I had trouble sourcing a FET capable of handling the current without it having a fly-back diode

What makes you think you don't need a flyback diode with a BJT?

But obviously that was in my pre-Farnell days,maybe you can suggest a candidate?

What's a pre-Farnell day?
Can't you look at them now?

After some further simulations I think the best way to do what you want is to use a gate driver such as this, driving a P-MOSFET such as this.

 

What makes you think you don't need a flyback diode with a BJT?

Nothing. But if it doesn't have a fly-back diode, I can put my own fly-back diode in, and connect the cathode anywhere I like.

What's a pre-Farnell day?

For me it signifies the good ol' days of care free low cost soldering under the open blue sky while wearing my plusfours. But now I need to grow up and get real, so I reluctantly opened an account with Farnell.

After some further simulations I think the best way to do what you want is to use a gate driver such as this, driving a P-MOSFET such as this.

Yes that would be the best and correct way to do it. I need a better simulator than partsim to see if I can accept the nanny diode provided, can you maybe suggest a suitable simulator please?

In the meantime please have a look at below circuit sim (not my brainchild) just for your kind information, it's close to magic with BJT rise/fall time of 4ns (Using 2N3904 and 2N3906 instead), but alas those values can't be maintained when the current increases as you say. Just thought I would mention it, I find it interesting.

And here using 2N3904 and 2N3906

 

Nothing. But if it doesn't have a fly-back diode, I can put my own fly-back diode in, and connect the cathode anywhere I like.

I just stumbled upon a solution, All you have to do is place an even faster diode in parallel with the FET, then the internal diode wont do anything, and you are Bob's nephew.

 

can you maybe suggest a suitable simulator please?

I use LTspice from Linear Technology (now part of Analog Devices).
It has a somewhat steep learning curve but it's one of the best free SPICE simulators available.

I just stumbled upon a solution, All you have to do is place an even faster diode in parallel with the FET, then the internal diode wont do anything,

A common misconception.
The FET drain-source diode does not act as a flyback diode, as the flyback (negative) pulse simply reverse biases that diode.
The diode needs to go across inductance (anode to ground).

 

After some further simulations I think the best way to do what you want is to use a gate driver such as this, driving a P-MOSFET such as this.

As luck would have it, I have some 9540 lying around, but before soldering I wanted to try a LTspice sim to see switching performance, the rise/fall times seems to be in the ~40ns area. My conclusion is that I must choose between current and frequency, can't have both!

Speaking of LTspice, it's an oldskool piece of sw, took a couple of hours to get the hang of it. But I also visited PSpice in the process, and I must say; what a POS from a user friendliness POV! a far cry from the relative simplicity of OrCAD in the 90's.

 

I need a better simulator than partsim

Maybe Multisim?
Below you can see:
1. Circuit schematic, where input of amplifier matched to output of logic gate and eliminated capacitors and most of resistors.
2. Simulation of circuit.
3. Magnified simulation (one pulse).

 

Maybe Multisim?

I ended up with LTspice, with a reluctant visit to PSpice on the way.

I like the simplicity of your circuit, works as advertised in LTspice ;-)

 

I ended up with LTspice, with a reluctant visit to PSpice on the way.

I like the simplicity of your circuit, works as advertised in LTspice ;-)

Thank you!