EuroCargo In Focus - The BAe 146

[EHM-1465 Dominic]

Welcome back! This week we'll be looking at our Class 4 Cargo workhorse - the BAe 146-300QT. She's a wonderful little plane with lots of special features and I'd encourage you all to try her out

No doubt you'll have seen on the Fleet pages that the 146 was the first jet aircraft to fly into the dangerous mountain fringed airport at Innsbruck. This versatility is one of the reasons why the 146 is still such a common sight around the world - she'll take any load to any field in any weather at any time of day or night



So I'll invite you to join me at the apron as we start our walk around before flight...

[img=880x660]http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/8608/bae146load05eu8.jpg[/img]

Our 146 is a lovely model that includes special animations as your cargo gets loaded, watch those containers slide in...

[img=300x225]http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/9301/bae146load03gl1.jpg[/img][img=300x225]http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/105/bae146load02ea4.jpg[/img][img=300x225]http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/1373/bae146load01uj0.jpg[/img]

After the walk around you'll need to start up the engines... This plane comes with a complex panel and detailed manual which are really well worth the effort of learning. The panel designer Matthias Lieberecht has created a wonderfully realistic simulation of the plane and you can see more of his creations plus a panel support forum here.

The BAe 146 was reborn later in its life as the Avro ARJ and this is the 'glass cockpit' style of panel that is included in our fleet download...



For the old timers amongst us you can also install a 'steam gauge' version of the panel Both versions include some excellent features you won't always find even on payware planes such as a ground power panel...

[img=880x660]http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/2874/bae146cockpit02be5.jpg[/img]

and a fully detailed, working overhead systems panel...

[img=880x660]http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/2844/bae146cockpit04vo4.jpg[/img]

Once the turbines are spinning, get yourself to the runway and test the takeoff performance of this powerful little plane !

[img=880x660]http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/2992/bae146takeoff04vn1.jpg[/img]

It's no wonder the 'Whisperjet' is still used at so many city airports where she can safely get in and out of short runways and she won't deafen the neighbours  This also means that you, as Pilot In Command, get some fantastic views...



When you're on approach, make sure you know the right landing technique - this is a plane without autoland, autobrakes or reverse thrust ! Use the clamshell airbrakes at the back of the fuselage after touchdown and watch as the knots drop off !!



So why not take a 146 out today? There's always cargo waiting and the plane is a joy to fly...



For more detailed information on the BAe 146 have a look at these interesting links:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bae_146
http://www.smiliner.com/index.html
http://www.vectorsite.net/avbae146.html

Enjoy your flights...

EuroCargo - no excuses !

[EHM-1821 Javier]

great review yet again!! I cant wait till the big jet reviews;D

[EHM-2101 Tarik]

Looking good, and very nice pics!

[EHM-1500 Jim]

Nice review....am about to use her for the special missions. Looking forward to it.
Jim

[EHM-1838 Andrew]

I have just spent two hours or so just getting the engines started,taxiing  and taking off  before finally disappearing into the sea in a screeching wailing cacophony of pull ups, stall warnings terrain alerts etc
If i ever get this panel sorted out i will apply for a real 146 pilots job.
Just when i think i am getting the hang of this flying malarkey i am rudely reminded that this is a very forgiving simulator most of the time.
Now its back to the 737/800 and i thought that panel (ps freeware much recommended)was complex)
Cheeers Andy

[EHM-2097 Andrei]

Hi Andy,

Don't give up yet! I admit the Bae146 panel is a real challenge, but that's exactly why we love it, isn't it?

As far as I am concerned, it took me far more than 2h to start the engines - and get to the proper procedure of doing so. Every time that I lost patience and started pressing buttons at "wild guess", I had to start it over from the beginning.

In fact, it takes more than 2h just to read the 108 pages of the manual - but it's really worth the time spent. Not only it explains the complex systems of the plane, but it has a touch of "real stuff" that makes it even more interesting. And, for sure, it explains why some standard FS features work on any plane EXCEPT this one.

The WPCS is reputed to be over-sensitive for this plane, I always had my part of unwelcomed alerts on every flight I did. The manual provides help on how to disable it.

One more tips: be sure to activate the yaw damper, otherwise this plane AP will NEVER stabilize the heading on NAV or ILS modes. Which is particularly bothering, assuming you want to land on a straight runway not a zig-zag one.

So, good luck and be sure to try again, the cargo awaits!

Cheers
Andrei

[EHM-1838 Andrew]

Thanks Andrei
I am sure i will go back to it.It becomes a matter of pride i don't want to admit i am to dim to get the hang of it.;DI have got to grips with a couple of fairly complex panels(Not in bae 146 league)the rather nice PS Panels for 737ng and an MD11 Pane by Alain ???but even that one only had a manual of about thirty pages and the thought of a one hundred page monster is a bit daunting. (ESPECIALLY to print out)
Thanks for your comments
cheers Andy;)

[EHM-1956 Mikael]

Hallo everyone i was also trying the new bae 146 it looks grate i like the panel all realistic buttons but i have one big problem i cant get it in the air it seems that i cant get enough power to take off,i only get to 100 to max 120 knots at the end off the runway,probebly this is only me having a bad experience but ill get realy frustated that i cant take off with it .can someone tell me how to do

[EHM-0654 Murray]

Mikael,

The really obvious things to suggest are:-

(a) Are your sure you're spooling all throttles equally?

(b) Too much weight

(c) Incorrect flap setting

[EHM-1956 Mikael]

ok il get it now i ¨forgot to set the payload corecly and full flaps then it works, a little hard in the begining but it works. the trottle adjust itself automaticly even if i dont use the autotrottle so if i set takeoffpower it adjusting down a little when im rolling on the runway.thanks anyway murray

i realy like this plane.:]