Comment / The cancellation of the Avro RJX program in November 2001 was a major blow to the British aviation industry, from which you could say it has never recovered. RJX100 G-IRJX was the program's second prototype, flying for the first time on 23rd September 2001. The flight from Woodford lasted 3 hours and 10 minutes during which she reached 26,000ft and 250kts.

Comment / G-IRJX looks on as a EuroManx Dash 8 departs runway 24R overhead.

Comment / Contrary to popular belief, the prototype for the Avro RJX program was not G-IRJX - it was actually an RJX85, registered G-ORJX, which took to the air for the first time on 28th April 2001. Nor was G-IRJX the last British airliner built. A second RJX100 went on to join the ill-fated test program on 9th January 2002, registered G-6-391, although the very last airliner to roll off the Woodford production line was actually RJ85 G-CMBH (now OH-SAP) which flew the type's 'last' first flight on 26th April 2002.