A Gnat in a Public Park
A few years ago, Kapil Chandni visited Nagpur, and as he was passing besides a Gandhi Baug in Nagpur in a truck, he chanced upon a Gnat on display in the park. The HAL Gnat [IE-1205] on display, was rather uniquely mounted on concrete pillars in the middle of a water fountain!.
Though its position in that environment is not very idea for the airframe in terms of corrosion, it is very very effective to keep it out of reach of vandalisers! The mystery of this aircraft is shared by another Gnat from Air HQ in Delhi. Both share the same serial number IE-1205. Will the real IE-1205 please stand up?
Though initially we believed this aircraft was a Gnat, Some better resolution photographs sent by Rahul Devnath has made us believe that this aircraft is actually a latter model Ajeet. Close ups of the underwing surface shows what could have been anchor points for inboard pylons.
The plaque in front of the aircraft identifies it as a “Gnat” in hindi language. The aircraft was apparently presented by then Air Marshal Madan Lal Sethi PVSM AVSM ADC, who was the AOC-in-C Maintenance Command at that time. But which time you may ask? This was probably around 1987 according to Rahul, as the hindi numerals on the plaque may disclose.