best fighter of the 50s

[Glider]

Did anyone warn him about the rudder. The RAF didn't want to sell them when they were taken out of service as you had to be carefull about the power assistance on the rudder. There was a tendancy for it to run away which isn't good news.
The RAF knew how to look after it but were worried about being taken to court by american lawyers in case of an accident.

[FLYBOYJ]

Originally Posted by Glider

Did anyone warn him about the rudder. The RAF didn't want to sell them when they were taken out of service as you had to be carefull about the power assistance on the rudder. There was a tendancy for it to run away which isn't good news.
The RAF knew how to look after it but were worried about being taken to court by american lawyers in case of an accident.

I heard something about that - I think they actually crashed one during the making of the movie Hot Shots...

[Glider]

But is there anyone here who wouldn't like to go for a ride in one. We used to see them a lot training pilots in GA in the Welsh Valleys. Perfect day on the hills taking a break during a cross country walk, sitting on the grass in the sun watching these go past below you.
Remember seeing one being chased by a Phantom. The Gnat going down the vally like a whippet jinking all over the place, turning at the last second where the valley forked into two before going down the right hand fork. The Phantom banking, banking a lot more, I knew he wasn't going to make it and its funny how detatched you are at times like this. Then with little or no time to spare he leveled out stuck the nose up and climbed like stink. Wouldn't like to guess how close he was to the side of the mountain.