Gallery No 4 - BAe 125 & 146

No. 32 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates from RAF Northolt, west of London, in the VIP and general air transport roles.

BAE 125 - The British Aerospace 125 (BAE 125) can carry up to seven passengers and is crewed by two pilots and carries a steward/stewardess when required. The first versions of this VIP aircraft were built by the Hawker Siddeley company and known as HS125 CC1s. They were delivered to the RAF between April 1971 and 1972, and two improved aircraft known as HS125 CC2s followed in April 1973. Six more BAE 125 CC3s joined No 32 Squadron in 1982-83 and it is these aircraft that remain in service today - the CC1s and CC2s having retired during the 1990s.

BAE 125 Specifications
Engines:
Two Garrett turbofans

Length:
50ft 8.5in (15.46m)

Wingspan:
47ft (14.33m)

Top Speed:
533 mph (858 km/h)

Accommodation:
Up to seven passengers
The BAE 125 CC3 can maintain a cruising speed of between 415 and 485mph (670-780 km/h) at an altitude of up to 41,000ft (12,480m) over a range of 2,000 miles (3,220km).

Roles
VIP transport for up to seven people.
Armament
No weapons are carried.

BAE 146 - In June 1983, the RAF leased a pair of BAE 146 aircraft to test their suitability as replacements for Andover aircraft which had served in the VIP role since the mid-1960s. Following successful completion of the trials, three aircraft were later purchased and they entered service from 1986 onwards.

The 146 was the first jet aircraft to be operated by the Royal Flight and offered twice the speed of the Andover, 60 percent greater range, the ability to fly above bad weather and an increase from twelve to nineteen seats in the passenger cabin. Quiet and spacious, the 146 also possesses excellent short take-off and landing capabilies.

BAE 146 Specifications
Engines:
Four Avco Lycoming turbofans

Length:
85ft 10in (26.18m)

Wingspan:
86ft 5in (26.8m)

Top Speed:
400mph (640km/h)

Accommodation:
Crew of six and up to 19 passengers
Roles
VIP transport for up to 19 people.
Armament
No weapons are carried.

Recognition
Underwing mounted engines in four nacelles (1), slightly swept wings mounted on top of the fuselage, dropping towards the wing tips. Distinctive trailing edge wing fillets. The fuselage is circular in section with bulges on the lower side to accommodate the undercarriage. The rectangular fin and rudder is slightly swept with a T-tailplane mounted on the top of the fin (2). There are sideways opening airbrakes below the rudder.