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Britten-Norman Islander

By Wikipedia,
the free encyclopedia,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britten-Norman_Islander

Islander
BN-2B Islander VP-FBD operated by the Falkland Islands Government Air Service, Stanley, 1994.
Role Utility aircraft/Airliner
Manufacturer Britten-Norman
Designed by John Britten, Desmond Norman
First flight 12 June 1965
Number built 1280
Variants 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 produced hovercraft (Cushioncraft, later sold to the British Hovercraft Corporation). Design of the Islander started in 1963 and the first prototype BN-2 first flew on 13 June 1965, 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 will usually accommodate one pilot and up to nine passengers.

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.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. The company was in financial difficulties and by the end of 1970 went into receivership. In 1972 the company was bought by the Fairey Aviation Group and production of the Islander and Trislander was moved to their factory (Avions Fairey) in Gosselies in Belgium although the aircraft were flown to Bembridge for final customer preparation. The new company developed the Turbo Islander with Lycoming LTP101 turboprops but the engines were too powerful for the aircraft and the design evolved into the Turbine Islander (BN-2T) with Allison 250 turboprops. Fairey then suffered financial problems and called in the receiver and the Fairey Britten Norman company was sold to Pilatus of Switzerland.

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.

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.

A military conversion of the Islander, the Defender 4000, is capitalizing on the Islander's rugged structure for use in Third World countries. Recent purchases from police and military customers centres around 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.

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, including the SONACA (Fairey), in Gosselies, Belgium. 35 have 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


Britten-Norman Islander II operated by Ryukyu Air Commuter
Britten-Norman Islander II operated by Ryukyu Air Commuter

Propeller of a Britten-Norman Islander II
Propeller of a Britten-Norman Islander II
BN-2
Prototype first flown in 1966 with two 260 hp 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 300 hp 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 260 hp 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 270 hp Lycoming TIO-540-H1A (turbo-charged, fuel injected) engines.
BN-2A-20
A BN-2A-2 with increased takeoff weight and minor improvements.
BN-2A-21
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.
BN-2A-27
A BN-2A-9 with increased takeoff 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 300 hp 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 320 shp 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; three operated.
Maritime-Defender
Armed maritime reconnaissance and patrol aircraft.
BN-2A-III Trislander
Three engined Trislander, a stretched BN-2A with 18 seats and three 260 hp Lycoming O-540-E4C5 piston engines.

Operators

Military operators

 Angola
 Belgium
 Belize
 Botswana
 Burma
 Cambodia
 Cyprus
 Finland
 Ghana
 Guyana
 Haiti
 Hong Kong
 India
 Indonesia
 Jamaica
 Madagascar
 Malta
Armed Forces of Malta
 Mauritania
 Mexico
 Nepal
 Oman
 Panama
 Philippines
 Qatar
 Rwanda
 Seychelles
 South Africa
 Suriname
 Thailand
 United Kingdom
 United Arab Emirates
 Venezuela
 Zaire
 Zimbabwe

Civilian operators/Former operators

Antigua & Barbuda

Barbados

  • Aero Services
  • Tropical Air Services
 Israel
  • Ayit Aviation
 Australia
 Canada
 Chile
  • Archipiélagos Aviación
  • South Pacific Korp
 Colombia
  • Tavina
 Denmark
  • Falck Air - operated three Islanders, a BN-2A-9 (OY-DZV), a BN-2A-20 (OY-RPZ) and a BN-2B-26 (OY-CFV)
 Estonia
  • Avies Ltd.
  • Skydive Estonia
 Fiji
 Germany
 Iceland
 Ireland
 Jamaica
 Japan
 Netherlands Antilles
 Panama
  • Aviones de Panama S.A.
  • Aero Taxi
  • PARSA
  • ANSA
  • TRANSPASA
  • AVIATUR
  • Air Panama (recently)
 Romania
  • Regional Air Services
 Malaysia
 Mexico
  • Aero Taxis de CV
 New Zealand
 Portugal

 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

 United Kingdom
 United States
 Vanuatu
Venezuela

Specifications (BN-2A Islander)

Data from The Observer's Book of Aircraft, 1976.

General characteristics

  • Crew: One or two pilots
  • Capacity: Up to nine passengers
  • Length: 35 ft 8 in (10.86 m)
  • Wingspan: 49 ft (14.94 m)
  • Height: 13 ft 9 in (4.18 m)
  • Wing area: 325 ft² (30.2 m²)
  • Empty weight: 3,675 lb (1,667 kg)
  • Loaded weight: Up to 6,600 lb (BN2A-20 onwards) (2,994 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 6,600 lb (2,994 kg)
  • Powerplant:Lycoming O-540-E4C5 or IO-540, 260 hp or 300 hp if fuel injected (195 kW) each

Performance

See also

Related development

Comparable aircraft

Bibliography

External links




Text from Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License; additional terms may apply.


Published in July 2009.




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