BAE 146QT freighter makes first flight

BAE Systems Regional Aircraft announced that the first re-launched BAe 146QT (Quiet Trader) freighter has been completed at Aerostar’s Bacau facility in Romania and the Series 200 aircraft (msn E2099) made a successful first flight on Wednesday 25 June.

Since the Large Freight Door (LFD) was offered up to the fuselage in the first week of April, considerable work has been undertaken to finalise the aircraft. This has focused on the installation of the LFD hydraulic/electrical control systems and alignment/rigging of the eight locking latches and spools.

In parallel, work on the aircraft’s E-class interior consisted of installing the 9G bulkhead, the load master seat, smoke detection systems and the Ancra Cargo Handling System, along with the final installation of freight bay liners.

Aerostar has also completed a heavy maintenance programme on the aircraft, to bring it fully up to date.

BAE Systems gave the go-ahead for the re-launched BAe 146QT programme in January 2007, and following a detailed assessment of a number of candidate conversion facilities, announced in April that it had chosen Aerostar as its conversion partner. In turn, Aerostar has nominated another Romanian aerospace company, Avioane Criaova to manufacture detailed parts including the Large Freight Door.

Share this story