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MOD Tender for Two BAE146-200s - NOW WITH LINK TO PICS! Grey scheme! UPDATE - ETPS 146 added


Dave Fleming

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I remember that camouflaged aircraft being at Farnborough in 1988 as we did trials into the viability of dropping paratroopers from it, which was a no-no because it was simply a civvie aircraft in military colours and there was a galley bulkhead next to the drop door plus the standard passenger aisles were too narrow for blokes wearing parachutes, never mind kit. Maybe it would have been OK if it had been stripped out inside, but they didn`t!

Will these new aircraft be for use with 32 Sqn at Northolt in the VVIP role?

Cheers

Tony O

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Will these new aircraft be for use with 32 Sqn at Northolt in the VVIP role?

Cheers

Tony O

The Flight Global article say they are for "In theatre" use in the Stan

Julien

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I remember that camouflaged aircraft being at Farnborough in 1988 as we did trials into the viability of dropping paratroopers from it, which was a no-no because it was simply a civvie aircraft in military colours and there was a galley bulkhead next to the drop door plus the standard passenger aisles were too narrow for blokes wearing parachutes, never mind kit. Maybe it would have been OK if it had been stripped out inside, but they didn`t!

Will these new aircraft be for use with 32 Sqn at Northolt in the VVIP role?

Cheers

Tony O

As Julien says, intra-theatre transport in Afghanistan, to take some of the load off the Herc fleet - Titan did something similar around the Gulf a year or so back, but obviously operating a Civvie aircraft in and out of Bastion, KAF etc is a bit risky. They seem to be designated for a similar role to the US C-27J purchase.

As for the 146STA, the RAF Falcons jumped from it for their display at Leuchars airshow - I think it was 1989.

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As for the 146STA, the RAF Falcons jumped from it for their display at Leuchars airshow - I think it was 1989.

Yes but that is a fancy Crab freefall display and I`m talking proper static line military parachuting with equipment etc! To turn that corner from the walkway to the door was impossible with a Bergen and weapon strapped to your legs plus main and reserve parachutes (it`s bad enough carrying your hand luggage down those aisles!) and the large bulkhead meant a huge gap between individual exits which would have transferred into a huge area on the ground between blokes, needing a huge drop zone, and don`t forget that as a jet it would have been faster than a Herk too, making the gaps even bigger than they would be with a prop job. Don`t get me wrong, the Falcon`s are amazing and as qualified PJI`s they have the respect of everybody in Airborne Forces as they won`t ask you to do something that they have not tried already!

Thanks for the info on the aircraft being used as an inter theatre assett, I wonder what they will call it, or will it just be another Mk. of the Bae 146? They may paint them overall Green, but my vote is overall Grey too, possibly with a darker grey cheat line?

Cheers

Tony O

Edited by tonyot
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  • 1 month later...

Serial numbers confirmed as ZE707 (Jennings will like that!) and ZE708.

http://www.ukserials.com/website_weekly_updates.pdf

BAE are upgrading them for RAF, don't know if the actual airframes have been publicly identified yet.

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/...r-force-368093/

With the Qinetiq aircraft delivered this year, the number of Bae 146s on the UK military register triples!

Edited by Dave Fleming
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I'm thinking we should convert a couple of squadrons into AEW aircraft for the new carriers. Take the dome and internals from the Hawkeye, bang 'em in, double fold the wings like the Gannet, stick on an arrestor hook and Bobs your uncle ;)

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Look great. What grey is that - MSG? Do we know the serials they will get?

David

Looks like it. Although I wouldn't bet against LACG or Camouflage grey under the wings and tailplane.

Serials are ZE707 and ZE708

Edited by Dave Fleming
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