Woodford's Leading Role In Climate Change Research (2/2)


The aircraft operated by FAAM is a unique BAe 146-301 ARA, registered G-LUXE. This four-engine regional jet airliner was first flown in 1981 as the prototype BAe 146-100 (registration G-SSSH) but in 1986 its airframe was extended by 5m converting it to a stretched BAe 146-300 version.

Acquired in 2001 for use by the Natural Environment Research Council and the Met Office, it underwent a three-year conversion to a flying laboratory and made its first science flight in 2004. It has a range of more than 2,000km, can carry up to 4 tonnes of scientific instruments and 21 scientists and crew. It flies as low as 50 feet over the sea and up to 35,000 feet high in the atmosphere with research flights lasting up to 6 hours. In 20 years of operation, it has flown research campaigns in more than 30 countries across 5 continents.

From climate change, air pollution and weather monitoring, the aircraft has collected atmospheric data over nearly 1400 flights which have been used in more than 500 academic research papers.

A six-year programme of upgrades is underway to reduce the
facility's environmental impact, provide frontier science capability and safeguard the UK's atmospheric research capabilities until 2040. (Scan the QR code for a virtual tour of the aircraft.)

FAAM have kindly loaned the LTI air sampling probe on display and seen in the above photo (above and behind the front door) of G-LUXE to the Avro Heritage Museum. It will be used in an extended interactive display in conjunction with Manchester University, forming part of the Avro Heritage Museum's unique STEM engagement strategy.

To see a short video of the conversion from 146-100 G-SSSH to 146-300 G-LUXE (scan the QR code.)

To see photos of the conversion to 146-300 ARA (scan the QR code.)

For a video of FAAM at work (scan the QR code.)

For more information (scan the QR code.) Courtesy of Aero Resource.
Airtask