The first Britten-Norman Islander fully built in the UK since 1968 has begun ground testing ahead of its expected first flight next month.
The BN2B-26 Islander, due for the Falkland Islands Government Air Service (FIGAS), was rolled out of the company’s Isle of Wight facility on July 30, a day after electrical power was applied for the first time.
The Islander is the first to be fully built in the UK in more than 50 years, marking the return of complete civil Islander manufacturing after production shifted to Eastern Europe in 1968 – primarily in Romania.
The journey to bringing full production back to the UK began in 2009 when Britten-Norman reduced the Romanian production sub-contract to kit manufacture only. These kits were then transported to the UK for final assembly.
A second airframe is progressing through the line, components for follow-on aircraft are in manufacture, and the company is establishing a continuous production cadence at Bembridge, supported by investment in new machinery, tooling and facilities and a workforce that has grown by more than 40% since production was reshored.
Duane Stewart, general manager of the FIGAS, said: “We’re delighted to see this new aircraft taking shape and look forward to welcoming it to the Falkland Islands. We’re incredibly grateful to Britten-Norman for their continued support and the strong relationship we have built over the decades. This new Islander will be a valuable addition to the FIGAS fleet and help us continue providing an essential service to our community for years to come.”
Richard Milne, chief operating officer at Britten-Norman, added: “The roll-out of this aircraft is a hugely significant moment for the whole Britten-Norman team, and we want to share it.
“To see the first Islander from our repatriated UK production line come together, from producing and sourcing the many parts to roll-out, is testament to the skill and commitment of everyone at Bembridge. We are now firmly focused on completing ground testing and preparing for first flight. The line is running, a second aircraft is taking shape behind this one.
With more than 1,250 built, the Britten-Norman Islander is one of the best-selling commercial aircraft types produced in Europe.
