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Front cover designed by Rolando Ugolini
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BAe 146 / RJ
by Stephen Skinner
Launched by the privately owned Hawker Siddeley in 1973, the 146 was shelved the following year and only kept ‘ticking over’ through the vigorous efforts of politicians and the workforce. In 1978 the newly nationalised British Aerospace re-launched the aircraft as the BAe 146, which flew three years later.
The aircraft gradually made headway in the market as its quietness and superior airfield performance were recognised. To fulfil customer demand, British Aerospace developed lengthened versions and further improved and rebranded the aircraft as the Avro RJ in 1992. A later development, the Avro RJX flew in 2001 but after the events of 11 September 2001, BAE Systems decided to withdraw from civil airliner manufacture and production ended.
With 390 deliveries, the BAe 146/Avro RJ has become both Britain’s most successful jet airliner and its last airliner. Through careful research and interviews with those who worked on the aircraft and using over 140 photographs, Stephen Skinner examines in detail the development, testing, production and service of Britain’s last airliner.
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Published by Tempus Publishing Ltd The Mill Brimscombe Port Stroud Gloucestershire GL5 2QG England
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ISBN 0-7524-3562-0 Price £19.99
(now on sale & at Amazon)
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BAE Systems "Regional Skies"
review of
New Book Chronicles History Of BAe 146/AVRO RJ Well-established aviation author, Stephen Skinner, has written what might be termed the definitive book on the history of the BAe 146 and Avro RJ family. Called BAe 146/RJ Britain's last airliner, the book traces the remarkable course of events that led to the eventual launch of the airliner in 1978 and the cessation of production in 2002. Skinner tells a compelling story taking in all the different variants of the aircraft that emerged over the 24 years of production. In so doing he reveals previously little-known detail of proposed military variants including an aircraft carrier-borne version that was touted to the US Department of Defense. The book also covers the story surrounding the trials and acceptance of the BAe 146 for London City Airport and the resulting transformation of the airport's fortunes. It is right up to date with a chapter on Regional Aircraft's Asset Management operation at Hatfield and the Atmospheric Research Aircraft. Also included are descriptions of both the BAe 146 and Avro RJ in service with their numerous customers and a comprehensive production list and data tables.
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BAe 146/RJ
Review: David Baker, Aviation News May 2006
Aircraft histories are two-a-penny and very often repetitive but every so often one comes along that is a real gem - and this is one of those that even the informed will want to keep on the bookshelf. Covering the history of the BAe 146/RJ series, Britain's last jet airliner, Stephen Skinner has maintained a commendable precedent set by his two previous books for Tempus covering the BAC One-Eleven and Marshall of Cambridge. Yet, this is no obituary, more a celebration of a great chapter in stoicism and determination battling against odds and adversity from challenging markets, economic downturn and subsidised competition. A product of the de Havilland legacy and embroiled in corporate mergers and periods of recession, the BAe 146 is a worthy example of British design flair and technical excellence well told by this knowledgeable author. The book itself is well laid out, the printing is good with a colour section of 32 plates (the book has more than 150 illustrations) and excellent appendices defining performance, production lists and milestones in development and operations. The narrative story is informative, crisp and maintains interest, blending industrial, political and technical aspects of the aircraft's story. One of the book's most attractive features for this reviewer was the way it breaks down potentially lengthy sections into bite-size chunks.
The story of the BAe 146 bridges worlds polarised on one hand by an independent, international, tightly run, aircraft manufacturer and the government-run systems corporation it was absorbed by. In a year in which we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Spitfire and the 50th anniversary of Britain's world air speed record it is fitting to remember too the story of this country's staggered commercial airliner industry and to mark its achievements, in no better form than by this book. -
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Articles by Stephen Skinner
Aviation News May 2006 · The life and times of a prototype - G-SSSH to G-LUXE to ARA
Air Enthusiast November / December 2005 · Military versions of the BAe146
Air International July 2005 · Aircraft profile - Vickers Viscount
Air Enthusiast July / August 2004 · Marshall Plan - Pictorial history of Marshall of Cambridge
Air Forces Monthly October 2003 · BAC One-Elevens in uniform
Air Enthusiast May/June 2003 · The Long and the short of it - the story of a great British airliner prototype G-ASYD
Airliner World April 2002 · The end of commercial One-Eleven services in the UK
Reviews in the RAeS Aerospace Professional
May 2006 · Swingtail - the story of the CL-44
February 2006 · Sud Aviation Caravelle - the complete story
March 2005 · Vickers Viscount & Vanguard
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