BAe 146 X Plane 12

[Splitpin]

I might add this to MSFS as well, where I think it would look a bit better....but in the meantime.

[Charl]

Good screens, I think you'll find the MSFS version somewhat better.
Thick end of a hundred bucks, it had better be...

[Aharon]

Great shots especially the third one showing cool jet blast with view of few tallest buildings in the background.

I am willing to bet that anyone can easily identify the two tallest buildings in the background.

Is that the livery used for Mount Cook airline division?? Unless I am mistaken and anybody can correct me, I believe BE146-300s were used by Mount Cook airline division of Air New Zealand for NZMC Mount Cook airport.

Regards,

Aharon

[Splitpin]

Thanks for looking.
The departure point was Sydney, so I'm not sure what those tall buildings are.
Regarding the the Mount Cook Airlines thing....again, I'm not sure why that name continued to be shown....but somebody will.

[simonh]

I believe that Mount Cook were looking at the 146 as a replacement for the 748s.
BAe sent the demonstrator aircraft out for Mount Cook to evaluate... I believe its reg was G-SSSH.

[Naki]

Great shots especially the third one showing cool jet blast with view of few tallest buildings in the background.

I am willing to bet that anyone can easily identify the two tallest buildings in the background.

Is that the livery used for Mount Cook airline division?? Unless I am mistaken and anybody can correct me, I believe BE146-300s were used by Mount Cook airline division of Air New Zealand for NZMC Mount Cook airport.

Regards,

Aharon

From AI:
The query "mount cook 146s" likely refers to the former use of British Aerospace 146 aircraft by Mount Cook Airline in New Zealand. In the early 2000s, Air New Zealand temporarily operated eight ex-Qantas BAe 146-300s under Mount Cook Airline's management. These aircraft were used to supplement domestic routes after Qantas New Zealand's collapse.

Had the pleasure of being a passenger in Ansett 146 from Auckland to Queenstown & return (including a stint in the cockpit over Mt Cook) many years ago..

[Aharon]

Naki,

That is correct and that is what I was saying that BAE146-300s were operated by Mount Cook airline division owned by Air New Zealand. I know that BAE146-300s operated by Mount Cook airline division owned by Air New Zealand were used in domestic routes but however I am trying to find proof that this type of plane was used for routes to NZMC Mount Cook airport service. I remember it happened but I am trying to find proof.

Regards,

Aharon

[Splitpin]

AI :
No, Air New Zealand did not operate BAe-146 aircraft into Mount Cook Airport. While Air New Zealand did operate BAe-146s under Mount Cook Airline's management structure for a period after Qantas New Zealand's collapse, these flights were primarily on domestic routes, and Mount Cook Airport is not suitable for the BAe-146 due to its runway length and mountainous location.

Here's why:
Mount Cook Airport Restrictions:
Mount Cook Airport has a relatively short runway (around 1,200 meters). The BAe-146, even the smaller -300 version, requires a longer runway for safe operation, especially in the challenging mountainous environment.

[Charl]

Checking the variants: Bae simply removed fuselage bays to make the smaller ones!
Same wing, engines, fuel capacity, but different pax + MTOW.

The -100 would've made it out of Mt Cook, perhaps the -200 also, at a squeak.

Like Naki, I had an enjoyable flight to Queenstown on a Whisperjet, thirty years or so ago.

[Aharon]

I would not trust AI. I prefer photo proof.

See at the different response from AI:

Yes, the BAe 146 jet, also known as the "Whisperjet", did operate to NZMC airport (Mount Cook Airport). Specifically, Ansett New Zealand operated the BAe 146 aircraft, including on routes serving Mount Cook, after acquiring the aircraft from Qantas New Zealand (formerly Ansett New Zealand). These aircraft were used on domestic routes within New Zealand, including some flights to and from Mount Cook.

I prefer to see photo evidence however I do remember seeing photos in past but cannot remember where

Regards,

Aharon

[Splitpin]

Ok , you keep searching....I'm over it.

[emfrat]

[Aharon]

Ok , you keep searching....I'm over it.

Smiling That would be my pleasure. I love love love researching history of commercial aviation

Regards,

Aharon

[Aharon]

While trying to find photo evidence of BAE146 jets operating to NZMC, I found a super cool and super awesome photo showing very rare Ansett New Zealand livery as seen below:



According to aviation historians, this livery was used for some months by Ansett New Zealand until the airline decided to paint normal livery over it.

Did you know that this particular model is called BAe 146-200QC meaning it can be converted from all passenger to all cargo back to all passenger.

Here is interesting statement

"The airline’s third whisper-jet, British Aerospace BAe 146-200QC ZK-NZC arrived in Christchurch on the 9th of October 1989 after its delivery flight from Britain. The “QC” (quiet convertible) was to fly 77 passengers on daylight flights, then convert in 20 minutes to a cargo-only aircraft for night freight flights. Delivered to New Zealand in British Aerospace livery it entered service in its British registration G-BPBT on the 16th of October 1989. It was placed on the New Zealand register as ZK-NZC on the 25th of January 1990 and later repainted in Ansett New Zealand colours in April 1990 being named City of Manukau.The arrival of the whisper-jet into Queenstown also marked the end of Ansett New Zealand’s De Havilland Canada Dash 8 services to Mount Cook on the 29th of July 1989."

Here is OFFICIAL statement by OFFICIAL ex Ansett NZ Captain years ago:

The BAE 146 jets they flew weren't built to carry pax but were built as Freighters for TNT Europe but order was cancelled. So Ansett NZ got them cheap!

From recall as a result he said they were missing things like fairings on flap tracks on wings - the weird noise when the flaps went down and why flight attendant would make an announcement about the flap noise so it didn't scare the passengers!

The air-con was setup for a freighter and it carried quite a bit less fuel than pax variant.

He said it was a great aircraft to fly, responsive, with pleasantly light progressive controls; a 'pilot's aeroplane'.
But it was quite unreliable. And a fuel hog! It also didn't have auto-throttle, just a throttle trimming system called TMS(?), meaning only one vertical mode could be set in the autopilot.

Gotcha for young gun pilots would be after levelling off at cleared altitude if you were given a speed by ATC you set IAS to hold that speed, which then released the Alt Hold!

Being Cargo versions they had stronger undercarriage than pax version and it was very, very forgiving so most landings were classed as 'excellent' by the passengers, even if it was rather plonked on!

The Yaw Damper didn't work so well and cabin crew, especially at the back complained of a continual yawing / rolling sensation which could make them and pax feel nauseous! It was very under powered - fine on T/O and initial climb, but regularly running out of puff above 15,000ft.Especially on cold days with wing heaters on.
He said the bleed air often used to stink like wet socks. There were issues in those earlier versions of getting toxic gases into the cabin.

With full flaps and the speed brake out for landing, it was very draggy, and could be landed in a very short space. No reverse remember just hugely good brakes.

There wasn't an airfield in NZ it couldn't operate in/out of. I think he flew a charter into NZWO - Wairoa once.
Back then WO was around 915m seal and 350m tarseal and grass.

The joke was, why did Bae-146 have 4 engines? Because there wasn't room to fit 6! The other joke was it didn't have engines but five APUs fitted!

Meanwhile I am still digging for photo evidence of BE146 action in NZMC

Regards,

Aharon

[Naki]

Pretty sure Mount Cook only flew ATRs (for only about years part of Air NZ) into Mount Cook and HS- 748s (as an independent) before that.

[Aharon]

Pretty sure Mount Cook only flew ATRs (for only about years part of Air NZ) into Mount Cook and HS- 748s (as an independent) before that.

Yes you are correct about those two planes flown into NZMC by Mount Cook airline. Also, DC-3s by same airline also flew to NZMC too.

I am still searching vast superhighways of Internet looking for any photo proof of BAE146s operating to NZMC by Ansett New Zealand.

Regards,

Aharon