No 32 (The Royal) Sqdn

[chevvron]

Heard a totally unsubstantiated rumour yesterday that consideration was being given to re-equipping the above with Airbus 220-100s to replace the '146s.
I think someone was having me on as they couldn't refer me to anything in writing even from The Sun, but it does seem reasonable considering the age and limited range of the '146s; the 220 would give greater range and payload plus it could operate from Northolt, which the Voyager can't do.
Course when Blair Force One using an A320 was proposed, the intention was to move the unit to Farnborough and 'contractorise' it as the A320 would be a bit 'marginal' for Northolt, but that's long in the past.

[Less Hair]

Not a bad choice it seems. Even EGLC capable.
How much capacity would their aircraft need? Wouldn't something like a PC-24 do? Could land on grass as well.

[GeeRam]

Course when Blair Force One using an A320 was proposed, the intention was to move the unit to Farnborough and 'contractorise' it as the A320 would be a bit 'marginal' for Northolt, but that's long in the past.

Pah........Pan Am managed to get a 707 in and out of Northolt......sort of...ish :E

[Davef68]

How often are they used on Command as opposed to Royal or Govt taskings these days?

[chevvron]

PC24 might be a bit small; I suppose there was a logical reason for getting rid of all the '125s a few years back but 'minor' Royals flying out of Farnborough generally use a civilian chartered aircraft such as a Citation nowadays so there is a 'need' for something smaller than the 146.

[chevvron]

Pah........Pan Am managed to get a 707 in and out of Northolt......sort of...ish :E
They only got it out by stripping out all the seats!
Then there was the Learjet which ended up on the A40 back in '96.
Date amended courtesy of Fortissimo.

[Fortissimo]

Then there was the Learjet which ended up on the A40 back in about '98 or '99.

August 96, but it was always going off the end from the moment the captain decided to land hot and half-way down the runway and then got into an argument/punch-up with his FO.

[chevvron]

August 96, but it was always going off the end from the moment the captain decided to land hot and half-way down the runway and then got into an argument/punch-up with his FO.
The aircraft made it through the fence in one piece then got totalled by a 'white van man' probably on his mobile.

[VinRouge]

220 doesn't have the legs needed.

[chopper2004]

220 doesn't have the legs needed.

Hmm1

Airbus A200-100

2948nm 5460 km.

BAE146 CC!k2/3

1,400nm 2,593km

-CheerS

[chevvron]

Is the PM using a 32 Sqdn '146 for her current flits around Europe?

[VinRouge]

Going to need something much longer range for all of those trade deals we will need outside of Europe post brexit...

I'm guessing 7000km+ would be more convenient. And doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

[melmothtw]

Going to need something much longer range for all of those trade deals we will need outside of Europe post brexit...

I'm guessing 7000km+ would be more convenient. And doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

That's what Voyager's for, no? Of course, we're going to need a lot more of them to secure all of those 'easiest trade deals in history' (sorry, can't help myself sometimes).

[Whizz Bang]

Is the PM using a 32 Sqdn '146 for her current flits around Europe?

Apparently, yes.
https://twitter.com/CivMilAir/status/1072593420366069760

[Asturias56]

And just why would the UK and the English Prime Minster need a new aircraft that is partly built in N Ireland right now?? I wonder..........................................

[muppetofthenorth]

And just why would the UK and the English Prime Minster need a new aircraft that is partly built in N Ireland right now?? I wonder..........................................
Maybe (definitely) so, but it makes a nice change that a political decision actually gives us something shiny and new to play with.

[Davef68]

And just why would the UK and the English Prime Minster need a new aircraft that is partly built in N Ireland right now?? I wonder..........................................

It certainly gives it a head start over (say) the Embraer EJet series

[Two's in]

And just why would the UK and the English Prime Minster need a new aircraft that is partly built in N Ireland right now?? I wonder..........................................

Maybe so she's not flying around in a very shiny museum piece powered (ha!) by four paraffin heaters?

[Asturias56]

and there I was thinking that in Italy we'd assume it was buying a political favor to keep her in power.... but of course they do things differently in England (or used to....)