BAe 146 Atmospheric Research Aircraft

British Aerospace 146 G-LUXE (c/n E3001) has had quite an eventful 40-year existence. The 1981-built four-engine regional jet’s first incarnation was as G-SSSH (c/n E1001), which was the prototype of the maiden 146-100 variant.

After being withdrawn from use in August 1986, the airframe was extended by around 5m (16ft) and to be used as the prototype for the stretched 146-300 variant in April the following year. This is when it received its latest registration and serial number.

The quadjet was configured as a demonstrator for British Aerospace until 2004. Instead of being retired, the then 23-year-old example was awarded a new lease of life as a flying laboratory for use by the Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM).