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DALLAS — Today, in 1991, the prototype British Aerospace Jetstream 41, registered G-GCJL, made its first flight from Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK). BAE Systems' heritage record says the aircraft had rolled out at Prestwick on March 27 before flying on September 25.
The Jetstream 41 followed the Jetstream 31/32, which first flew in 1980 and reached 386 examples. Both descended from the Handley Page Jetstream that began the family, but the 41 was more than a simple stretch of the earlier regional turboprop.
A New Airframe
BAE Systems describes the Jetstream 41 airframe as a completely new design. Its fuselage was 16 ft (4.88m) longer, split between an 8 ft 3 in section ahead of the wing and a 7 ft 9 in section behind it. The aircraft also received a greater-span wing with revised ailerons and flaps. Mounting the wing below the fuselage created more baggage space in the enlarged wing-root fairings.
The 29-seat aircraft used two Allied Signal TPE331-14 turboprops, each driving a five-blade propeller. The design placed British Aerospace in the same segment as the Saab 340, Embraer Brasilia and Dornier 328.
Certification and Production
The UK Civil Aviation Authority's current type certificate records November 23, 1992 as the UK certification date. Two days later, British Aerospace delivered the first aircraft intended for passenger service to Manx Airlines.
British Aerospace announced in May 1997 that it would end Jetstream 41 production after 100 production aircraft. Including four prototypes, BAE Systems records 104 aircraft built. The last airframe left Prestwick for completion at Bournemouth in February 1998 and was delivered to the Hong Kong Government the following year.
Featured image: The Jetstream 41 prototype after its roll-out at Prestwick. Photo: BAe Systems
Featured image: BAe Systems
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