Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/661228
tail) may be noticed in many airports in Europe and it is difficult to confuse it with any other construction. Currently, the BAe-146 family planes have been serving in the air forces of three countries (Bahrain, Bolivia and United Kingdom) and have been used as passenger planes. Due to budget cuts, they have been only carrying advanced self-defense and communication systems and basically are slight modification of the civilian airframes available in the market. Apart from those models, the manufacturer (in the 1980s, it was the predecessor of BAe Systems – British Aerospace) undertook a marketing opeartions concerning the military versions of BAe-146. Between 1987-1988, three variants were prepared, marked as BAe-146STA, BAe-146MRT and Bae-146MT. The first two planes were cargo palanes that differed from each other by the manner of loading and unloading of the carried equipment and personnel: Ä the STA variant (Sideloading Tactical Airlifter) had side loading doors placed on the left side of the hull (dimensions 3327.4 mm x 1930.4 mm), as well as a pair of doors designed for paratroopers; Ä the MRT variant (Military Rear Loader) were to be facilitated with a rear loading ramp, opened and closed with hydraulic cylinders. Such a „pure" carrier was also to be facilitated with a re-designed main undercarriage, which would allow air operations from provisional field airstrips. The aircraft just after start; one will quickly notice the pods with the self- defense system – pic. BAe Systems AVIATION