Folland Fo.139 Midge
Folland Aircraft · United Kingdom · first flew 1954 · fighter
The Folland Fo.139 Midge was a British lightweight jet fighter demonstrator built to explore whether a capable combat aircraft could be produced at a fraction of the cost and weight of conventional designs. It directly preceded the more refined Folland Gnat.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Oval nose intake feeding a single turbojet buried in a compact fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Miniature single-seat jet with very small overall dimensions — shortest jet fighter of its era
- Oval nose intake feeding a single turbojet buried in a compact fuselage
- Small tapered mid-wing with modest sweep, conventional tail and clear bubble canopy
The Midge's extremely compact proportions — very short fuselage and narrow span — make it immediately distinguishable from any other jet aircraft; it appears almost toy-like beside contemporaries.
Specifications
- The Folland Fo.139 Midge has a length of 8.76 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 6.3 m (21 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 966 km/h (600 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by W.E.W. 'Teddy' Petter at Folland Aircraft, the Midge first flew in August 1954 powered by an Armstrong Siddeley Viper turbojet. It validated the lightweight fighter concept and led directly to the Gnat, which entered service with the RAF as a trainer and with India as a frontline fighter.
Variants
The Midge was a single-prototype demonstrator; its development line continued as the Fo.141 Gnat.
Where you'll see it
The Midge itself never entered service, serving only as a proof-of-concept; its influence is felt through the Gnat's successful RAF and Indian careers.
Related aircraft
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