First UK-built Britten-Norman Islander in nearly 60 years rolls out at Bembridge

The first Britten-Norman Islander to be fully manufactured in the UK in almost six decades has rolled out of the company’s production facility at Bembridge on the Isle of Wight.

Aircraft 2317 has had electrical power applied for the first time and was moved onto the apron after the installation of its engines, propellers, cowlings, electrical systems, brakes and flight controls.

Britten-Norman said final preparations are now beginning for the aircraft’s ground test programme.

The rollout represents the latest major milestone in the company’s effort to return complete Islander production to its historic home, although the aircraft must still complete ground and flight testing before it can be delivered.

“There’s a new Islander sitting on the apron at Bembridge this afternoon, and it’s the first one built here in almost six decades,” Britten-Norman said in a social media post.

“Proud day for the team, and for UK aerospace.”

New Islander destined for the Falkland Islands

The new aircraft is a piston-powered BN2B-26 Islander and is destined for the Falkland Islands Government Air Service (FIGAS).

FIGAS is a long-standing Islander operator, using the aircraft to connect remote settlements across the Falkland Islands. Delivery is expected later in 2026 following the completion of testing and customer preparation.

Britten-Norman began building aircraft 2317 during 2025. By June 2026, the Islander was 75% complete, with its fuselage and fin joined, fuel tanks tested and 15-metre wing installed.

At that point, a second Islander was already around 25% complete, while components for follow-on aircraft were also in production.

Islander manufacturing returns to Bembridge

Britten-Norman announced the reshoring of Islander production in 2023, returning complete manufacturing to Bembridge after major assemblies had been produced in Romania for decades and brought to the UK for final assembly.

The company has since invested in new computer numerical control machinery, tooling, raw materials and production facilities. Its workforce has also grown by more than 40% as manufacturing capacity has been rebuilt.

Britten-Norman previously told Aerospace Global News that it intends to produce at least eight Islanders annually at Bembridge as the new line ramps up.

First flown in 1965, the Islander was designed by John Britten and Desmond Norman as a simple and rugged aircraft capable of operating from short and unprepared runways.

More than 1,300 Islanders have since been built, serving passenger, cargo, medevac, surveillance, maritime patrol and special-mission operators around the world.

The appearance of aircraft 2317 on the Bembridge apron marks the most visible evidence yet that full-scale Islander manufacturing has returned to Britain.