Britten-Norman BN-2B Islander

Britten-Norman · United Kingdom · first flew 1965 · light aircraft

The BN-2 Islander is a rugged twin-piston light utility and commuter aircraft, one of the most successful British civil designs of the post-war era.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	2 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	Boxy fuselage, full-length windows
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Fixed gear on long struts
Boxy fuselage, full-length windows
Straight untapered high wing

Note the boxy fuselage with a squared nose and near full-length side windows, the fixed tricycle gear on long struts, and the straight, untapered high wing with engines mounted directly on the leading edge.

Specifications

The Britten-Norman BN-2B Islander has a length of 10.86 m (36 ft).
It has a wingspan of 14.94 m (49 ft).
Its maximum speed is 273 km/h (170 mph).
Typical crew: 1 (up to 9 passengers).

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

The prototype first flew in 1965, and the type entered service in 1967. The BN-2B introduced various refinements to the basic design. Its simple, robust construction and fixed landing gear made it ideal for short unpaved strips, and it has been built in large numbers over many decades.

Variants

Developments include the piston BN-2A/BN-2B, the turboprop BN-2T Turbine Islander, and the stretched three-engine Trislander, plus military and surveillance-equipped Defender versions.

Where you'll see it

The Islander and its Defender derivatives serve widely with UK operators, from Scottish and Channel Islands inter-island services to Army and police surveillance duties, making it a familiar British type.

Related aircraft

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