N472NA

This airframe, registered as N472NA, is a 1989-built British Aerospace airliner, serial number E2138, manufactured by British Aerospace. It is owned by NEPTUNE AVIATION SERVICES INC, a corporate operator based in Missoula, MT, US, and is registered in the US. The airframe has been converted and operated in a specialist role, with registry and operator records reflecting its transition from a passenger-configured airliner to a mission-equipped platform. Condition highlights include its operator conversion to a firefighting mission fit, which substantially modifies the original cabin and systems compared with a standard passenger example.

The cabin of N472NA is configured for aerial firefighting with a mission retardant tank and associated mission systems installed as an operator conversion rather than a factory fit. Avionics fit and specific mission system manufacturers are Not published in the provided data; however, the aircraft typically operates from its operator’s base in Missoula, MT, conducting short-duration tactical sorties to deliver retardant in wildfire suppression missions. Typical mission profiles prioritize low-altitude, low-speed pass profiles over fire lines, with rapid turnarounds at the home base; the conversion imposes unique maintenance regimes for the tank, delivery plumbing, and associated structural modifications. The four-engine arrangement requires coordinated engine maintenance planning, and operator records generally emphasize inspection regimes tied to both airframe age (1989 build) and specialized mission equipment.

As a member of the BAe 146 family, the British Aerospace BAe 146-200A occupies a niche as a quiet, short-field capable regional jet adaptable to special missions such as firefighting. Competing solutions in the special-mission marketplace tend to include turboprops or converted older jets; demand for converted BAe 146 airframes is driven by operators valuing its multi-engine redundancy and airframe size for retardant carriage. Resale and maintenance considerations for this 1989 airframe center on aging-system upkeep, availability of parts for the Lycoming ALF502 series, and the implications of mission-specific structural and systems modifications on airworthiness and marketability.