The Avro RJ85 is becoming an increasingly rare sight in the skies worldwide. Indeed, data from ch-aviation.com shows that, today, just 13 are active across six operators. However, thanks to German memorabilia specialists Aviationtag, it is now possible to own part of one such aircraft that used to fly for Braathens (BRA).
Aviationtag's latest release
Aviationtag announced this week that it had launched its latest line of aircraft skin tags, which marked its first collaboration with Swedish regional carrier Braathens. Furthermore, while the company has tags from various different aircraft available to purchase on its website, this is the first time that it has upcycled an Avro RJ85.
This latest launch represents one of Aviationtag's most limited online releases, with just 1,000 tags having been produced from the quirky quadjet's recycled skin. This is perhaps to be expected, given its smaller size compared to larger aircraft available on the company's website, such as the Boeing 747-400.
Readers familiar with Braathens will be aware that the tails of the Swedish carrier's aircraft are adorned with a striped, multi-colored design. As such, purchasers of this latest set of tags may have the chance of bagging a more vibrant piece of memorabilia than might be the case with other aircraft. They cost €29.95 ($31.14).
Check out all the latest European aviation news here!
The aircraft in question
According to a statement sent to Simple Flying, the aircraft whose skin has been used to created the 1,000 unique pieces of aviation memorabilia entered service with Swiss regional carrier Crossair in 1993. Data from ch-aviation shows that it did so in April that year, registered as HB-IXF, around five months after its first flight.
It retained its Swiss registration for more than 14 years, although its operator changed from Crossair to SWISS in March 2002. July 2007 then saw it move to Sweden as SE-DJO, where it began flying for Gothenburg-based charter carrier Transwede Airways. ATDB.aero notes that SE-DJO then moved to Malmö Aviation in September 2009, after which Aviationtag explains that, in 2016:
"Manufacturer Serial Number (MSN) E2226 was then given its typical Braathens Regional Airlines livery and continued to fly for BRA until 2020. In 2021, it was finally scrapped in the UK and we were able to get our hands on part of the Avro RJ85 to craft our current Aviationtag edition."
SE-DJO's last flights
Data from FlightRadar24.com suggests that SE-DJO was an early victim of the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, having been taken out of service in March 2020. Of course, it was already more than 27 years old at that point, so its days may have been numbered anyhow. March 12th that year saw its final international commercial flight come in the form of a Lyon-Gothenburg hop.
The following day, it flew from Gothenburg to Stockholm Bromma, before crossing the North Sea to the UK's Norwich Airport on March 18th, 2020. It remained in storage at the Norfolk facility until its time came to be scrapped. By this point, it had amassed a total of 46,585 hours across 44,249 cycles in just over 27 years.
What do you make of Aviationtag's latest release? Have you ever flown on an Avro RJ85? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!
Sources: ATDB.aero, Aviationtag, ch-aviation.com, FlightRadar24.com