BAe 146 atmospheric research aircraft
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BAe 146 atmospheric research aircraft
Some time ago there was a thread here about the possible use of a 146 in extended low-level flying over the sea, replacing a C-130. I suspect that this possibility has now become reality:
BAE SYSTEMS Aircraft Joins Global Warming and Atmospheric Pollution Research Program
Press release, February 15, 2001
BAE SYSTEMS' Aircraft Services Group has contracted to provide the charter of an instrumented aircraft facility which will enable the UK atmospheric research community to assess information on global warming, pollution levels, atmospheric radiation and environmental risks and hazards.
Valued at between (pound)28m and (pound)42m, depending on aircraft utilization, the contract is with UMIST (the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology), which has formed a strategic partnership with the Meteorological Office and the Natural Environment Research Council.
A BAe 146-300 development aircraft - serial number E3001 - will provide an airborne atmospheric research service. The conversion of the aircraft and new scientific instrumentation will be funded by a (pound)16.5m award from the Joint Infrastructure Fund to UMIST and the University of Cambridge together with support from the Met Office. The conversion, role equipping and certification of the BAe 146 will be completed during the third quarter of 2002 to allow ten years of
operational flying to commence. The aircraft will be based at Woodford, near Manchester, where an UK atmospheric research centre of excellence joint facility will be established by the partnership. The majority of flying will be in UK airspace, however a significant amount of global research will be conducted.
"We're confident that the BAe 146 will provide a cost effective and versatile platform for the ongoing atmospheric research carried out by the UK joint facility," said UMIST's Professor of Atmospheric Physics, Dr. Peter Jonas. "BAE SYSTEMS' bid offered an innovative solution to our requirement through their ability to offer the aircraft in a fully operational condition with all the personnel needed to support an aircraft flight whenever and wherever required."
The Met Office currently obtains its services from the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) at Boscombe Down using a C-130 Hercules aircraft.
BAE SYSTEMS Aircraft Joins Global Warming and Atmospheric Pollution Research Program
Press release, February 15, 2001
BAE SYSTEMS' Aircraft Services Group has contracted to provide the charter of an instrumented aircraft facility which will enable the UK atmospheric research community to assess information on global warming, pollution levels, atmospheric radiation and environmental risks and hazards.
Valued at between (pound)28m and (pound)42m, depending on aircraft utilization, the contract is with UMIST (the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology), which has formed a strategic partnership with the Meteorological Office and the Natural Environment Research Council.
A BAe 146-300 development aircraft - serial number E3001 - will provide an airborne atmospheric research service. The conversion of the aircraft and new scientific instrumentation will be funded by a (pound)16.5m award from the Joint Infrastructure Fund to UMIST and the University of Cambridge together with support from the Met Office. The conversion, role equipping and certification of the BAe 146 will be completed during the third quarter of 2002 to allow ten years of
operational flying to commence. The aircraft will be based at Woodford, near Manchester, where an UK atmospheric research centre of excellence joint facility will be established by the partnership. The majority of flying will be in UK airspace, however a significant amount of global research will be conducted.
"We're confident that the BAe 146 will provide a cost effective and versatile platform for the ongoing atmospheric research carried out by the UK joint facility," said UMIST's Professor of Atmospheric Physics, Dr. Peter Jonas. "BAE SYSTEMS' bid offered an innovative solution to our requirement through their ability to offer the aircraft in a fully operational condition with all the personnel needed to support an aircraft flight whenever and wherever required."
The Met Office currently obtains its services from the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) at Boscombe Down using a C-130 Hercules aircraft.
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It is with deep regret that yes the politics have ruled over common sense. Snoopy will cease flying for the Met Office at the end of this FY. We have tried hard to save her, but have been over ruled by political considerations. I think the universities are how ever in for a rude shock. They have been prommised an all singing all dancing aircraft. The limitations of the flight envelope are just begining to sink home. What you mean we can not fly at FL350 for 5 hours with a full pay load!
And when we deploy over seas, all the support carg goes by road, or we hire in a Hercules!
I understand Snoopy will stay her present home for the near future, where DERA will use her as part of their air fleet.
And when we deploy over seas, all the support carg goes by road, or we hire in a Hercules!
I understand Snoopy will stay her present home for the near future, where DERA will use her as part of their air fleet.
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I await with interest to see what uses DERA will find for Snoopy. Regretably, it must be anticipated that the answer will be 'not a lot'; hence, not cost effective, so throw it away! What prize idiot gave the aircraft to DERA in the first place!
Yet again, another waste of a very effective UK resource. What the hell is going on in this country?
Yet again, another waste of a very effective UK resource. What the hell is going on in this country?
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Good to see such support.
Afraid the answer is a lot more complex, but fundamentally it revolves around funding.
The emphasis is shifting to the universities carrying out the research, while the Met Office ( which has done this work since the 1940s ) is now becoming a more commercial operation.
The economics of operating the current aircraft have played a large part in the move to the new platform.
One would hope the expertise built up over the years by Snoopy's crew and support personnel is not lost when operations are transferred to the new aircraft.
Afraid the answer is a lot more complex, but fundamentally it revolves around funding.
The emphasis is shifting to the universities carrying out the research, while the Met Office ( which has done this work since the 1940s ) is now becoming a more commercial operation.
The economics of operating the current aircraft have played a large part in the move to the new platform.
One would hope the expertise built up over the years by Snoopy's crew and support personnel is not lost when operations are transferred to the new aircraft.
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DTWH, MB, et al.
All of this is sad (fascinating to the outsdier, but still sad). The question remains, what is goingto be done with a near pristine, low houred, though non-standard, Hercules airframe? If Snoopy must leave her current role, may common sense prevail and at least give the RAF an airframe that Lyneham could very happily use!
Presumably this means that she'll be stuck in a museum or scrapped or something equally ridiculous. Didn't they do something similar to an ex-test Vulcan B2 in the late 1960's?
Cheers, and best of luck to Snoopy
Tobbes
All of this is sad (fascinating to the outsdier, but still sad). The question remains, what is goingto be done with a near pristine, low houred, though non-standard, Hercules airframe? If Snoopy must leave her current role, may common sense prevail and at least give the RAF an airframe that Lyneham could very happily use!
Presumably this means that she'll be stuck in a museum or scrapped or something equally ridiculous. Didn't they do something similar to an ex-test Vulcan B2 in the late 1960's?
Cheers, and best of luck to Snoopy
Tobbes
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Hello Tobbes,
You said it: The question still remains...
I don't think Snoops will wind up at Lyneham because I understand it's owned by DERA, not the RAF. I also don't see her being sold to a commercial operator as I think they prefer the stretched Hercs. It is possible she may be offered to European agencies as a research platform, to continue in a similar role, but who really knows?
You said it: The question still remains...
I don't think Snoops will wind up at Lyneham because I understand it's owned by DERA, not the RAF. I also don't see her being sold to a commercial operator as I think they prefer the stretched Hercs. It is possible she may be offered to European agencies as a research platform, to continue in a similar role, but who really knows?
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Matt, hi.
Well, this is a matter of paperwork -- the boys back at Lyneham would be grateful to take Snoopy back,I'm sure. The regular C1s are sufficiently useful and knackered for any low-time, well maintained, much loved help to be more than gratefully recieved. Having said that, unless the transfer happens before new DERA is sold off (infamy!) I presume that Snoopy will become one of their (private) assests.
Best of to everyone, and have a cracking party!
Tobbes
Well, this is a matter of paperwork -- the boys back at Lyneham would be grateful to take Snoopy back,I'm sure. The regular C1s are sufficiently useful and knackered for any low-time, well maintained, much loved help to be more than gratefully recieved. Having said that, unless the transfer happens before new DERA is sold off (infamy!) I presume that Snoopy will become one of their (private) assests.
Best of to everyone, and have a cracking party!
Tobbes
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Hi Tobbes,
I'm sure that the future of Snoopy will be with DERA in some role or other. It is a very low airframe hours aircraft, in very good nick. As far as I know we didn't break anything today.
Request, I take it news of the event on the 6th April is spreading, if you have contacts at EGDL can you spread the news please? We need as many ex Snoopy crew as possible.
Contact details on pprune.
I'm sure that the future of Snoopy will be with DERA in some role or other. It is a very low airframe hours aircraft, in very good nick. As far as I know we didn't break anything today.
Request, I take it news of the event on the 6th April is spreading, if you have contacts at EGDL can you spread the news please? We need as many ex Snoopy crew as possible.
Contact details on pprune.
