British Aerospace 146

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Aerospace_146

The British Aerospace 146 (also BAe 146) is a short-haul and regional airliner
that was manufactured in the United Kingdom by British Aerospace, later part of
BAE Systems. Production ran from 1983 until 2002. Manufacture of an improved
version known as the Avro RJ began in 1992. A further-improved version with new
engines, the Avro RJX, was announced in 1997, but only two prototypes and one
production aircraft were built before production ceased in 2001. With 387
aircraft produced, the Avro RJ/BAe 146 is the most successful British civil jet
airliner programme.

The BAe 146/Avro RJ is a high-wing cantilever monoplane with a T-tail. It has
four turbofan engines mounted on pylons underneath the wings, and has
retractable tricycle landing gear. The aircraft has very quiet operation, and
has been marketed under the name Whisperjet. It sees wide usage at small,
city-based airports such as London City Airport. In its primary role, it serves
as a regional jet, short-haul airliner, or regional airliner, while examples of
the type are also in use as private jets. The BAe 146/Avro RJ is in wide use
with several European-based carriers such as CityJet. The largest operator of
the type, Swiss Global Air Lines, retired its last RJ100 in August 2017.

The BAe 146 was produced in -100, -200 and -300 models. The equivalent Avro RJ
versions are designated RJ70, RJ85, and RJ100. The freight-carrying version
carries the designation "QT" (Quiet Trader), and a convertible
passenger-or-freight model is designated as "QC" (Quick Change). A "gravel kit"
can be fitted to aircraft to enable operations from rough, unprepared airstrips.

In August 1973, Hawker Siddeley launched a new 70-seat regional airliner
project, the HS.146, to fill the gap between turboprop-powered airliners such as
the Hawker Siddeley HS.748 and the Fokker F.27 and small jet airliners such as
the BAC One-Eleven and Boeing 737. The chosen configuration had a high wing and
a T-tail to give good short-field performance, while the aircraft was to be
powered by four 6,500 lbf thrust Avco Lycoming ALF 502H turbofan engines. There
were several reasons why a twin engine configuration was not chosen. Certainly,
a major factor would have been that no manufacturer was producing a
13,000-lbf-thrust-class high-bypass ratio turbofan engine at the time.

The programme was initially launched with backing from the UK government, which
agreed to contribute 50% of the development costs in return for a share of the
revenues from each aircraft sold. In October 1974, all work on the project was
halted as a result of the world economic downturn resulting from the 1973 oil
crisis.

British Aerospace promoted the BAe 146 to airlines as a "feederliner" and
short-haul regional airliner. The airframe of the aircraft and many other key
areas were designed to be as simple as possible. The engines lack thrust
reversers due to their perceived reduced effectiveness in anticipated
conditions. Instead, the BAe 146 features a large airbrake with two petals below
the tail rudder at the rear of the fuselage, which has the advantage of being
usable during flight and allowing for steep descent rates if required. In
addition, the aircraft has full-width wing spoilers, which are deployed
immediately on landing.

The aircraft proved to be useful on "high-density" regional and short-haul
routes. In economy class, the BAe 146 can either be configured in a standard
five-abreast layout or a high-density six-abreast layout, making it one of few
regional jets that can use a six-abreast layout in economy class. Reportedly,
the aircraft is profitable on most routes with only marginally more than half
the seats occupied.

The BAe 146 is also renowned for its relatively quiet operation, a positive
feature that appealed to those operators that wanted to provide services to
noise-sensitive airports within cities. The aircraft is one of only a few types
that can be used on flights to London City Airport, which has a steep approach
and short runway; for several years, the BAe 146 was the only conventional jet
aircraft capable of flying from London City Airport.


Role
Airliner

National origin
United Kingdom

Manufacturer
British Aerospace
BAE Systems
Avro International

First flight
3 September 1981

Introduction
May 1983

Status
In Service

Primary users
CityJet
Airlink
Mahan Air
SkyJet Airlines

Produced
1978–2001

Number built
387 (Avro RJ: 166; BAe 146: 221)

Program cost
£350 million

Unit cost

146-200: £11 million (1981)

The type was widely used for passenger services in Australia from the late 1980s
until the early 2000s, where the aircraft was suited for long-distance,
low-volume routes; 18 were in service with Ansett Australia in 1999. The BAe 146
was also operated by East-West, taking delivery of eight from 1990, until the
company was absorbed into Ansett. Cobham Aviation Services Australia began
operations under the Airlink brand on behalf of Australian Airlines (and later
Qantas) in 1990 using the type until 2005. As of 2012, Cobham continue to
operate 15 BAe 146 and Avro RJ variants for scheduled cargo and passenger
charter operations, including the second production airframe, a -100 model
converted to QT specification, which first flew in January 1982 as part of the
testing and certification program.

The initial customer for the BAe RJ85 series was Crossair, which took delivery
of its first aircraft on 23 April 1993.

Several major cargo operators have operated the type. As of 2012, the BAe 146 QT
is the most numerous aircraft in TNT Airways's air freighter fleet. In 2012, the
Royal Air Force (RAF) announced it would acquire the BAe 146M as an interim
transport aircraft between the retirement of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules and the
introduction of the larger Airbus A400M Atlas, to supplement its air transport
activities in Afghanistan. In 2013, the RAF acquired two converted BAe146-200s,
designated BAe146C Mk3, capable of carrying 10.6 tons of load, and fitted with a
large 3.33- × 1.93-m side door. The RAF also operates the BAe146 CC Mk2 in No.
32 Squadron RAF.

Specifications

Crew 2
Seats 70–82
Length 26.19 m (85.9 ft)
Height 8.61 m (28.2 ft)
Max. Payload 8,612 kg (18,990 lb)
Engines (4×) BAe 146 : Lycoming ALF 502R-5
Speed Mach 0.739 (426 kn; 789 km/h) Max, Mach 0.7 (404 kn; 747 km/h) cruise
Ceiling 35,000 ft (11,000 m)
Range 82 pax: 3,870 km (2,090 nmi)



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