Avro Rj-85 Avroliner

Quad Jet· 15 globally registered

The RJ85 is the Avro International Aerospace marketing designation for what began life as the British Aerospace 146-200, a four-engine regional jet that remains one of the quietest commercial aircraft ever built. Introduced in the early 1980s, the BAe 146 family was designed for short-haul operations into challenging airports with steep approaches, short runways, and noise-sensitive communities. Its four Textron Lycoming ALF 502 turbofans mounted high on the wing deliver exceptional low-speed handling and the ability to operate from runways as short as 4,000 feet, making it a favorite for mountainous terrain and city-center airports like London City. The type earned the nickname "Whisperjet" for its remarkably low noise signature, a product of the high-bypass engines and lack of thrust reversers on early models. The RJ85 variant seats 85-100 passengers and became the workhorse of the Avro RJ family after production transitioned from British Aerospace to Avro International in 1993. It found a niche with regional carriers, charter operators, and specialized roles including firefighting air tanker conversions. The type's high wing, excellent field performance, and ability to cruise at 26,000-30,000 feet made it competitive on routes where larger jets couldn't operate economically. Though production ended in 2001 after roughly 220 RJ85s were built, the type remains in service worldwide, particularly in Canada, Australia, and with cargo operators who value its payload flexibility and short-field capability. SkyMeter has tracked 157 flights across 10 airframes and 6 operators, with AERO-FLITE INC the largest observed operator.