1

I wouldn't say never to that.

The Gnat would likely have a chance against the Gina. India used Gnats with some success against Sabres during the Indo-Pakistani wars.

Could make for some interesting mix ups.
Read that a Gnat almost got a Starfighter but the pilots wingman called out that it was a Hunter causing the pilot to hesitate giving the Starfighter the chance to light the after burner and high tail it home.