BAE Systems Regional Aircraft announced today that the first re-launched BAe 146QT (Quiet Trader) freighter has been completed at Aerostar’s Bacau facility in Romania and the Series 200 aircraft (msn E2099) made a successful first flight on Wednesday June 25.

Since the Large Freight Door (LFD) was offered up to the fuselage in the first week of April considerable work has been undertaken to finalise the aircraft. This has focussed on the installation of the LFD hydraulic/electrical control systems and alignment/rigging of the eight locking latches and spools.

In parallel, work on the aircraft’s E-class interior consisted of installing the 9G bulkhead, the Load Master seat, smoke detection systems and the Ancra Cargo Handling System, along with the final installation of freight bay liners.

Aerostar has also completed a heavy maintenance programme on the aircraft, to bring it fully up to date.

BAE Systems gave the go-ahead for the re-launched BAe 146QT programme in January 2007, and following a detailed assessment of a number of candidate conversion facilities, announced in April that it had chosen Aerostar as its conversion partner. In turn, Aerostar has nominated another Romanian aerospace company, Avioane Criaova to manufacture detailed parts including the Large Freight Door.

The BAe 146QT is a 10-12 tonne freighter (either Series 200 or Series 300) that effectively fills the large gap in the market between the 8 tonnes of the larger turboprop freighters and the 15 tonnes of the Boeing 737 Classic freighter conversions.

Some 30 BAe 146QT and QC (Quick Change) aircraft were originally built and converted new off the production line in the mid-late 1980s. All but one of these aircraft remain in service with the main operators being TNT Express in Europe, Australian air Express and Titan Airways of the UK.

About BAE SYSTEMS

BAE Systems is the premier global defence and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With 97,500 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £ 15.7 billion (US$ $31.4 billion) in 2007.

For further information contact:
David Dorman
BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 1582 488336 
Fax: +44 (0) 1582 488447  
Email: ddaviddorman@aol.com

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