RJX to fly again!
 

A BAE 146 RJX development aircraft currently in store following the cancellation of the RJX project, is due to take up residence at Manchester Airport. The RJX is expected to be flown to MAN on Feb 6.

The aircraft will be part of an aviation heritage exhibition being set up by Manchester Airport PLC, located within the existing public aviation viewing park. Marking 100 years of flight, the display will feature aircraft which have links with the airport or the region. A 748 and One-Eleven are also expected.

Where is the BAC 1-11 going to come from???
Could it be G-AVMT from Bournemouth. This one is still in flying condition with the Minardi F1 Team colours on it.
It was being looked at the other day at European's HQ.

If it is to be a 1-11, wouldn't it be nice to see it in Dan-Air colours?
That no-entity from an unknown airline stuck on the top of the South terminal irritates my sense of history every time I see it.

PS and I never even worked for Dan!

Nostalgia has hit. Wouldn’t is be great to see a British Eagle Britannia there as well

How about an Avro Manchester?

hmm... I thought when I saw the subject title that the program was reactivated now that several competitors have been removed from the market.

surely once President Tone gets rid of the Queens Flight 146 [referred to in the Irish press as "pathetic"] and replaces it with a converted 757 or something, there would be something to park and rot!

MarkD
I think that particular airframe might have been pencilled in to rust away beside HMS Britannia in Edinburgh. (That's assuming Bonnie Prince Charlie doesn't suddenly get a urge to take up flying again!):rolleyes:

Lou, I agree, the 1-11 would be nice in a Dan-Air scheme, preferably early rather than the final rendition.

Oh dear, What a sad collection . All that that you need now is an A.T.P. to compleate the set!!!. All three of the aircraft mentioned were difficult enough to maintain when they were flying. They are going to look realy good after a few years outside in "manchester sunshine"!!!! :(

Yes it is indeed a sad collection. Sad because it reminds us that we used to have an aircraft industry in the UK.
The 748 and the 1-11 were successful types in their day, The RJX - we'll never know. The fact that the RJX is the last commercial airliner built in the UK is a good enough reason to try and keep at least one intact.

The fact that the aircraft will be kept outside in no reason not to preserve them. It hasn't stopped the collections at Duxford or Cosford.

JT

Confirmed!

The RJX will be preserverd along with the whole British European management, a Shed and a green TVR - Fantastic!

Also it's free entry till May.

You also have to wear brown brogues, a creased tweed suit and have a hint of a stutter to gain entry on Saturdays.

Moved eh! So the PPruNe Police have decreed that the last British built (with a lot of foreign parts) airliner is no longer a worthy 'News' item but is now just a forgotten part of 'Aviation History' banished to one of the many back-of-beyond forum boneyards. Shame on you!

Just to complete the story........
GIRJX arrived MAN today (Feb 6) shortly after midday having given a farewell display at BAE Woodford, followed by a high speed (for a 146!) flypast along MAN's 24R, followed by a circuit and land with an eventual taxi through a fire brigade water reception.

THE END

Midday eh?, more like four o'clock given the 146/RJ's legendary serviceability rate!!!. Oh and be careful with the water from the fire brigade it will proberbly put out the engines!!!!.:D :D :D

It did arrive at midday and I'm not sure what information Dr Illitout has that allows him to make an informed opinion about the RJX or its reliability.
If his posts are designed to irritate and annoy - it has worked.

Rockwell - the flypast was fast considering it was done with flap 18

A lot of people at BAE put in a lot effort under threat of redundancy to get this aircraft preserved (along with people at MAN) and all that seems to happen on these forums is people take the p**s.
I thought this forum was for people who enjoyed aviation hisory and nostalgia for what it is (although I agree with Rockwell that it is disappointing to see the thread moved).

The Irish press may find the 146 "pathetic" - did they know their national airline flys them?

It was sad day for the UK aviation industry and I think the aircraft was given a decent send-off and it was nice to find people in the aviation business in the UK who are actually interested and enthusiastic about what they are doing.

JT

Seems a terrible waste for a little-used modern airliner to parked in the open as a museum exhibit to corrode away.

If they have a 1-11, surely it should be a Super 1-11 in BA colours. The fleet was Manch-based for many years. And how about a Dan Air Comet?? And a Spantax Coronado? Ah! memories ;~))

SSD

What can one say. I gave a good many years of my working life to the BAe146/RJ project and to see the latest reincarnation of that fine aircraft end its days as an exhibition at Manchester was just to painful to watch. Why the BAE Systems board wouldnt or couldnt find the miniscule amount of capital to keep the project and production line going bewilders me. It was months away from certification and it seems they just lost there nerve. (Could the departure of John Weston be a critical factor. Is Sir Dick Evans who is a military man through and through had undue influence in the decision making process. With all of its competitors falling by the wayside it seems that the BAE systems board have lost another golden opportunity to sell this fine aircraft. As the test pilot Al Foster said in an interview for BBC look Northwest " this country has lost the ability to build civil aircraft and that is very sad". It seems the board of BAE Systems want to be nothing but subcontractors and assemblers of Military aircraft. "No risk" should be their motto.
As for the uninformed people who are quick to criticise this aircraft all I can say is in all the time I was involved with this project with many quality airlines overseas and at home, its technical reliability was no worse than the many aircraft from Boeing and McDonnel Douglas that I was involved with. I would say to the knockers dont be blinkered by the Boeing propaganda machine. The BAe146/RJ is a fine aircraft.