UK production for passenger aircraft

It first flew in 1965 and for many years was produced in Romania, but the Britten-Norman (BN) Islander is now about to be assembled again in the UK, and at its spiritual home, Bembridge, Isle of Wight.

No British civil aircraft has been built since the end of BAe RJ (146) production in 2001.

May 2024 is the target for the first flight of the new series.  

The BN Islander is very much a utility aircraft, normally with a single pilot, carrying up to nine passengers.  To date just under 1,300 have been built with over 700 still in service for commercial and military operators.  

The Islander was conceived by two British aviation entrepreneurs John Britten and Desmond Norman in the early sixties as a simple unpressurised basic aircraft for both regional and armed services use.

The maiden flight took place from Bembridge 14 June 1965 and was displayed to the world four days later at the Paris Air Show.

Some of the Islander is antiquated but in other areas it is very much up to date with a hydrogen-powered version expected in 2026.

See  www.travelnewsupdate.co.uk/article/378  Islander's galore.

https://britten-norman.com

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