Avro Rj-100 Avroliner

Quad Jet· 1 globally registered

The British Aerospace 146-100, marketed in later production as the Avro RJ70, stands as the only successful four-engine regional jet ever built. Introduced in 1983, this short-fuselage variant seats 70-85 passengers and was designed for exceptional short-field performance and remarkably quiet operations. Its four Textron Lycoming ALF 502 high-bypass turbofans earned it the nickname "Whisperjet" and allowed access to noise-sensitive airports like London City that banned louder twins. The high wing, advanced flaps, and quadruple-redundant hydraulics gave it genuine STOL capability, with approaches into steep mountain strips and unpaved runways that would ground conventional jets. British Aerospace delivered 221 aircraft across the 146 family before production ended in 2003, with the type finding a niche in challenging environments: fire-bombing conversions, Antarctic supply runs, and high-altitude airfields in the Andes and Himalayas where its four-engine safety margin and short-field performance proved irreplaceable. The 146-100's relatively low cruising speed of Mach 0.70 and modest range of 1,500 nautical miles made it uncompetitive on longer trunk routes, but operators prized its ability to serve airports no other jet could reach. Though most passenger examples have retired in favor of more fuel-efficient twins, a dedicated fleet continues operating cargo, firefighting, and specialty charter missions where the type's unique capabilities still command a premium. SkyMeter has tracked 54 flights across 7 airframes and 4 operators over routes, with Summit Air Ltd. the largest observed operator.