Britten-Norman has begun ground testing the first BN2B-26 Islander completed through its reshored UK production line at Bembridge, with a first flight targeted for September.
The first Islander to be fully built in the UK since Britten-Norman brought production back to Bembridge has entered ground testing ahead of a planned first flight in September, according to the company.
The BN2B-26 aircraft is being built for the Falkland Islands Government Air Service, or FIGAS, and was rolled out at Britten-Norman’s Isle of Wight facility on 30 July, one day after electrical power was applied for the first time. Delivery to the Falkland Islands is expected following completion of the flight-test programme and final customer preparation.
The aircraft represents the first complete Islander to pass through Britten-Norman’s reshored production line following a period in which major assemblies were manufactured overseas before being shipped to the UK for final assembly. The company has been rebuilding its manufacturing capability at Bembridge with investment in machinery, tooling and facilities, while its workforce has grown by more than 40% since the production activity was returned to Britain.
The latest milestone followed the installation of the aircraft’s engines, propellers, cowlings, electrical systems, brakes and flight-control surfaces and mechanisms. Britten-Norman had previously reported that the airframe had reached 75% structural completion in June, followed by electrical power-on on 29 July and roll-out the following day.
A second Islander is already progressing through the production line, while components for further aircraft are also being manufactured as Britten-Norman works towards establishing continuous production at Bembridge. The company is inviting customers and media to visit the facility ahead of a formal launch of the reshored production operation later this year.
Richard Milne, Chief Operating Officer at Britten-Norman, said, as quoted in a company news update: “The roll-out of this aircraft is a hugely significant moment for the whole Britten-Norman team, and we want to share it.”
He added: “To see the first Islander from our repatriated UK production line come together, from producing and sourcing the many parts to roll-out, is testament to the skill and commitment of everyone at Bembridge. We are now firmly focused on completing ground testing and preparing for first flight. The line is running, a second aircraft is taking shape behind this one.”
The aircraft is destined for FIGAS, which operates Islanders across the Falklands to provide air links between settlements and islands where short and relatively austere runways make the type’s short take-off and landing characteristics particularly useful.
Duane Stewart, General Manager of the Falkland Islands Government Air Service, said: “We’re delighted to see this new aircraft taking shape and look forward to welcoming it to the Falkland Islands. We’re incredibly grateful to Britten-Norman for their continued support and the strong relationship we have built over the decades.”
He continued: “This new Islander will be a valuable addition to the FIGAS fleet and help us continue providing an essential service to our community for years to come.”
The Islander has remained in production in various forms for more than five decades and is used for passenger transport, freight, surveillance and other special-mission roles. Britten-Norman says more than 1,250 aircraft have been produced, with 97% exported and operators in more than 120 countries.
The current BN2B-26 retains the established twin-engine Islander configuration while being produced using updated manufacturing methods and tooling. Britten-Norman says the airframe continues to be built around the durability, operating economics and short-strip performance associated with earlier Islanders, with the design having accumulated decades of operational use in remote and infrastructure-limited locations.
Peter McKenna, owner of long-standing Islander operator Aer Arann, said: “Having been an Islander operator for more than 56 years, we are thrilled to see new Islanders coming off the line at Bembridge. Nothing rivals the rugged reliability of the Islander, and our fleet is testament to that.”
The immediate focus at Bembridge is now on completing the ground-test programme and preparing the FIGAS aircraft for its first flight in September. With a second airframe already following it through the factory, the milestone marks the practical return of complete civil Islander production to the UK rather than a one-off assembly event.
Sold aircraft.
Still remember when the fanciful AWACS version was promoted in 80 or was it the 90’s?
I like that variant, it was pretty 🙂
An unmanned version could be a sensible move by BN, it would give a huge increase in endurance for missions like the Coast Guard patrol but much cheaper than stuff like the MQ9.
There’s an unmanned version in development with Blue Bear Systems. Project Fresson.
Project Fresson seems to be the project to electrify the Islander, and the collaboration with Blue Bear only goes as far as a ‘virtual copilot’ to reduce operating costs for small airlines at least so far.
Ah, yes. All this time I thought it was for a unmanned version. I think the article I read in the past confused autonomous co-pilot with unmanned.
Well, an autonomous co-pilot could possibly move to an unmanned delivery variant.
It’d also be handy for general usage around the Falklands for cargo and transport. The Unmanned version could deffo see some use in the highlands and if their project to electrify it works, then you’ve a no carbon, no pilot needed aircraft that can do the post, fly food in and be used for limited medical evacuation.
“I like that variant, it was pretty 🙂”
haha, like a proboscis monkey!
A face only a mother could love.
But the military Defender variants, including the AEW one, were useful export candidates to smaller air forces. Britain has lost that avenue for industry today, when Vosper Thorneycroft used to equip the navies of most of Africa.
Lost track of how many times I’ve jumped out of one of those!😎
God Lord, well you certainly can’t keep a good aircraft down.
Is this the first UK built commercial aircraft for decades?
I wonder how the unmanned development is going.
Welcome home, if only this nation had more pride.. I said pride. Not…
Cheaper than the heli fleet I suppose but not as flexible
Are they ground attack capable like the pucara
No military orders for these, I can’t find anything on the possibility of weapons carriage. The Coastguard use them for surveillance.
I wonder if they might be a cheap way of adding some dedicated aerial firefighting capacity, given that will be needed most summers now?
The weight limit they can take is pretty low. There are probably better options for fire fighting including older Chinook helicopters which can take a bucket using existing load hooks.
It’s not that long ago that the RAF got rid of their Islanders used for patrolling around the UK coast
Defender was the military variant..
The RAF never had Islanders or Defenders for “patrolling around the UK coast. That was never their role. The RAF used them in the covert SIGINT role out of Northolt, that task was privatised with the same aircraft operating out of the same base but civilian contractor operated and owned, and they briefly took over 651 Sqn Defenders in Aldergrove before disbanding the squadron and retiring the aircraft.
There was also one in Belize.
That’s the defender variant that apparently can carry armaments.