aviation - the past, present and future of flight

A

viation enthusiasts probably

expected that, as the small

number of blue-chip operators of

the BAe 146/Avro RJ dwindled, the

aircraft would just gracefully fade away, but

this is not the case. Even though the last

example was completed 16 years ago, the

type is still in demand as an airliner, freighter

and for a myriad of other roles.

TYPE DEVELOPMENT

The 146 went through a lengthy gestation,

followed by go-ahead, then suspension and

resuscitation before making its  rst  ight

on September 3, 1981. The original ideas

began with a de Havilland project in the late

1950s, when manufacturers were considering

Douglas Dakota replacements. With Hawker

Siddeley’s takeover of de Havilland, the

Hat eld proposal was considered alongside

one from the former Avro factory at Woodford

near Manchester, and then the two teams

were instructed to work together.

The fruit of the joint team’s effort eventually

became the high-winged, four-engined 146.

Choosing an engine had proved difficult and

the result was the American Avco Lycoming

ALF502. These four quiet engines provided

excellent air eld performance so there was

no need for the complexities of leading-edge

devices and thrust reversers.

This new Hawker Siddeley 146 was aimed

as a replacement for Fokker F.27s and

HS 748s. It was launched in August 1973

and, sensibly, from its inception there were

two versions: the 146-100 and the larger 146-

200. But only 13 months after the go-ahead,
     development costs spiralled and Hawker
     Siddeley cancelled the project. The 146 was

resuscitation before making its  rst  ight the result was the American Avco Lycoming

BAe 14 6

FAMILY

LAST I N LINE

the result was the American Avco Lycoming

The BAe 146/

Avro RJ was the

last all-British

constructed

jetliner family.

Stephen Skinner

reviews the

history of this

versatile type.

48 Aviation News incorporating Jets September 2018

BRITISH AIRLINERS SPECIAL