RAF BAe 146s: who flies in them?
Discussion
They always seem to be up and about everyday, particularly out of Northolt like this one and mainly on domestic routes.
I don’t think the Royal Family are using them much, so who gets to fly in them? Are they perhaps used as trainers for the RAF’s larger planes?
Edit: the above one went to Prestwick. The below one just completed the short hop from Liverpool to Northolt.
I don’t think the Royal Family are using them much, so who gets to fly in them? Are they perhaps used as trainers for the RAF’s larger planes?
Edit: the above one went to Prestwick. The below one just completed the short hop from Liverpool to Northolt.
Edited by LotusOmega375D on Wednesday 6th January 12:52
Guess this sums up what they do pretty well https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircraft/bae146-ccmk2-and-c...
Who flies in them? Me. Well I used to.
They are used for all sorts of non-troop transport roles. Flying minibuses if you like.
I used them when I worked with the MoD on exercises providing media training. There would be a need to get a group of people from different parts of the UK to an airport where there may not be any direct flights.
Examples of flights I took:
Newcastle to Stornoway. Then a hired helo or a military helo onto a ship.
Amsterdam to somewhere in Norway via Copenhagen to meet another flight then onto another Danish airport then a bus to a military base. On the first leg of the flight I was the only passenger which I admit was rather nice .
Leuchars to Prestwick then a helo to West Freugh.
I recall the contrast between being looked after on board by the crew then fishing my own baggage from the hold before donning an immersion suit and boarding an RN Sea King. Half an hour after I'd been sipping tea and eating cake with the RAF, I was dangling on the end of a bit of wire over the deck of a pitching frigate somewhere in the Pentland Firth!
I think they also ferry officials around and ministers.
They're very pleasant if dated inside. Very mid 1980s. Not Gulfstream or Lear Jet posh but. I recall rosewood tables with ER emblems .
I don't think they are used frivolously. I've a good friend who is a 1*. and last time he visited me while in my neck if the woods. He was driving a rented Corsa.
They are used for all sorts of non-troop transport roles. Flying minibuses if you like.
I used them when I worked with the MoD on exercises providing media training. There would be a need to get a group of people from different parts of the UK to an airport where there may not be any direct flights.
Examples of flights I took:
Newcastle to Stornoway. Then a hired helo or a military helo onto a ship.
Amsterdam to somewhere in Norway via Copenhagen to meet another flight then onto another Danish airport then a bus to a military base. On the first leg of the flight I was the only passenger which I admit was rather nice .
Leuchars to Prestwick then a helo to West Freugh.
I recall the contrast between being looked after on board by the crew then fishing my own baggage from the hold before donning an immersion suit and boarding an RN Sea King. Half an hour after I'd been sipping tea and eating cake with the RAF, I was dangling on the end of a bit of wire over the deck of a pitching frigate somewhere in the Pentland Firth!
I think they also ferry officials around and ministers.
They're very pleasant if dated inside. Very mid 1980s. Not Gulfstream or Lear Jet posh but. I recall rosewood tables with ER emblems .
I don't think they are used frivolously. I've a good friend who is a 1*. and last time he visited me while in my neck if the woods. He was driving a rented Corsa.
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