British Aerospace Bae 146-300

Quad Jet

The British Aerospace 146-300 is the stretched, 100-seat variant of the iconic four-engine regional jet family that became famous for its whisper-quiet operation and exceptional short-field performance. Introduced in 1988 as the longest member of the BAe 146 series, the -300 added 8 feet to the fuselage over the -200, making it one of the few regional jets capable of carrying a hundred passengers into airports where noise restrictions or short runways kept larger aircraft away. Its four Textron Lycoming ALF 502 turbofans, mounted high on the wing, earned it the nickname "Whisperjet" and made it a favorite for city-center airports like London City, where steep approach angles and strict noise limits were the norm. The type's ability to operate from unpaved or marginal runways also made it popular for mining charters and remote community service in Australia and Africa. Though production ended in 2002 when BAE Systems pivoted to the Avro RJ series and eventually exited commercial aviation, the 146-300 remains in service with cargo operators and niche passenger carriers who value its unique combination of capacity, field performance, and community-friendly acoustics. Its relatively low cruising speed and fuel burn compared to modern twins have relegated most survivors to secondary roles, but the type's operational flexibility ensures it still finds work where newer aircraft simply can't go. SkyMeter has tracked 26 flights across 2 airframes and 1 operators, with PIONAIR AUSTRALIA PTY LTD the largest observed operator.