TOPIC: Skyleada Midge

The Skyleada 'Gnat has long been on any list of 'The Worst Jetex Scale designs ever' and a glance at this 1950's design in our plans archive will show you why.
More than twenty years ago Pete Smart, one of the earliest and best Rapier flyers, had this to say about Skyleada models in general and the 'Gnat' in particular,

"The early [Skyleada] Jetex designs [Vulcan, Hunter, Mystere] are definitely the best. Some of the later ones show a distinct ‘ham-fistedness’ as regards scale appearance and even the basic size of model. The one which makes me really cross is the 'Gnat', which has a huge square fuselage and yet is specified for the Jetex 50 or even Atom 35 … the angle of the motor has to be seen to be believed and makes me wonder if some models were even tested!”.

Pete knew what he was talking about, having made two 'true scale' gnats which appeared in a 2001 Aeromodeller:


So if one wanted to build a Gnat, Pete might be the person to ask, "have you got a plan mister?". Which I did. However, Pete built then, and still does, from small 3-views blown up to the correct size, so there is, he told me, no plan. He did however, still have an example of this more-than-twenty year old model and would I like some photos?



Above: Peter Smart's lovely little Folland Gnat. Being made way, way back in 2001 is it, I wonder, now of 'antique' status? Pete, assured that the new TSP L-1's are available and reliable, promises to fly it at the next Old Warden. An exciting prospect!

Pete had not changed his opinion of the Skyleada Gnat, which he now thinks is actually based on the earlier Midge. He comments,

"My own model has a wing span amazingly of only 8.25", almost a peanut. After experiencing a few dud Rapier L-1's I installed a mount for L-2's (mad fool) but have yet to test it! The tail is all-sheet and the wing goes all the way through - some of the structure is visible in the underside shot. A word of advice… go for 10" span at least"

Our very own Nitro Dave is really keen to make a 'yellow Jack' Gnat, and, for such a pretty aeroplane, Dave maintains, a profile model, would not do. Nor would anything all-plastic: It had to be a proper 'stick and tissue' design, built from a proper plan.

So So there appears to be no alternative to Dave drawing up his own plan. Dave comments:

"I began by completely redrawing the Skyleada 'Gna' ... er ... – let’s call it what it is – 'Midge' - and made a few tweaks (but not to the motor). I also renamed ‘Midge’ . I dropped a respectable Midge 3-view over the redrawn plan and it fits well, with the exception of larger tail surfaces, which is understandable, and the fuselage belly is slightly thinner behind the wing, but that's about it: The 'Skyleada Midge' was a good practise run before starting my own proper Gnat design, which I hope to start soon".



Above: the Skyleada 'Midge' as expertly redrawn and correctly labelled by Dave. It's still a pretty awful design, so Dave is doubtful anybody will want a copy of the plan. But who knows? - with a proper trough and a correctly positioned TSP L-2HP to provide three times the:cheer: thrust of an Atom 35, it might fly, and fly well. I must say, I'm tempted - could this proverbial 'sow's ear' be made into a silk purse?

Would anyone like to take up the challenge and like a copy of the Skyleada 'Midge'?


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I can't wait to see Pete's little beauty take to the skies! When is Old Warden on next, Roger?

Roger adds: hopefully, if government rules allow ( ) it will be 24/25 July. Fingers and fuses crossed!