A New Millennium and a New Name

2000s

On 30th November 1999 British Aerospace merged with Marconi Electronic Systems to become known as BAE Systems and so at the turn of the new Millennium another name was over the gates.

Just before the millennium Woodford found itself involved with the Nimrod once again. Fuselage refurbishment and conversion of the BAE SYSTEMS Nimrod 2000 (by this time called Nimrod MRA4) was the responsibility of Flight Refuelling Aviation (FRA) at Hurn near Bournemouth. FRA were unable to complete their contracted work and in November 1999 it was agreed that Nimrod work would go to Woodford.

Both Manchester sites continued to be busy fulfilling their contracts and in March 2001 it was announce that Chadderton was merged in to a larger BAE Systems Aerostructures business incorporating Precision Aerospace from Kansas USA who were part of the merger with Marconi.

Woodford was busy building the RJs and also providing modification and upgrade support to 146 and RJ customers through its Avrotec business.

Looking to the future, preparations were underway for a further development of the Avro RJ series to ensure it remained competitive in the regional aircraft market. A more efficient derivative called the Avro RJX was planned. A successful RJX would ensure Woodford and Chadderton remained in Commercial Aircraft Business.

However, the world was turned up-side down with the attack on the World Trade Centre in New York on September 11th 2001.

The Twin Towers disaster immediately caused a significant reduction in civilian air travel and in November 2001 BAE Systems cancelled the RJX on 27th November 2001. Three RJX aircraft had been built and the prototype RJX100 had its maiden flight on 23rd September 2001. After cancellation it was flown to the Runway Visitors Park at Manchester Airport as an exhibit.

This meant that on completion of Avro RJ orders the most successful British Aircraft programme would finish and the Woodford production line would close and Chadderton would cease all 146/RJ manufacturing activities. The last new civil aircraft to be manufactured at Woodford was an Avro RJ85 for Air Botnia was delivered on 23rd September 2003. This delivery brought to an end a production run of 173 aircraft lasting 10 years and a programme that captured more than 30% of the Regional Jet market..

(Colour Photograph showing) - Two Avro RJX Aircraft on Test Flights - Copyright BAE Systems