Origins In 1953, Britten-Norman was formed for the purpose of converting and operating
agricultural aircraft, amongst other vehicles such as the
Cushioncraft 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 aircraft. and
Desmond Norman, had observed the rapid growth of the
commuter airline 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. To reduce manufacturing costs, both the wings and tail surfaces maintain a constant
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 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. 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. 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
hardpoints for armaments/equipment, and the main cabin area being fitted out for light troop transport and support aircraft duties. Fairey Aviation set about the development of a more powerful model, the Turbo Islander, equipped with a pair of
Lycoming LTP101 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 turboprop engines instead. 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 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. 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, already offering the
SMA SR305-230. 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.
Return to UK manufacture In 2023
Britten-Norman reactivated their original production line at
Bembridge in the
Isle of Wight and closed down overseas manufacture. New aircraft, to be produced at two per year initially and rising thereafter, are expected to continue the practice of incorporating progressive improvements to the current design. These include a
glass cockpit from
Garmin.
Electric Project Fresson In conjunction with Britten-Norman, Cranfield Aerospace Solutions (CAeS), a subsidiary of
Cranfield University, is developing 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 1970
Farnborough Air Show the same day. ==Design==