A successor to the Gnat had been desired since its publication but due to the already small size of the airframe, no further size reductions were feasible. This slow developmental process enabled a "fighter gap" to envelope the Gnat and its larger contemporary, the Super Manx. For several months, no new "drone-fighters" were designed or rolled out. With the success of the later SkyHornet and Super SkyManx paper airplanes, the "Gnat II" project's importance waned. In September 2012, using knowledge gained from designing the SkyHornet and Super SkyManx, I decided to make a new--albeit larger successor to the Gnat with better aerodynamic performance. Equipped with leading edge root extensions (LERX), a high-mounted wing and horizontal stabilizers, the SkyGnat's prototype demonstrated better speed, range and stability compared to its predecessor. With its performance clearly excellent, I decided to make an instructable for the able little airplane.
The SkyGnat is a great choice for use as a fighter-interceptor, stunt and/or research testbed airplane.
Some usages for educators could include studies of:
- Glide ratio
- Hangtime versus other aircraft
- Weight and balance