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The Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander is a British light utility aircraft and regional airliner designed and originally manufactured by
On 13 June 1965, the first prototype BN-2 Islander conducted its maiden flight, powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce/Continental IO-360B piston engines; only four days later, the prototype appeared at the Paris Air Show. The IO-360B engines were later replaced by more powerful Lycoming O-540-E engines, which were located further outboard on the wings, for superior single-engine climb performance. On 20 August 1966, a second BN-2 prototype performed its first flight. These prototype aircraft, while resembling subsequent production models for the most part, were outfitted with different, less powerful engines. On 24 April 1967, the first production Islander performed its first flight; UK type certification was received in August 1967, US authorities also certified the type in December 1967.
Initial production of the Islander started at the Britten-Norman factory at Bembridge on the Isle of Wight; however, within a few years the company found that it could not produce the aircraft at a sufficient rate to keep up with the customer demand. To expand production, a contract was placed with Intreprinderea de Reparatii Material Aeronautic (IRMA) of Romania, initially to assemble kit-form aircraft, which were then sent to the UK for completion. In August 1969, the first Romanian-assembled Islander performed its first flight. IRMA proved successful at economically producing the aircraft, producing roughly 30-40 aircraft per year at times, and eventually became the primary manufacturing site for the Islander. In 1977, IRMA received a contract for the production of a further 100 Islanders; from that point on, the firm produced all subsequent Islander aircraft. More than 500 of the type were manufactured in Romania.
In 1970, a military version of the Islander, marketed as the Defender, conducted its first flight. Modifications included the addition of underwing 
Fairey Aviation set about the development of a more powerful model, the Turbo Islander, equipped with a pair of 
In 1977, a single standard BN-2 was refitted with Dowty Rotol ducted fans. The ducted fan produced less noise than conventional propeller propulsion. Some structural strengthening of the main wing spar at the root was required due to the extra weight. This aircraft was subject to 18 months of flying trials to test the suitability of the ducted fan as a means of reducing aircraft noise; these tests reportedly demonstrated a 20
The Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander is a high-wing cantilever monoplane with a rectangular fuselage and two wing-mounted engines; early aircraft were equipped with a pair of
''Britten Norman'', Retrieved: 25 March 2016. Britten-Norman promotes the Islander's low direct operating costs, minimal maintenance, and its stability in flight as major attributes of the aircraft."Islander."
''Britten Norman'', Retrieved: 25 March 2016. The original Islander was designed with an emphasis upon providing ease of access within the short haul sector to remote locations as a safe, efficient, and profitable transport aircraft. It has been regularly used by such operators, including the frequent use of unprepared rough airstrips and from challenging terrain; the Islander being capable of short takeoff and landing (STOL) operations. The low load height and wide side doors provide for easy access for passenger and cargo operations, while the aircraft's ability to maintain a high takeoff frequency has led to the type's use for
"Britten-Norman Islander celebrates 40th anniversary."
''AIN Online'', 16 October 2006. The design programme can be entirely personalized, allowing each customer to be involved in every area of the aircraft's manufacture to mold it to their preferences. Later versions of the Islander offer various options, including enlarged bay doors, 3-bladed
:Defender military variant with IO-540-K1B5 engines and underwing hard points and military modifications.
;BN-2B-20
:A BN-2A-20 with improved soundproofing and increased landing weight and other minor modifications.
;BN-2B-21
:A BN-2A-21 with Model B improvements.
;
:A BN-2A-26 with Model B improvements.
;BN-2B-27
:A BN-2A-27 with Model B improvements.
;BN-2T
:Turbine Islander based on BN-2A-26 with two Allison 250-B17C turboprops. Seating for up to 9 passengers.
;Islander AL1
:Variant of the BN-2T for communications and reconnaissance duties with the British Army; seven built. Used for aerial reconnaissance and photography in Northern Ireland during Operation Banner by No. 1 Flight Army Air Corps based at Aldergrove. 1 Flight was later integrated into No. 651 Squadron. Redesignated Islander R1 in 2019 after being transferred to the Royal Air Force.
;Islander CC2 and CC2A
:Variant of the BN-2T for the Royal Air Force; three operated. These aircraft were retired from the RAF in 2017.
;Maritime-Defender
:Armed maritime reconnaissance and patrol aircraft.
; BN-2A-III Trislander
:Three-engined Trislander, a stretched BN-2A with 18 seats and three Lycoming O-540-E4C5 piston engines.
Britten-Norman
Britten-Norman (BN) is a privately owned British aircraft manufacturer and aviation services provider. The company is the sole independent commercial aircraft producer in the United Kingdom.
Britten-Norman has so far manufactured and sold almost ...
of the United Kingdom. Still in production, the Islander is one of the best-selling commercial aircraft types produced in Europe. Although designed in the 1960s, over 750 are still in service with commercial operators around the world. The aircraft is a light transport with over 30 military aviation operators around the world.
Initial aircraft were manufactured at Britten-Norman's factory in Bembridge, Isle of Wight, UK. After Fairey Aviation acquired the Britten-Norman company, its Islanders and Trislander
The Britten-Norman Trislander (more formally designated the BN-2A Mk III Trislander) is an 18-seat three-engined piston-powered civilian utility aircraft produced in the 1970s and early 1980s by Britten-Norman of Britain. These STOL capable a ...
aircraft were built in Romania, then shipped to Avions Fairey
Avions Fairey was the Belgian-based subsidiary of the British Fairey Aviation that built aircraft for the Belgian government. It subsequently separated from the UK parent and became SONACA.
History
In the late 1920s, the ''Aéronautique Mili ...
in Belgium for finishing before being flown to the UK for flight certification. The Islander has been in production for more than 50 years.
Development
Origins
In 1953, Britten-Norman was formed for the purpose of converting and operating agricultural aircraft, amongst other vehicles such as theCushioncraft
Cushioncraft Ltd was a British engineering company, formed in 1960 as a division of Britten-Norman Ltd (manufacturer of aircraft) to develop/build hovercraft. Originally based at Bembridge Airport on the Isle of Wight, Cushioncraft later moved to t ...
hovercraft. In 1963, the firm initiated development work upon what would become the Islander, having sensed a demand for a simple and inexpensive twin-piston engine
A reciprocating engine, also often known as a piston engine, is typically a heat engine that uses one or more reciprocating pistons to convert high temperature and high pressure into a rotating motion. This article describes the common featu ...
aircraft. The founders, John Britten and Desmond Norman, had observed the rapid growth of the commuter airline
A regional airline is a general classification of airline which typically operates scheduled passenger air service, using regional aircraft, between communities lacking sufficient demand or infrastructure to attract mainline flights. In North ...
sector, and concluded that capacity was of a higher value to these operators than either range or cruising speed, thus the Islander emphasized payload over either of these attributes.
Through the use of low wing- and span-loading to generate greater effectiveness than conventional counterparts, the Islander could lift considerably heavier payloads than the typical aircraft in its power, weight or cost classes. To reduce manufacturing costs, both the wings and tail surfaces maintain a constant chord
Chord may refer to:
* Chord (music), an aggregate of musical pitches sounded simultaneously
** Guitar chord a chord played on a guitar, which has a particular tuning
* Chord (geometry), a line segment joining two points on a curve
* Chord ( ...
and thickness, while the ribs within the aircraft's wing are all identical; both rivets and external fishplate joints are used for the same purpose. The type was originally intended to use a fabric-and-steel design. A light alloy monocoque approach was adopted instead. The structure is designed to give rise to and experience low levels of stress, and has an infinite fatigue life without testing.
On 13 June 1965, the first prototype BN-2 Islander conducted its maiden flight, powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce/Continental IO-360B piston engines; only four days later, the prototype appeared at the Paris Air Show. The IO-360B engines were later replaced by more powerful Lycoming O-540-E engines, which were located further outboard on the wings, for superior single-engine climb performance. On 20 August 1966, a second BN-2 prototype performed its first flight. These prototype aircraft, while resembling subsequent production models for the most part, were outfitted with different, less powerful engines. On 24 April 1967, the first production Islander performed its first flight; UK type certification was received in August 1967, US authorities also certified the type in December 1967.
Initial production of the Islander started at the Britten-Norman factory at Bembridge on the Isle of Wight; however, within a few years the company found that it could not produce the aircraft at a sufficient rate to keep up with the customer demand. To expand production, a contract was placed with Intreprinderea de Reparatii Material Aeronautic (IRMA) of Romania, initially to assemble kit-form aircraft, which were then sent to the UK for completion. In August 1969, the first Romanian-assembled Islander performed its first flight. IRMA proved successful at economically producing the aircraft, producing roughly 30-40 aircraft per year at times, and eventually became the primary manufacturing site for the Islander. In 1977, IRMA received a contract for the production of a further 100 Islanders; from that point on, the firm produced all subsequent Islander aircraft. More than 500 of the type were manufactured in Romania.
In 1970, a military version of the Islander, marketed as the Defender, conducted its first flight. Modifications included the addition of underwing hardpoint
A hardpoint is an attachment location on a structural frame designed to transfer force and carry an external or internal load. The term is usually used to refer to the mounting points (more formally known as a weapon station or station) on the ...
s for armaments/equipment, and the main cabin area being fitted out for light troop transport and support aircraft duties. The Defender capitalised on the aircraft's rugged structure, making it suitable for long-term operations in developing countries. Purchases from police and military customers have typically been for use in surveillance and counter-terrorism operations. The ''Maritime Defender'' is another military version of the Islander, intended for search and rescue, coastal patrol and fishery protection.
Further development
Despite the relative success of the Islander, Britten-Norman experienced wider financial difficulties during the late 1960s, ultimately resulting in the company entering receivership in October 1971. In August 1972, Britten-Norman was purchased by the Fairey Aviation Group, forming the Fairey Britten-Norman company; shortly thereafter, the majority of manufacturing activity for both the Islander and Trislander was transferred to itsAvions Fairey
Avions Fairey was the Belgian-based subsidiary of the British Fairey Aviation that built aircraft for the Belgian government. It subsequently separated from the UK parent and became SONACA.
History
In the late 1920s, the ''Aéronautique Mili ...
factory in Gosselies, Belgium. Completed aircraft were flown to Bembridge for final customer preparation prior to delivery.
Fairey Aviation set about the development of a more powerful model, the Turbo Islander, equipped with a pair of Lycoming LTP101 Lycoming may refer to the following, most of which are at least partly in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States:
Geography
* Lycoming, New York, a hamlet
* Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
* Lycoming Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
* Ly ...
turboprop engines. However, testing revealed that the LTP101 engines were too powerful for the aircraft; thus, following a period of re-designing, the project evolved into the Turbine Islander (BN-2T), equipped with a pair of Allison 250
The Allison Model 250, now known as the Rolls-Royce M250, (US military designations T63 and T703) is a highly successful turboshaft engine family, originally developed by the Allison Engine Company in the early 1960s. The Model 250 has been pro ...
turboprop engines instead. However, Fairey encountered financial difficulty, resulting in the Fairey Britten-Norman company entering receivership and the firm's acquisition by Oerlikon Buerle of Switzerland, leading to the formation of Pilatus Britten-Norman, whereupon some production activity was transferred back to Bembridge.
Another development was a turbo-normalizing system with RaJay turbocharger for the -2, -3, -6, -8, and -9 models allowing full power up to with attendant increase in true airspeed and takeoff and climb performance. Presently Talco in Texas holds the STC.
In 1969, an improved version, the ''BN-2A Islander'', conducted its maiden flight. It incorporated aerodynamic and flight equipment improvements, such as lower-drag engine cowlings and undercarriage, an improved interior, and an expanded rear baggage area with external access. In 1970, to improve hot-and-high performance, more powerful Lycoming O-540-K1-B5 engines were made available, alongside optional tiptanks and an elongated nose to house baggage.
In 1977, a single standard BN-2 was refitted with Dowty Rotol ducted fans. The ducted fan produced less noise than conventional propeller propulsion. Some structural strengthening of the main wing spar at the root was required due to the extra weight. This aircraft was subject to 18 months of flying trials to test the suitability of the ducted fan as a means of reducing aircraft noise; these tests reportedly demonstrated a 20 decibel
The decibel (symbol: dB) is a relative unit of measurement equal to one tenth of a bel (B). It expresses the ratio of two values of a power or root-power quantity on a logarithmic scale. Two signals whose levels differ by one decibel have a po ...
noise reduction as well as increased thrust and reduced pollution.
In 1978, a further improved version, the ''BN-2B Islander II'', was produced as a result of a product improvement program. The BN-2B model involved several changes, including a redesigned cockpit and a reduction in cabin noise levels. In 1980, it was decided to make available turboprop engines for the type, adopting twin Allison 250
The Allison Model 250, now known as the Rolls-Royce M250, (US military designations T63 and T703) is a highly successful turboshaft engine family, originally developed by the Allison Engine Company in the early 1960s. The Model 250 has been pro ...
-B17C engines; when the latter are installed, the aircraft is designated the ''BN-2T Turbine Islander''. The first such BN-2T entered service in 1981.
In February 1999, the acquisition of Romaero, the Romanian manufacturer of the Islander, by Britten-Norman Group was announced. By May 2006, a greater sales emphasis was being placed upon the Defender over the Islander. In December 2006, aerospace publication '' Flight International'' observed that: "The only civil aircraft that remains in production in the UK is the tiny Britten-Norman Islander".
In early 2008, B-N was studying a version powered by aircraft diesel engines with SMA Engines
SMA Engines (Société de Motorisations Aéronautiques) is a French manufacturer of Diesel engines for light aircraft, located in Bourges. A subsidiary of Safran, SMA engine production is currently limited to one model, the SMA SR305-230, which ...
, already offering the SMA SR305-230
The SMA SR305-230 is an air/oil-cooled, horizontally opposed, four-cylinder, four-stroke, Diesel engine, diesel piston aircraft engine. The engine is manufactured by SMA Engines, and is currently the only product of this France, French company ...
.
In May 2010, Britten-Norman announced that manufacturing of the Islander would be relocated from Romania to a new site in the UK, due to the rising costs of production in Romania.
Electric Project Fresson
Supported byBritten-Norman
Britten-Norman (BN) is a privately owned British aircraft manufacturer and aviation services provider. The company is the sole independent commercial aircraft producer in the United Kingdom.
Britten-Norman has so far manufactured and sold almost ...
, Cranfield Aerospace
, mottoeng = After clouds light
, established = 1946 - College of Aeronautics 1969 - Cranfield Institute of Technology (gained university status by royal charter) 1993 - Cranfield University (adopted current name)
, type = Public research uni ...
wants to develop an electric propulsion system for the over 700 Islanders currently operated.
Trislander
In 1968, the original second Islander prototype was re-used for a further development programme, being modified into a stretched aircraft with greater capacity, referred to as the ''Super Islander''. However, the Super Islander programme was aborted without proceeding to certification. The prototype later received further design changes to produce the three-engined version, the '' BN-2A Mk III Trislander''. This aircraft has a stretched fuselage, modified landing gear and a third engine, which is mounted on the tail. On 11 September 1970, the Trislander prototype conducted its maiden flight, appearing at the 1970Farnborough Air Show
The Farnborough Airshow, officially the Farnborough International Airshow, is a trade exhibition for the aerospace and defence industries, where civilian and military aircraft are demonstrated to potential customers and investors. Since its fir ...
the same day.
Design
The Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander is a high-wing cantilever monoplane with a rectangular fuselage and two wing-mounted engines; early aircraft were equipped with a pair of piston engine
A reciprocating engine, also often known as a piston engine, is typically a heat engine that uses one or more reciprocating pistons to convert high temperature and high pressure into a rotating motion. This article describes the common featu ...
s while later production models may be alternatively fitted with turboprop engines in their place. The rectangular cross section fuselage, which is furnished with a conventional tail unit and fixed tricycle landing gear, typically accommodates a single pilot and up to nine passengers in a commuter configuration, each row being accessed by its own door; the cabin can be rapidly reconfigured, allowing for a single aircraft to undertake a diverse range of tasks within a minimal period of time. Often referring to the type as "The world's most versatile aircraft","Islands: The World's Most Versatile Aircraft."''Britten Norman'', Retrieved: 25 March 2016. Britten-Norman promotes the Islander's low direct operating costs, minimal maintenance, and its stability in flight as major attributes of the aircraft."Islander."
''Britten Norman'', Retrieved: 25 March 2016. The original Islander was designed with an emphasis upon providing ease of access within the short haul sector to remote locations as a safe, efficient, and profitable transport aircraft. It has been regularly used by such operators, including the frequent use of unprepared rough airstrips and from challenging terrain; the Islander being capable of short takeoff and landing (STOL) operations. The low load height and wide side doors provide for easy access for passenger and cargo operations, while the aircraft's ability to maintain a high takeoff frequency has led to the type's use for
parachuting
Parachuting, including also skydiving, is a method of transiting from a high point in the atmosphere to the surface of Earth with the aid of gravity, involving the control of speed during the descent using a parachute or parachutes.
For ...
. For operating within noise-sensitive environments, silencers can be equipped on both the aircraft's engine and propellers.
Designed as a small and inexpensive commuter/utility aircraft, various cabin configurations and equipment loadouts are available to suit a wide variety of different purposes, including charter flights, scheduled flights, agricultural uses, aerial firefighting, air freight VIP/executive transport, aerial surveillance
A surveillance aircraft is an aircraft used for surveillance. They are operated by military forces and other government agencies in roles such as intelligence gathering, battlefield surveillance, airspace surveillance, reconnaissance, observat ...
, air ambulance, paradropping, and law enforcement.Goold, Ian"Britten-Norman Islander celebrates 40th anniversary."
''AIN Online'', 16 October 2006. The design programme can be entirely personalized, allowing each customer to be involved in every area of the aircraft's manufacture to mold it to their preferences. Later versions of the Islander offer various options, including enlarged bay doors, 3-bladed
scimitar propeller
A scimitar propeller is a type of propeller that has curved blades with increasing sweep along the leading edge. Their name is derived from their visual similarity to the curved blades of scimitars. In the early 1900s, as established by the Fre ...
s, low drag fairings, modern interior, ergonomic leather seating, in-flight entertainment
In-flight entertainment (IFE) refers to the entertainment available to aircraft passengers during a flight. In 1936, the airship ''LZ 129 Hindenburg, Hindenburg'' offered passengers a piano, lounge, dining room, smoking room, and bar during the ...
systems, and alternative seat arrangements; underwing hardpoint
A hardpoint is an attachment location on a structural frame designed to transfer force and carry an external or internal load. The term is usually used to refer to the mounting points (more formally known as a weapon station or station) on the ...
s can also be installed for carrying pod, spray booms and other external stores.
Operational history
Immediately following commercial availability, US distributor Jonas Aircraft ordered 30 Islanders, and placed orders for another 112 aircraft within a year. When equipped with four 54-gallon fuel tanks, the Islander was able to ferry itself across the transatlantic route, viaGander International Airport
Gander International Airport is located in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, and is operated by the Gander International Airport Authority. Canadian Forces Base Gander shares the airfield but is a separate entity from the airport. The ...
, Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador (; french: Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador; frequently abbreviated as NL) is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region ...
, for US deliveries. The Islander's long-range capabilities were highlighted when the type won the 1969 London-Sydney
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
air race.
In 1974, sales of the Islander surpassed the 548-order record for British multi-engine commercial aircraft. In 1982, another production milestone was reached with the delivery of the 1,000th Islander. From the 1980s onwards, sales noticeably declined; according to Britten-Norman Chief Executive William Hynett, this was due to the global market having become saturated by the type and there being only a low civil demand for additional aircraft, in part due to the longevity of in-service Islanders. As of 2016, Britten-Norman claim that the Islander is in daily service with roughly 500 operators in more than 120 countries.
Between 1976 and 2006, Scottish airline Loganair operated a number of Islanders as air ambulances, covering areas such as the island communities in the Hebrides. The Islander services Loganair's Westray to Papa Westray flight
The Loganair Westray to Papa Westray route is the shortest scheduled passenger flight in the world. Flights on the route are scheduled for one and a half minutes, and actual flying time is closer to one minute. The record for the fastest flight ...
, the shortest scheduled flight in the world at ; the scheduled flight time including taxiing is two minutes.
Several commuter airlines and general aviation charter operators in the U.S. also flew the Islander including Stol Air Commuter
Stol Air Commuter was a United States commuter airline that began service around 1974. The air carrier was also known as STOL Air Commuter thus reflecting its use of STOL (short take off and landing) aircraft. It served the San Francisco, Californ ...
in scheduled passenger service in northern California from their San Francisco International Airport
San Francisco International Airport is an international airport in an unincorporated area of San Mateo County, south of Downtown San Francisco. It has flights to points throughout North America and is a major gateway to Europe, the Middle E ...
(SFO) hub and Channel Islands Aviation in southern California which used the aircraft for the flights to Channel Islands National Park. Another U.S. commuter airline operator was Wings Airways
Wings Airways was a commuter airline based out of Wings Field in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania.
The airline focused primarily on shuttling passengers to nearby airports throughout the region. Wings Airways promised faster commute times to and from maj ...
which operated high frequency shuttle service into the Philadelphia International Airport
Philadelphia International Airport is the primary airport serving Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The airport served 19.6 million passengers annually in 2021, making it the 21st busiest airport in the United States. The airport is located from t ...
(PHL).
By October 2019, 800 Islanders were in service including around 600 used for short flights.
Variants
''Source:'' ;BN-2 :Prototype first flown in 1966 with two Lycoming O-540-E4B5 piston engines. ;BN-2A :Production version with minor modification from prototype and increased takeoff weight. ;BN-2A-2 :A BN-2A with modified flaps, and two Lycoming IO-540-K1B5 (fuel injected) engines. ;BN-2A-3 :A BN-2A-2 with increased wingspan and fitted with extra wingtip fuel tanks. ;BN-2A-6 :A BN-2A with wing leading edge modifications and two Lycoming O-540-E4C5 engine. ;BN-2A-7 :A BN-2A-6 with increased wingspan and fuel capacity. ;BN-2A-8 :A BN-2A-6 with droop flaps. ;BN-2A-9 :A BN-2A-7 with droop flaps. ;BN-2A-10 :A BN-2A-8 with increased takeoff weight and Lycoming TIO-540-H1A (turbo-charged, fuel injected) engines. ;BN-2A-20 :A BN-2A-2 with increased takeoff weight and minor improvements. ; :A BN-2A-3 with increased takeoff weight. ;BN-2A-23 :A BN-2A-21 with lengthened nose. ;BN-2A-24 :A BN-2A-26 with lengthened nose. ;BN-2A-25 :A BN-2A-27 with lengthened nose. ;BN-2A-26 :A BN-2A-8 with increased takeoff weight. ; :A BN-2A-9 with increased takeoff weight. ;BN-2A-30 :A BN-2A-20 fitted with floats. Twin floats were attached to the undercarriage legs and incorporated retractable landing gear. ;BN-2A-41 :Turbo Islander with lengthened nose, droop flaps and two Lycoming LTP-101 turboprops, first flown in 1977. ; Britten-Norman BN-2B Defender
:Defender military variant with IO-540-K1B5 engines and underwing hard points and military modifications.
;BN-2B-20
:A BN-2A-20 with improved soundproofing and increased landing weight and other minor modifications.
;BN-2B-21
:A BN-2A-21 with Model B improvements.
;
:A BN-2A-26 with Model B improvements.
;BN-2B-27
:A BN-2A-27 with Model B improvements.
;BN-2T
:Turbine Islander based on BN-2A-26 with two Allison 250-B17C turboprops. Seating for up to 9 passengers.
;Islander AL1
:Variant of the BN-2T for communications and reconnaissance duties with the British Army; seven built. Used for aerial reconnaissance and photography in Northern Ireland during Operation Banner by No. 1 Flight Army Air Corps based at Aldergrove. 1 Flight was later integrated into No. 651 Squadron. Redesignated Islander R1 in 2019 after being transferred to the Royal Air Force.
;Islander CC2 and CC2A
:Variant of the BN-2T for the Royal Air Force; three operated. These aircraft were retired from the RAF in 2017.
;Maritime-Defender
:Armed maritime reconnaissance and patrol aircraft.
; BN-2A-III Trislander
:Three-engined Trislander, a stretched BN-2A with 18 seats and three Lycoming O-540-E4C5 piston engines.
Operators
Military and government
; *Abu Dhabi Defence Force
Abu or ABU may refer to:
Places
* Abu (volcano), a volcano on the island of Honshū in Japan
* Abu, Yamaguchi, a town in Japan
* Ahmadu Bello University, a university located in Zaria, Nigeria
* Atlantic Baptist University, a Christian university ...
;
* National Air Force of Angola
The National Air Force of Angola or FANA ( pt, Força Aérea Nacional de Angola) is the air branch of the Armed Forces of Angola.
With an inventory of more than 300 aircraft, FANA is (on paper) one of the largest and strongest air forces of A ...
;
* Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force Air Wing
The Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force Air Wing was founded on 12 April 2022, and currently has a fleet of 1 aircraft, a Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander.
The Air Wing has expressed interest in acquiring a helicopter, and other aircraft.
Currently, ...
;
* Belgian Army
;
* Belize Defence Force
;
* Botswana Defence Force Air Wing
;
* Royal Cambodian Air Force
;
* Central African Republic Air Force
The Central African Republic Air Force (french: Force Aérienne Centrafricaine) is the aerial warfare branch of the Central African Republic Armed Forces. As of 2017 it has been a branch of the Ground Force.
;
* 
;
* Maltese Air Wing
;
* Military of Mauritania
;
* Mauritius Coast Guard
;
* Mexican Air Force
;
* Myanmar Air Force
;
* Nepalese Army Air Service
;
* Royal Air Force of Oman
;
*
* ASN Aircraft accident Britten-Norman BN-2A
/ref>
Ciskei Defence Force
The Ciskei Defence Force (CDF) was established during March 1981 from the 141 Battalion of the South African Defence Force (SADF). It was the defence force of Ciskei, a bantustan that was controlled by the apartheid regime of South Africa. The CD ...
;
* Cyprus Air Forces
;
* Danish Home Guard
;
* Falkland Islands Government Air Service
Falkland Islands Government Air Service (FIGAS) is an airline based at Port Stanley Airport, Falkland Islands. It operates unscheduled passenger services throughout the Falkland Islands. It also undertakes aerial surveillance of the exclusive ...
;
* Gambia Armed ForcesKrivinyi 1994, p. 137.
;
* Ghana Air Force
;
* Guyana Defence Force
;
* Armed Forces of Haiti
The Armed Forces of Haiti (french: Forces Armées d'Haïti—FAd'H), consisted of the Haitian Army, Haitian Navy (at times), the Haitian Air Force, Haitian Coast Guard, (ANI) and some police forces (Port-au-Prince Police). The Army was always ...
;
* Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force
;
* Indian Naval Air Arm
;
* Indonesian Army
The Indonesian Army ( id, Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Darat (TNI-AD), ) is the land branch of the Indonesian National Armed Forces. It has an estimated strength of 300,000 active personnel. The history of the Indonesian Army has its ...
;
* Irish Air Corps
;
* Israeli Air ForceIslander 2005, p. 155.
;
* Jamaica Defence Force
;
* Military of Madagascar
;
* Military of Malawi
The Malawian Defence Force is the state military organisation responsible for defending Malawi. It originated from elements of the British King's African Rifles, colonial units formed before independence in 1964.
The military is organized under ...
Krivinyi 1983, p. 238.
;
*Air Force of Mali
The Mali Air Force is the air force of Mali.
History
The Mali Air Force (french: Armée de l'air du Mali) was founded in 1961 with French-supplied military aid. This included MH.1521 Broussard utility monoplane followed by two C-47 transports ...
;
* Maltese Air Wing
;
* Military of Mauritania
;
* Mauritius Coast Guard
;
* Mexican Air Force
;
* Myanmar Air Force
;
* Nepalese Army Air Service
;
* Royal Air Force of Oman
;
* Pakistan Maritime Security Agency
The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (reporting name: PMSA) ( ur, ) is a branch of the Pakistan Navy. It is a Navy-managed and Navy-controlled law enforcement agency whose mission is to provide protection to the Pakistan's maritime interests ...
;
* Panamanian Public Forces''Flight International'' 14–20 December 2010, p. 44.
;
* Philippine Air Force
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) ( tgl, Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas, , Army of the Air of the Philippines) ( es, Ejército Aérea del Filipinas, , Ejército de la Aérea de la Filipinas) is the aerial warfare service branch of the Armed Forc ...
* Philippine Navy
The Philippine Navy (PN) ( tgl, Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas, , Sea Army of the Philippines) ( es, Armada de Filipinas, , Ejército del Mar de las Filipinas) is the naval warfare service branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It has an e ...
* Philippine Coast Guard
;
* Qatar Air Force
;
* Rhodesian Air Force
;
* Romanian Air Force
The Romanian Air Force (RoAF) ( ro, Forțele Aeriene Române) is the air force branch of the Romanian Armed Forces. It has an air force headquarters, an operational command, five airbases and an air defense brigade. Reserve forces include one ai ...
;
* Rwandan Air Force
;
* Senegalese Air Force
The Senegalese Air Force (french: Armée de l'Air Sénégalaise) is the air force branch of the Military of Senegal, Senegalese Armed Forces.
History
It was formed on 1 April 1961 with Douglas C-47 Skytrain, Douglas C-47s, Max Holste MH.1521 B ...
;
* Seychelles Air Force
The Seychelles People's Defence Force is the national military of Seychelles. It consists of a number of distinct branches: the Infantry Unit, Coast Guard, Air Force and a Presidential Protection Unit.
Branches
Coast Guard
The Seychelles Coast ...
Hoyle ''Flight International'' 8–14 December 2015, p. 47.
;
* South African Air ForceIslander 2005, p. 166.
;
* Surinam Air Force
;
* Royal Thai Air Force
;
* Military of Turkey
;
* United Arab Emirates Air Force
;
* Police Service of Northern Ireland
;
* Army of Venezuela
The Venezuelan Army, officially the National Army of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, Ejército Nacional de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is one of the six professional branches of the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Ve ...
* Venezuelan National Guard
;
* Zaire Air Wing
;
* Air Force of Zimbabwe
Civilian
; *LIAT
LIAT (1974) Ltd, also known as Leeward Islands Air Transport Services and operating as LIAT, is a regional airline headquartered in Antigua and Barbuda that operated high-frequency inter-island scheduled services to 15 destinations in the Caribb ...
- 5 as of 1979.
;
* Gulf Aviation
;
* Maya Island Air- 3 as of 1979.
;
* VOTEC
;
* Air BVI
, hubs =
, secondary_hubs =
, focus_cities =
, frequent_flyer =
, lounge =
, alliance =
, subsidiaries =
, fleet_size = 3
, destinations =
, company_slogan =
, parent ...
;
* Divi Divi Air
;
* Air Fiji
;
* Air Caledonie
The atmosphere of Earth is the layer of gases, known collectively as air, retained by Earth's gravity that surrounds the planet and forms its planetary atmosphere. The atmosphere of Earth protects life on Earth by creating pressure allowing for ...
;
* FLN Frisia Luftverkehr
FLN FRISIA-Luftverkehr GmbH Norddeich, usually shortened to FLN, is a small airline from Germany based in Norden, Lower Saxony, which was founded on 14 June 1969.
Destinations
As of November 2020, FLN operates scheduled flights between Norddei ...
* Luftverkehr Friesland-Harle
Luftverkehr Friesland-Harle, commonly abbreviated LFH, was a small airline based in Wangerland, Germany, that was established in 1983 and had 30 employees (at March 2007). It operated scheduled and chartered passenger and cargo flights, linking ...
* OLT
Olt or OLT may refer to:
People:
* Károly Olt (1904–1985), Hungarian politician
* Mike Olt (born 1988), American baseball player
Places:
* Olt County, a county (județ) of Romania
* Olt (river), a river in Romania
** Olt Defile, a defile that ...
;
* Olympic Aviation Olympic Aviation was a subsidiary of Olympic Airways, the Greek national flag carrier.
History
Olympic Aviation began as the light aircraft and helicopter division of Aristotle Onassis's Olympic Airways. It was founded as a separate company by Onas ...
;
*Aer Arann Islands
Aer Arann Islands (stylised as aer arann islands) is an Irish airline headquartered in Inverin, County Galway. They operate a three-strong fleet of Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander aircraft to connect the Aran Islands with mainland County Galway.
...
;
* Fly My Sky
Fly My Sky was a small airline based in Auckland, New Zealand. It operated between Auckland, Matamata and Great Barrier Island. The airline went into liquidation at the end of June 2021. The airline evolved out of the now also defunct Mountain A ...
;
* Vieques Air Link
* Air Flamenco
;
* Hebridean Air Services
Hebridean Air Services is a small Scottish airline based in northern Scotland owned by Airtask Group Ltd. The airline flies charter, scenic, aerial photography and scheduled flights.
It is the only airline to operate a service between Oban and ...
* Isles of Scilly Skybus
Isles of Scilly Skybus is a British airline which operates year-round scheduled services to the Isles of Scilly from Land's End Airport and Newquay Airport in Cornwall, and seasonal scheduled services from Exeter. Their head office is locate ...
* Loganair
;
* Cape Air
* New England Airlines
* Island Airways
Island Airways is a small passenger airline based in Charlevoix, Michigan. It provides services to Welke Airport and Charlevoix Municipal Airport.
History
The airline began in 1945 as McPhillips Flying Service. In 1975, Welke Aviation was sta ...
Former operators
; * Finnish Air ForceIslander 2005, p. 150. (Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander) ; *Sabang Merauke Raya Air Charter
Sabang Merauke Raya Air Charter (SMAC) was an airline based in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia. It operated scheduled and charter domestic/regional passenger and cargo services, as well as pleasure and business flights. Its main base was Polonia In ...
;
* Iraqi Air Force
;
* RVL Aviation
;
* Barrier Air
Barrier Air is a New Zealand airline that was established in 1983 by Jim Bergman as Great Barrier Airlines. The head office is located at the Domestic Terminal at Auckland Airport in Mangere, with additional offices in the terminal buildings ...
* Mount Cook Airlines
Mount Cook Airline was a regional airline based in Christchurch, New Zealand. Formerly part of the Mount Cook Group and latterly a subsidiary of Air New Zealand, it operated scheduled services throughout the country under the Air New Zealand L ...
* Sea Bee Air
* Stewart Island Flights
Stewart Island Flights is a small airline company from New Zealand that offers scheduled flights on light aircraft between Invercargill and Stewart Island. This airline company also operates charter services to several of the island’s beac ...
;
* Republic of China Air Force
;
* Somali Air Force
"Lean Together"
, colours =
, colours_label =
, march =
, mascot =
, anniversaries =
, equipment =
, equipment_l ...
;
* Royal Air Force
Accidents
* 1996 Loganair Islander accident
On 15 March 2005, a Britten-Norman Islander air ambulance, operated by Loganair, crashed off the coast of Scotland, killing both people on board.
The aircraft was en route to Campbeltown Airport in Argyll, Scotland, to pick up a ten-year-old b ...
* 2005 Loganair Islander accident
On 15 March 2005, a Britten-Norman Islander air ambulance, operated by Loganair, crashed off the coast of Scotland, killing both people on board.
The aircraft was en route to Campbeltown Airport in Argyll, Scotland, to pick up a ten-year-old ...
* 2009 Divi Divi Airlines crash on Oct 22, flight 14 had one pilot fatality, while 9 passengers were rescued after water landing due to engine failure near Bonair Island.
* 2005 L.A.B. Flying Service accident
* 2014 Romania Britten-Norman Islander crash
Fourteen or 14 may refer to:
* 14 (number), the natural number following 13 and preceding 15
* one of the years 14 BC, AD 14, 1914, 2014
Music
* 14th (band), a British electronic music duo
* ''14'' (David Garrett album), 2013
*''14'', an unrel ...
* 2016 Sunbird Aviation crash
*2021 Island Airways crash - On 13 November 2021, a Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander crashed while attempting to land at Welke Airport
Welke Airport is a privately-owned, public use airport located on Beaver Island in Charlevoix County, Michigan, United States. Scheduled passenger service to Charlevoix Municipal Airport in Charlevoix, Michigan, is provided by Island Airways.
...
on Beaver Island, Charlevoix County, Michigan. Four deaths were reported.
*2022 Air Flamenco crash - On 15 February 2022, a Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander (N821RR) veered off the runway at Culebra Airport Culebra (meaning ''snake'' in Spanish) may refer to:
* Culebra, Puerto Rico, an island
* Culebra Cut, an artificial valley in the Panama Canal
* Culebra Peak, in Colorado, United States
* Culebra River (disambiguation)
* Sierra de la Culebra
The S ...
(CPX), Puerto Rico doing substantial right wing and propeller damage. None of the 3 persons on board were injured./ref>
Specifications (BN-2B Islander)
See also
References
Citations
Bibliography
* BN Historians: ''Islander 2005 – BN-2 Production History, chapter Operators Index''. Staines, Middlesex 2005, pp. 139–171. * * * * . * * * * * Nikolaus Krivinyi: ''Warplanes of the World 1983/84.'' Bernard & Graefe Verlag, Koblenz 1983, ISBN 3-7637-5181-5. * Nikolaus Krivinyi: ''Warplanes of the World 1994/95.'' Bernard & Graefe Verlag, Koblenz 1994, ISBN 3-7637-5922-0. * * * * * * *External links
* * {{Authority control 1960s British civil utility aircraftIslander
Islander, Islanders, or The Islanders may refer to:
People
* Islander, referring to Jersey people
* Islander, New Zealand-English term usually meaning Pacific Islander
Arts, entertainment, and media Literature
* ''The Islander'' (Rylant novel), ...
Aircraft first flown in 1965
1960s British airliners
High-wing aircraft
STOL aircraft
Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft
Aircraft operated by the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force Air Wing