British Aerospace BAe 146 Statesman (1985)

In August 1973, Hawker Siddeley launched a 70-seat regional airliner project, the HS146. British Aerospace, their successors, relaunched the project in 1978 and the prototype flew on 3 September 1981 from the former de Havilland factory at Hatfield.

The new airliner was so quiet that it was marketed as ‘the world’s quietest airliner’ and the ‘Whisperjet’. This was largely due to the Lycoming ALF 502 engines, whose ‘fans’ are slowed by a gearbox, dramatically reducing noise levels. This made it particularly suitable for use in noise-sensitive locations, and the 146 was the first jet airliner allowed to use London City Airport. Its short-field capabilities allowed operations from airfields previously inaccessible to most jets – a 146 made the first commercial jet flight to remote Saint Helena in the South Atlantic.

First operated by British independent airline Dan-Air, the aircraft was well received in the United States, where Pacific Southwest Airlines eventually operated 24 aircraft. The  146-200, with up to 100 passengers, was introduced in 1982 and the 146-300 with up to 112 passengers followed in 1988.

The 146 can be very independent of ground services. When on-board airstairs are fitted,  refuelling is the only operation requiring ground equipment – a stepladder! This and the ability to operate from poorly prepared runways made it attractive to the military, and the governments and air forces of 12 nations have used the aircraft.

BAe has introduced freighter versions, the 146QT (Quiet Trader) and the 146QC (Quick Change) convertible passenger/freight model. It has also been popular as a VIP and executive aircraft. In 1993 it became the Avro RJ series, with more powerful engines and a modernised ‘glass cockpit’. A further upgrade, the RJX series with more efficient engines, was developed but only three were built. Nevertheless, when production ended in 2003 the 146/RJ series had become Britain’s best-selling jet airliner, with 387 produced, and many remain in service around the world. They were also the last jet airliners built in Britain.

BAe 146-100 CC2 ‘Statesman’, ZE701, is the latest addition to the British Airliner Collection. It was delivered to the RAF’s Queens’ Flight (later renamed 32 (The Royal) Squadron) in 1986. The Statesman variant has a luxurious interior for just 19 passengers and was equipped with a Defensive Aids Suite (DAS), sophisticated electronic countermeasures for protection in flight.

The aircraft carried members of the Royal Family and other dignitaries. A 32 Squadron 146 repatriated Princess Diana following her tragic death in Paris in August 1997. ZE701 flew the Brexit papers from Brussels to London on 30 December 2020.

When the RAF disposed of the 146s, ZE701 was acquired by Australian airline Pionair, already 146 operators, who donated the airframe to the British Airliner Collection. ZE701 flew to Duxford on 24 January 2022, where the engines were exchanged for time expired engines. The aircraft is open on a regular basis but because of the need to conserve this special aircraft public access has to be limited.