Britten-Norman Islander

infobox Aircraft
name = Islander
type = Utility aircraft/Airliner
manufacturer = Britten-Norman



caption = BN-2B Islander VP-FBD operated by the Falkland Islands Government Air Service, Stanley, 1994.
designer = John Britten, Desmond Norman
first flight = 12 June avyear|1965
introduced =
retired =
status =
primary user =
more users =
produced =
number built = 1280
unit cost =
developed from =
variants with their own articles = Britten-Norman Trislander Britten-Norman Defender

The Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander is a 1960s British light utility aircraft, mainline airliner and cargo aircraft designed and originally manufactured by Britten-Norman of the United Kingdom. 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 also used by the Army and Police forces in the United Kingdom and is a popular light transport with over 30 military aviation operators around the world.

Design and development

Britten-Norman was started in 1953 to convert and operate agricultural aircraft and it also built hovercraft for the British Hovercraft Corporation.Simpson 1991 p. 77.] Design of the Islander started in 1963 and the first prototype BN-2 first flew on 13 June 1965, [Green 1976, p. 52.] with the second prototype on 20 August 1966. Both of these aircraft had engines that were less powerful than the production versions. The Islander is a high-wing cantilever monoplane with a rectangular fuselage and two-wing mounted engines. A conventional tail unit and a fixed tricycle landing gear, the fuselage has room for two pilots and nine passengers. [Orbis 1985, p. 992.]

The first production Islander first flew on 24 April 1967 and was certified in August 1967. Production started at the Britten Norman factory at Bembridge, Isle of Wight but within a few years the company could not keep up with demand, a contract was placed with IRMA of Romania initial to produce aircraft from a kit of parts but the Romanian factory soon became the main source for production Islanders.Simpson 1991 p. 77.] A military version of the Islander was marketed as the Defender with underwing hard points and fitted out as a light troop transport and support aircraft and first flown in 1970.

The second prototype was developed into a stretched Super Islander but the program was stopped and the aircraft was used as a basis of the three-engined version, the Trislander.Simpson 1991 p. 77.] The company was in financial difficulties and by the end of 1970 went into receivership. In 1972 the company was bought by the Belgian Fairey Group and production of the Islander and Trislander was moved to Gosselies in Belgium although the aircraft were flown to Bembridge for final customer preparation.Simpson 1991 p. 77.] The new company developed the Turbo Islander with Lycoming LTP-101 turboprops but the engines were too powerful for the aircraft and the design evolved into the Turbine Islander (BN-2T) with Allison 250 turboprops.Simpson 1991 p. 77.] Fairey then suffered financial problems and called in the receiver and the Fairey Britten Norman company was sold to Pilatus of Switzerland.Simpson 1991 p. 77.]

An improved version, the BN-2A Islander, first flew in 1969. It incorporated aerodynamic and flight equipment improvements as well as changes to the baggage arrangements.

The Maritime Defender is another military version of the Islander, intended for search and rescue, coastal patrol and fishery protection.

In 1978 a further improved version, the BN-2B Islander II was introduced. Improvements included increased carrying capacity and propeller modifications to reduce noise levels. Options included a long-nosed version for increased baggage capacity, raked wingtip auxiliary fuel tanks and twin Allison 250-B17C turboprop engines. When the latter are installed the aircraft is designated the BN-2T Turbine Islander.

Licensed production

A number of companies in addition to Britten-Norman have manufactured the Islander. IRMA from Romania has been building the aircraft since 1969, while a factory, the SONACA (Fairey) [ [http://www.baha.be/Webpages/Navigator/Belgian_Aviation_History/Industry/Sonaca.htm Belgian Aircraft History Association page about Fairey-SONACA] ] , in Gosselies, Belgium has been building it since 1973. The aircraft has also been assembled in the Philippines.

Trislander

A design project to develop an Islander with a larger capacity resulted in the BN-2A Mk III Trislander. This aircraft has a stretched fuselage, modified landing gear and a third (tail-mounted) engine. The prototype was constructed from the original second BN-2 prototype and flew on 11 September 1970.

Variants

[Simpson 1991, p. 78 and 79.] ;BN-2:Prototype first flown in 1966 with two 260hp Lycoming O-540-E4B5 piston engines. ;BN-2A:Production version with minor modification from prototype and increased Take-off weight.;BN-2A-2:A BN-2A with modified flaps, and two 300hp Lycoming IO-540-K1B5 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 260hp 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 take off weight and 270hp turbocharged Lycoming TIO-540-H1A engines.;BN-2A-20:A BN-2A-2 with increased take off weight and minor improvements.;BN-2A-21:A BN-2A-3 with increased take off 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 take off weight.;BN-2A-27:A BN-2A-9 with increased take off weight.;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 300hp 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.;BN-2B-26: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 320shp Allison 250-B17C turboprops.;Islander AL.Mk 1:Twin-engined communications, reconnaissance aircraft for the British Army; seven built.;Islander CC.Mk 2 and CC.Mk 2A:Twin-engined communications aircraft for the RAF; two built.;Maritime-Defender:Armed maritime reconnaissance and patrol aircraft.;BN-2A-III Trislander:Three engined Trislander, a stretched BN-2A with 18-seats and three 260hp Lycoming O-540-E4C5 piston engines.

Operators

Military operators

;ANG;BEL;BLZ;BOT;BIR;CAM;CYP;FIN;GHA;GUY;HAI;flag|Hong Kong|colonial
* Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force;IND;IDN;JAM;MAD;MLT;MRT;MEX;NEP ;OMN
* Royal Air Force of Oman;PAN;PHI
* Philippine Air Force
* Philippine Navy, present operator, used for recon & liaison duties;QAT;RWA;SEY;flag|South Africa;SUR;THA;UK
* Royal Air Force
* Army Air Corps;ARE;VEN;ZAI;ZIM
* Air Force of Zimbabwe

Civilian operators/Former operators

;AUS
*Lady Elliot Island
*Golden Eagle Airlines;CAN
*Maritime Air Charter;COL
*Tavina;FIJ
*Pacific Sun
*Air Fiji
*Pacific Island Sea Planes
*Northern Air Service;GER
*OLT
*LFH
*Air Hamburg
*FLN Frisia Luftverkehr;ISL
*Flugfelag Vesmannaeyja;IRL
*Aer Arann;ANT
*Divi Divi Air (Still in operations) (3)
*EZAir (Still in operations) (1)
*Winair (Still in operations) (3)
*WIndward Express (Still in operations) (2);PAN
*Aviones de Panama S.A.
*Aero Taxi
*PARSA
*ANSA
*TRANSPASA
*AVIATUR
*Air Panama (recently);MAS
*Malaysia Airlines;MEX
*Aero Taxis de CV;NZ
*Real Journeys
*SVG Air;UK
*Blue Islands (Channel Islands)
*Falkland Islands Government Air Service
*Isles of Scilly Skybus
*Loganair
*Hampshire Police
*Cheshire Police;USA
*Channel Islands Aviation; Camarillo, CA
*Inter Island Airways - American Samoa
*Air Flamenco - Culebra, PR
*Harbor Airlines; Oak Harbor, WA
*American Samoa Government (ASG) - American Samoa

pecifications (BN-2A Islander)

Aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref=The Observer's Book of Aircraft, 1976.
crew=One or two pilots
capacity=Up to nine passengers
payload main=
payload alt=
length main= 35 ft 8 in
length alt=10.86 m
span main=49 ft
span alt=14.94 m
height main=13 ft 9 in
height alt=4.18 m
area main= 325 ft²
area alt= 30.2 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 3,675 lb
empty weight alt= 1,667 kg
loaded weight main= Up to 6,600 lb (BN2A-20 onwards)
loaded weight alt= 2,994 kg
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 6,600 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 2,994 kg
more general=
engine (prop)=Lycoming O-540-E4C5 or IO-540
type of prop=
number of props=2
power main= 260 hp or 300 hp if fuel injected
power alt=195 kW
power original=
max speed main= 170 mph
max speed alt= 273 km/h
cruise speed main=160 mph
cruise speed alt= 257 km/h
minimum control speed main=45 mph
minimum control speed alt=72 km/h
stall speed main=40 mph
stall speed alt= 64 km/h
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main= 874 miles
range alt=1,400 km
ceiling main= 13,200 ft
ceiling alt= 4,024 m
climb rate main=970 ft/min
climb rate alt= 295 m/min
loading main=20 lb/ft²
loading alt=9.78 kg/m²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=
avionics=

ee also

Aircontent

related=
* Britten-Norman Trislander
* Britten-Norman Defender
similar aircraft=
* Dornier Do 28
lists=
see also=

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Green, William. "The Observer's Book of Aircraft". London. Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd., 1976. ISBN 0-7232-1553-7
*cite book |last=Simpson |first= R.W.|authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Airlife's General Aviation|year= 1991|publisher= Airlife Publishing|location= England |isbn=1 85310 104 X|pages=190
*cite book |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985)|year= |publisher= Orbis Publishing|location= |issn=|pages=

External links

* [http://www.britten-norman.com/products/bn2b/ Islander at Britten-Norman.com]
* [http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=705 British Aircraft Directory]