UK Defence Forum

British Aerospace 146

The British Aerospace 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.

Read More: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Aerospace_146

From September:

RAF to sell BAE 146 transport aircraft fleet

The RAF is looking to sell off its BAE 146 transport fleet, aircraft primarily used to transport the Royal Family and other VIPs.

Jane’s 360 was first to report on this news after noticing that the Defense Equipment Sales Authority (DESA) included the BAE 146 aircraft in a brochure at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) industry event.

Read More: https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/raf-to- ... aft-fleet/

More on the above in this Forces News report (with video):

Coronavirus: RAF Aircraft Reconfigured To Transport COVID-19 Patients

Two RAF aircraft normally used to transport Government ministers and VIPs have been reconfigured in record time to help in the fight against coronavirus.

The BAe 146s have been specially adapted as medical evacuation planes for critically ill COVID-19 patients.

The aircraft's back row of seats have been removed and replaced with a stretcher to create a makeshift single-patient intensive care unit

Read More: https://www.forces.net/news/coronavirus ... 9-patients

is there any word on the replacement or not of the 146?

Don't remember seeing anything... But it'll be a deal with Boeing for a few BBJ's that they haven't told us about yet (seems to be happening regularly at the moment)

We retain some Hercs (bcz A-400M is too big for some 'special' occasions and KingAirs are for other type of work), but I would get some of these to fill the gap (SOCOM likes them, too):

The Pilatus PC-12 NG is the newest variant of the company’s best-selling single-engine turboprop aircraft, with over 1,600 units produced to date. The aircraft is powered by a 1,200-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67P turboprop engine. According to Pilatus, the success of the PC-12 is due to its combination of a spacious pressurized cabin, low operating costs, first class flying characteristics, and the ability to operate on grass and other unpaved surfaces. Due to the aircraft’s versatility, the PC-12 has become popular for business travel as well as for use as a passenger and cargo transport and air ambulance, and for special missions. -- from company sources

PC12 is in same class as the King air and the larger king airs like the navy have are used in many airforces. But wasn't the 146 C3 got to fit in the gap of an intratheatre lift aircraft. I know the C130 has been used a few times for short haul and long haul(when thatcher went to the falklands) but something with a little more class is needed. we don't have biz jets like the old HS125 . I do think the C3 146 shows what they always should have been a convertable aircraft that can do cargo or passengers.

BAE-146 replacement, part two...

The UK has released details of its RAF BAe 146 fleet replacement but will only acquire two aircraft instead of four.
The UK MoD has issued an £80 million ($109 million) tender for two civilian business jets under a Command Support Air Transport Recapitalisation (CSAT Recap) acquisition that seeks a BAe146 replacement.

The tender, originally released on 28 October, requires industry bidders to put forward aircraft that can achieve a minimum unrefuelled range of 3,850nm from an unrestricted airfield and transport up to eight passengers.

‘The procurement of two modern, efficient aircraft with longer range are deemed sufficient to meet the CSAT requirement,’ an MoD spokesperson said in a statement to Shephard

Shephard Media Article (£):
https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defe ... n-half-un/


Slightly puzzled as, with a maximum capacity of only eight seats, this seems closer to a replacement for the BAE-125s that got binned in 2015... However that's quite a range requirement.

Sounds like there looking for something in the medium range biz jet category something like a challenger 605. In the biz jet category that range isn’t really that long if you go into the acj220, global express or gulfstream 650 size you could nearly double that range.

Reading the tender doc the ideal range required is 4750 to 5250 - You get 100 pts. If you suggest something with a range over 6500 you get no points. The age of the aircraft has a 30% weighting. So a 2 year old Bombardier Global 5500 would be my suggestion. Anyone know anybody operating such aircraft?

All good points.

Suspect it might well be some form of Bombardier due to the Belfast connection. The A220 is the only Airbus small enough but probably still too large (even with a VVIP interior).

Some Dassault options with the required range but would be politically 'interesting' at best.

On a less related note, I wonder if the A321s will eventually be bought outright, along the proposed lines of this requirement, or remain leased from Titan.

You also get an extra 100 points if the aircraft type proposed has been fitted /is compatible with DAS/DIRCM. I assume Sentinel had this fitted? Is there a Global Express simulator in the UK?

SW1 wrote:Sounds like there looking for something in the medium range biz jet category something like a challenger 605. In the biz jet category that range isn’t really that long if you go into the acj220, global express or gulfstream 650 size you could nearly double that range.

Probably a daft question, but does anybody know the status of the Sentinel airframes?

KiwiMuzz wrote:

SW1 wrote:Sounds like there looking for something in the medium range biz jet category something like a challenger 605. In the biz jet category that range isn’t really that long if you go into the acj220, global express or gulfstream 650 size you could nearly double that range.

Probably a daft question, but does anybody know the status of the Sentinel airframes?

I see where your going with that question but even the Ajax and Nimrod MR4 buying MOD are that mad.

tomuk wrote:You also get an extra 100 points if the aircraft type proposed has been fitted /is compatible with DAS/DIRCM. I assume Sentinel had this fitted? Is there a Global Express simulator in the UK?

Yes it did, and yes at Burgess Hill in London.

Sentinel airframes we’re very heavily modified even MoD wouldn’t be stupid enough to try and convert them back there awaiting reduce for spares

Jensy wrote:seems closer to a replacement for the BAE-125s that got binned in 2015... However that's quite a range requirement.

Whether these folks travel with their briefcases (or have their docs sent ahead by secure e-mail) will make a difference to the range.

SW1 wrote: Yes it did

and re-use of the expensive kit might be a consideration - even if the exact model to be bought is not the same?

SW1 wrote:

tomuk wrote:You also get an extra 100 points if the aircraft type proposed has been fitted /is compatible with DAS/DIRCM. I assume Sentinel had this fitted? Is there a Global Express simulator in the UK?

Yes it did, and yes at Burgess Hill in London.

Sentinel airframes we’re very heavily modified even MoD wouldn’t be stupid enough to try and convert them back there awaiting reduce for spares

I definitely wasn't suggesting reusing Sentinel but standard Global 5000s would seem to be what the MOD wants.

tomuk wrote:

SW1 wrote:

tomuk wrote:You also get an extra 100 points if the aircraft type proposed has been fitted /is compatible with DAS/DIRCM. I assume Sentinel had this fitted? Is there a Global Express simulator in the UK?

Yes it did, and yes at Burgess Hill in London.

Sentinel airframes we’re very heavily modified even MoD wouldn’t be stupid enough to try and convert them back there awaiting reduce for spares

I definitely wasn't suggesting reusing Sentinel but standard Global 5000s would seem to be what the MOD wants.

i kind of was It would be interesting to see how A) media respond to the RAF buying two new GE 5000s after just selling five of "the same type" for parts, and B) how RAF then explain it.

I understand half the fuselage of the GE is made by Shorts/ whatever they’re called now, there’s probably some “Belfast jobs boost” spin that can be applied

SD67 wrote:I understand half the fuselage of the GE is made by Shorts/ whatever they’re called now, there’s probably some “Belfast jobs boost” spin that can be applied

They build the fuselage of the GX 5000/6000 series but only the tail of the 7000 series. As well as things like belly fairings and nacelles for them.

Confirmed but 900LX version