Handley Page Jetstream
- Handley Page Aircraft Company
- Scottish Aviation
- British Aerospace
The Handley Page HP137 Jetstream is a small twin-engine turboprop aircraft for feeder or regional service.
History
Handley Page Jetstream
To maintain its independence despite limited financial resources, the British aircraft manufacturer Handley Page decided to use a supply gap and to develop a small fast aircraft for twelve to eighteen passengers.
The original design of 1965 provided for a twelve -seater aircraft with six rows of seats and aisle. The forced draft hull with its round cross-section allowed far greater altitudes and thus higher speeds than conventional models. Considerable attention was aroused by the streamlined design, which included the elongated nose. In the United States, the aircraft been particularly successful, so the first order of twenty specimens was carried out before the development was completed.
For the final assembly of a new facility at the airport of Radlett was built, however, came numerous components like the wings of suppliers. The original design called for French Turbomeca - Astazou XIV engines before. The first flight took place on 18 August 1967, the model designation Handley Page Jetstream 1 During the test program, the engines, however, proved to be too weak.
To improve the marketing opportunities in the United States, the fifth prototype with American Garrett AiResearch TPE331 was equipped engines. Then ordered the U.S. Air Force eleven models under the designation C -10A, or Jetstream 3M, who possessed an additional hatch. Due to the delay in delivery of the contract in October 1969 has been deleted.
The original production model Jetstream 1 first flew on December 6, 1968, the following year a further 36 units were built. Then the model was equipped with the improved Astazou XVI powerplant and delivered from the end of 1969 as the Jetstream 2. The delays and the problems with the drive left the development costs rise to over £ 13 million - far more than the originally planned three million. Before the bankruptcy of Handley Page Jetstream 2, only three were completed. Production was suspended until 1970.
Then a group of investors decided to leave the aircraft produce Aircraft in collaboration with Scottish Aviation of the newly founded company Jetstream. Another ten specimens could be built so under the new name Jetstream 200. Later Scottish Aviation took over sole responsibility. In February 1972, ordered the Royal Air Force twenty-six Jetstream 201, which were used as training aircraft. While this version was called the Jetstream T.1, the fourteen converted for the Royal Navy copies were given the new designation Jetstream T.2.
In Germany, a copy of the Bavaria airline was used (D - INAH ), which crashed on 6 March 1970.
British Aerospace Jetstream 31/32
After the bankruptcy of the Scottish Aviation and its association with British Aerospace in 1978, BAe decided to develop the model. Similar to the earlier 3M version for the U.S. Air Force received the aircraft improved Garrett turbo propane drives with higher performance and larger maintenance intervals. This allowed a variant for 18 passengers with three seats per row.
The result was the Jetstream 31, which made its first flight on 28 March 1980 and on June 29, 1982 was admitted. The new version was actually so successful as originally described by Handley Page hoped. Several hundred 31er were built in the eighties. Another version with improved drive first flew in 1988 under the new name of Jetstream Super 31 and Jetstream 32
The production was continued until 1993. Both versions created 386 copies. Four Jetstream 31 were delivered in 1985 to the Royal Navy as a radar training aircraft Jetstream T.3, but later used as a VIP transport aircraft.
In 1993 British Aerospace Jetstream name as a brand name for all twin-engine turboprop aircraft. This included derived from the predecessors Jetstream 41 as deviating from the Avro 748 BAe ATP developed / Jetstream 61 Jetstream 61 The name was later abandoned.
British Aerospace Jetstream 41
The Jetstream 41 is a stretched version of the 31er model. The newly developed hull is 19.25 meters long and can accommodate 29 passengers. In addition to improved Garrett engines the model received a modern EFIS cockpit.
The first flight took place on 25 September 1991. Between 1992 and 1997 a total of 100 copies were delivered.
More versions
- Riley Jetstream: a series of early Jetstream 1 models, which were converted by Riley Aircraft. These machines have two Astazou XVI engines.
- Jetstream 31 Airliner: commuter aircraft for 18-19 passengers.
- Jetstream 31 Corporate: Corporate Jet for 8 to 10 passengers.
- Jetstream 31EP: Version with increased power.
- Jetstream 31EZ: Navy reconnaissance plane.
- Jetstream Executive Shuttle: Business aircraft for 12 passengers.
- Jetstream 31 Special: All-purpose transport aircraft.
- Jetstream QC (Quick Change)
Military use
- Royal Air Force: retired 2003
- Royal Navy; : retired in 2011