QinetiQ BAe 146

[Garry Russell]

The former G-BZAY with QinetiQ has been re registered to the Royal Air Force (31-July) with the distinctly odd serial QQ101

Has someone got their lines crossed here???

Or is it corporate image seeing QinetiQ is spelled with both 'Q's in upper case

[TSR2]

Hi Garry,

I mentioned the Q's in a thread a while back. Both of the QinetiQ 146's will have the QQ serials. I did also hear that all new Qinetiq aircraft will use QQ. Strange that they are being registered to the RAF on that serial though, although it probably means they dont have to conform to civil rules if they are registered as Mil aircraft.

[EDIT]

Just checked and QQ100 is an Augusta A109, and the secong 146 (RJ70) is QQ102

[Garry Russell]

Hi Ben

I would think it has to be re registered to the military to use those serials

They used to do that with prototypes. Viscount, Britannia, Apollo etc all had mil serials. The Viscount G-AHRF for example would become VX211 to perform test that were outside the civil remit then revert back. All the time it was Vickers operated and MoS owned.

This has been with QinetiQ for a while in ETPS livery flight-planned as QQ101 but wearing G-BZAY and while spaces where the roundels would be. Flying throughout July like that but to be an effective test aircraft it's now officially military so I guess she has the roundels and is now in full service.

[Dev One]

Its very interesting (& boring too) to read RA1121 Military Registration of Civil Owned Aircraft.
Talk about the weight of paper exceeding the AUW of the aircraft - not to mention the time & cost implications.....
QQ is I think a Design Approved Organisation & has to follow these rules - it was a lot different when the RAE was operated under Civil Service & Crown Immunity was available back in my days!!
Keith

[Garry Russell]

It always seems to cost more to save money with the added bonus of so much paperwork, no one knows whats going on