N478NA

This airframe, registered as N478NA, is a British Aerospace-built jet constructed in 1987 with manufacturer serial number E2074. Originally delivered as a passenger-configured British Aerospace BAe 146-200A, it is currently owned by NEPTUNE AVIATION SERVICES INC (a corporation based in Missoula, MT, US) and carries a United States registration. The aircraft has undergone a significant role change—converted/modified for aerial firefighting (retardant tank / dispersal system)—with the original passenger layout removed for its tanker role. It is recorded as a fixed-wing multi-engine category aircraft and operates from the owner’s Missoula, Montana base.

The cabin of N478NA no longer retains its original 109-seat passenger interior, having been reconfigured for the tanker mission with a retardant tank and dispersal system replacing the standard cabin layout. Avionics fit is not published in the supplied data; operationally the aircraft is tasked with aerial firefighting sorties from its Missoula, Montana operator base, typically flying mission profiles consistent with regional tanker operations that prioritize low-level retardant delivery over pressured flight legs. Maintenance and inspection cycles are influenced by its conversion and tanker role, which entails specialized structural, tank, and dispersal-system inspections beyond standard airliner checks.

The BAe 146-200A family occupies a niche as a short- to medium-range regional jet capable of steep-field performance and operations into constrained airports; this airframe, powered by four Lycoming ALF502R-5 turbofans, reflects that capability while being repurposed into a tactical support role. Competing airframes in the converted-tanker market often include other regional jets and converted freighters; buyer demand for such conversions is tied to mission suitability, remaining airframe life, and the complexity of maintaining four-engine regional jets. Resale and maintenance considerations for this converted airframe hinge on its firefighting modifications and remaining certified life under its U.S. registration.