I currently fly the -300,-200 and -100 in Aus and cannot envisage a way to drag an empty one to FL350.They're only certified to 310 down here and that is an alt rarely seen even on 3 hr sectors. If you turn on the climb repellant forget it and how can the suppliers state that it will do the job at those altitudes when Bae in concert with various regulatory agencies say no to flight in IMC above FL260.
As far as the handling qualities go , they are ponderous compared to other jets I've flown,due mainly to non powered ailerons/elevator(servo tab operated).
I've spent my share of time below 100' and can think of better a/c to do it in .If your talking a/c of similar age/cost why not Fokker 28-4000 ,70 or 100,now they handle beautifully and will climb to 350 without much drama , not to mention the greatly simplified systems ,the 146 is far more complicated than a jet of its size/speed/range needs to be .The 507 engine is fitted as previously stated but to relatively few -300s amd I think we have most of them(2),502s are more common and in any case there the similarity to the RJ ends.The RJ's engines are run by FADEC and are fitted as far as I know to the RJ-70 which is a -100 airframe with its attendant weight limits hence its superior performance,and even then it only matches the F-28 not surpasses.
The cabin fumes problem is a lot more prevalent than anybody wants to admit and at our company is a regular occurence , I've personnaly lost count and have never experienced it on any of the other transport cat a/c I've flown.The joke jet is not a bad aeroplane , there's just lots of better ones around .
CC.
[This message has been edited by Chimbu chuckles (edited 09 June 2000).]