Avro RJ85

British Aerospace / Avro · UK · first flew 1992 · airliner

The Avro RJ85 is the updated production successor to the BAe 146-200, featuring AlliedSignal LF507 turbofans with FADEC and a redesigned flight deck, while retaining the same fuselage and wing.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	4 × turbofan, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	Fuselage length equivalent to 146-200; marketed under 'Avro' branding rather than British Aerospace
T — Tail	T-tail

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Updated AlliedSignal LF507 engines with slightly revised nacelle profiles distinguishable from ALF502-equipped 146
EFIS glass cockpit; externally the nose profile is subtly refined compared to the BAe 146
Fuselage length equivalent to 146-200; marketed under 'Avro' branding rather than British Aerospace

Virtually identical to the 146-200 in planform; LF507 nacelles are slightly slimmer than ALF502 units; the key external difference is the glass cockpit visible through the windscreen.

Specifications

The Avro RJ85 has a length of 28.6 m (94 ft).
It has a wingspan of 26.34 m (86 ft).
Its maximum speed is 800 km/h (497 mph).
Typical crew: 2 flight crew.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Launched in 1992 under the revived 'Avro' brand name, the RJ85 replaced the 146-200 on the production line and found favour with airlines seeking the 146's hot-and-high and noise-sensitive airport performance with modern avionics.

Variants

The RJ70 (-100 length), RJ85 (-200 length), and RJ100 (-300 length) formed the complete RJ family; the RJX with BR715 engines was proposed but cancelled after a single prototype.

Where you'll see it

Operated by Crossair, Lufthansa CityLine, and others across Europe; the Belgian Air Component operated military variants.

Related aircraft

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