BAE Systems - BAe 146-300QT
As originally proposed in 1984, the BAe 146-300 would have featured a fuselage stretch of 3.2 metres, allowing six-abreast seating for up to 134, new more powerful Allied Signal LF 507 turbofans, new winglets and a host of other minor changes. In the end however US customers were more interested in a more modest stretch of the Series 200 which would allow for 100 passengers to be accommodated in a more spacious five-abreast seating layout and it was this configuration which was adopted for production. The aerodynamic prototype of the BAe 146-300 was converted from a Series 100 airframe and flew for the first time on 1 May 1987. The first production Series 300 took to the air for the first time in June 1988. The Series 300 retained the same engines and wing from the earlier variants and differed from the Series 200 essentially in the addition of fuselage plugs forward and aft of the wing which added 2.39 meters to its length. The UK Type Certificate was awarded in September 1988. Lead customer and United Express carrier Air Wisconsin took delivery of their first aircraft on 16 December 1988, placing the type into service later that month. The later Avro RJ100 and proposed RJ115 were improved derivatives of the 300 Series, powered by the improved Honeywell LF 507 turbofan rated at 31.1kN. Other improvements included an upgraded interior with a slightly wider passenger cabin and a digital flight deck and avionics suite. The 300QC was a proposed combi version and the 300QT a dedicated freighter, both of which featured a large freight door 3.33m (l) x 1.93m (h) on the port side fuselage aft of the wing. The first RJ100 customer, Aegean Airlines took delivery of their first aircraft on 30 April 1999. Although BAe marketed the RJ115 with additional emergency exits allowing for a maximum seating capacity of 128 passengers in a high density six-abreast layout, no orders were forthcoming. When production was completed 221 BAe 146s of all variants had been produced. This included 60 Series 300s and 10 Series 300QTs. Total Avro RJ production reached 132, of which 49 were RJ100s.
