British Aerospace Jetstream

During the Falklands war the RAF Jetstreams were used as transport aircraft to move high priority freight, and people around the UK. I wonder why MOD didnt buy more of them to replace the Devons and Pembrokes????

from the NARA site, 1982 I think

A right front view of a British Aerospace Jetstream 31 light commuter/executive transport aircraft, parked on the runway apron during Exercise Coronet Brave

The Fleet Air Arm operated them as Observer (navigator) trainers based at Culdrose plus a couple as "Admiral's barges".

Were any barges painted green perchance? Or looked in any way different to the normal navy machine?

kebecker wrote:

from the NARA site, 1982 I think

A right front view of a British Aerospace Jetstream 31 light commuter/executive transport aircraft, parked on the runway apron during Exercise Coronet Brave

That's not a J31, it's a 'standard' RAF Mk 1 version built by Handley Page at Radlett; the J31 (built at Prestwick after the design was taken over by Scottish Aviation) had the Garrett TPE 331 engines and those are obviously Astazous.
Not sure what airfield that is; possibly Leeming?

Peter wrote:

What is the green building behind the tail? My bombing range brain tells me it is a wooden quadrant shelter but it can't be one of those

It looks similar to a tower used for RVR observations.

Peter wrote:

Really Vicious Rabbits?

Runway Visual Range.
Modern systems are all electronic but original systems used a human observer at an elevation of about 15ft agl to count the number of runway edgelights visible in poor weather, this number being passed to ATC who had a 'conversion' chart to indicate the actual visibility along the runway itself, not just the met visibility around the airport.
The RVR reading was then passed to the pilot before he commenced an approach to ascertain if it was within his limits.