First UK-built Britten-Norman Islander now 75% complete as delivery nears
UK aircraft manufacturer Britten-Norman has confirmed that the first new Islander to be produced through its fully reshored UK production line has now reached 75% completion at the company’s Bembridge facility on the Isle of Wight.
In the coming weeks, the aircraft is due to be completed and tested before its delivery, which is scheduled for later this year.
First UK-built Britten-Norman Islander now 75% complete
With the first UK-built aircraft nearing completion, the plane will eventually be delivered to the Falkland Islands Government Air Service (FIGAS), a long-established Islander operator.
Meanwhile, Britten-Norman said that a second airframe is also nearing 25% completion on the production line, and components for follow-on aircraft are already in manufacture.
Britten-Norman has been working on the first fully UK-built islander since the middle of 2025. In September of last year, the company announced that 50% of the aircraft had been completed and that delivery was on track for late 2026.
Previously, major assemblies were manufactured in Romania, with final assembly completed in Britain. However, with escalating production costs in Romania, a process of reshoring commenced following the organisation’s successful raising of new capital through two rounds of refinancing in March and October 2024.
Since initially announcing the reshoring programme in June 2023, Britten-Norman has invested in state-of-the-art CNC (computer numerical control) equipment to boost production of the Islander. At the same time, the company has grown its workforce by more than 40% in the past 12 months.
Since reaching the 50% completion mark of the first airframe, the build has advanced across every major area, according to a company statement.
Fuselage sub-assemblies and fin were joined at the end of the first quarter, fuel tank tests were completed, and the 15-metre (50ft) wing assembly was completed and attached to the fuselage.
“The airframe has now been re-positioned on the production line, with installation of the undercarriage, engines, flight control surfaces and remaining systems well underway,” continued the statement.
“Reaching the current level of completion is an excellent achievement for our team and a clear demonstration of the capability we have built at the Bembridge site,” said Richard Milne, Chief Operating Officer at Britten-Norman.
“Each milestone and stage of completion brings us closer to delivering brand-new, British-built Islanders for our customers.
Expansion of the Islander programme
Beyond the new aircraft now in production, Britten-Norman said it has Letters of Intent in place for new Islanders with operators across the regional passenger and special-mission sectors.
Alongside the new-build programme, Britten-Norman is also strengthening support for in-service Islanders through the improved provision of parts availability and servicing.
The company has also invested heavily in the Islander pre-owned market, sourcing spare aircraft from the worldwide pool and placing them with operators which are not in the market for new-build aircraft.
The Islander – a versatile multi-function aircraft
The Britten-Norman Islander has been in production since 1965 and is a light utility passenger and cargo aircraft powered by two engine-mounted piston engines. With 1,300 aircraft built to date, the Islander is renowned worldwide for being a versatile STOL (short take-off and landing) performance aircraft.
First flown on 13 June 1965, the Islander was the result of a vision by company founders John Britten and Desmond Norman to create a reliable, rugged aircraft that could fly to places out of bounds for most other aircraft.
Now with customers in more than 100 countries over six continents, the Islander has so far accumulated around 20 million flight hours since that first flight.
The type has carved a niche for itself in serving remote airfields (often with unpaved runways) and the ability to serve remote communities.
Islanders currently in service perform a myriad of duties, from supporting essential services worldwide, from passenger transport and cargo to surveillance, maritime patrol, medevac, and other special missions.
“For 60 years, the Britten-Norman Islander has proven its strength and versatility in every corner of the globe – from the Ecuadorian Amazon to remote Scottish islands, and from daily passenger routes to disaster relief and frontline operations,” states the company.
The future looks bright for the Islander
With its versatile, rugged design and with few other competitors available in the marketplace for a STOL twin-engine aircraft, the Islander’s future is looking bright.
Bolstered by a growing order book and continuing worldwide interest, the type seems to be once again catching the eye of niche operators worldwide, and the company is responding to this challenge with its accelerating UK-based production schedule.
The latest version of the Islander aircraft being built at Bembridge will feature full IFR glass cockpit technology, all-window seating, enlarged baggage access as standard, as well as a higher maximum take-off weight and enhanced performance than earlier variants.
Featured image: Britten-Norman
