BAE Systems

The Aircraft of British Aerospace and BAE SYSTEMS 1977 - 2017 39

Jetstream reborn

8-12 passenger corporate layout)
appealed to the market.

Prototype Jetstream 31
The 27th production HP Jetstream 1 was
purchased by BAe and ferried from
Natchez, USA on 26 December 1978 to
Prestwick for conversion to become the
prototype Jetstream 31. The main aspect
of the conversion was the replacement of
the Astazou engines with 940hp Garrett
TPE331. In addition there were a further
400 modifications including a new
electrical system and completely
redesigned flight deck. It first flew as a
Jetstream 31 registered as G-JSSD at
Prestwick on 28 March 1980 and
immediately embarked on the flight test
programme.

Production batch
In January 1981, the BAe Board finally
approved the production of the first
batch of twenty aircraft. The first of these,
G-TALL made its maiden flight on 18
March and received UK certification on 29
June, as the greater part of the flight test
programme had been completed by
G-JSSD. In November 1982, it toured the
USA performing 30 demonstration flights,
followed in March 1983 by a two-month
long tour of the Middle East, Far East and
Asia.
The next Jetstream 31 flew in May

1982 and was ferried straight to Castle

Donnington (now East Midlands Airport)

where Fields Aircraft Services which had

won the Jetstream completion contract

installed a commuter interior. Registered

as G-JBAE made demonstration tours of a

Europe, Canada and the USA. In 1983

prior to delivery to Atlantis Airways it

trialled a dorsal luggage pannier later

fitted to many aircraft. Orders proved slow

to build up but by the end of 1983 it was

clear that the Jetstream was set to

succeed. The BAe Board authorised

regular increases in production. The

Jetstream 31 was promoted as 18/19 seat

airliner, an executive shuttle with up to 12

ˆ A publicity shot

of a Jetstream 41

and a 31 together

flying over the BAe

Prestwick factory.

(The registrations of

both aircraft have been

removed.)

(BAE SYSTEMS) †

‡ The Jetstream 41 prototype quartet; G-OXL1, G-GCJL, G-PJRT and G-JMAC. The first Jetstream 41, G-GCJL flew from

Prestwick on 25 September 1991. The second prototype G-PJRT took to the air in February 1992. Next came G-OXLI in

March 1992 and finally G-JMAC in July 1992. (BAE SYSTEMS)