The first Britten-Norman Islander to be fully assembled in the United Kingdom from individual components has successfully completed its maiden flight, marking a major milestone in the manufacturer’s efforts to restore full aircraft production at its historic Bembridge facility on the Isle of Wight.
The aircraft, serial number 2317, took off from Bembridge Airport on 3rd September as part of its flight test programme and is destined for service with the Falkland Islands Government Air Service (FIGAS). The achievement also carries a strong Irish connection, with Galway-based Aer Arann, one of the world’s longest-serving Islander operators, welcoming the return of full production of the iconic aircraft.
The maiden flight follows months of development milestones, including completion of the aircraft’s assembly, ground testing and factory roll-out. While Islanders have continued to be completed and certified at Bembridge for decades, aircraft 2317 is significant because its airframe was assembled in the UK from detail component level rather than arriving as a major assembly from overseas.
The flight took place from the same airfield where the original Islander prototype made its first flight in June 1965, just a short distance from where the company was founded. The aircraft was flown by Britten-Norman’s flight test crew while engineers and production staff watched from the apron after completing the build only weeks earlier.
Britten-Norman says the successful flight demonstrates that its new production system at Bembridge is now fully operational. The company has invested heavily in tooling, facilities and workforce expansion, growing from approximately 100 employees in 2024 to around 180 today. A second aircraft is already progressing through the production line, with components for further aircraft also in the pipeline.
For Irish aviation enthusiasts, the development is particularly noteworthy because of Aer Arann’s long-standing association with the type. The airline has operated Islanders on lifeline services to the Aran Islands for more than half a century, making it one of the aircraft’s most recognisable and enduring operators.
Peter McKenna, owner of Aer Arann, previously welcomed the return of new Islander production, saying: “Having been an Islander operator for more than 56 years, we are thrilled to see new Islanders coming off the line at Bembridge. Nothing rivals the rugged reliability of the Islander, and our fleet is testament to that. We look forward to continuing our relationship with Britten-Norman for many more years to come.”
The Islander remains a familiar sight in Irish skies, particularly along the west coast where its exceptional short take-off and landing (STOL) performance allows it to serve routes and airfields beyond the reach of many larger aircraft. Aer Arann’s operations between the mainland and the Aran Islands have long demonstrated the type’s ability to provide dependable transport in demanding conditions.
Originally designed in the 1960s, the rugged twin-engine aircraft continues to find roles worldwide in passenger transport, cargo operations, surveillance missions and utility flying. Its reputation has been built on simplicity, reliability, low operating costs and the ability to operate from short and unprepared airstrips.
The successful first flight of aircraft 2317 is only the beginning of its journey. Britten-Norman’s test programme will now evaluate performance, handling characteristics and the short-field capabilities for which the Islander is renowned. Following completion of testing, the aircraft will be prepared for delivery to FIGAS, where it will connect remote settlements across the Falkland Islands.
In many ways, that role mirrors the one Islanders have fulfilled in Ireland for decades. Whether serving isolated island communities off the west coast of Ireland or providing essential air links across the South Atlantic, the aircraft continues to prove the enduring value of a design that first flew more than 60 years ago.
For Aer Arann and Islander enthusiasts throughout Ireland, the first flight of serial 2317 represents not just a manufacturing milestone, but another chapter in the continuing story of one of the most successful and recognisable utility aircraft ever to operate in Irish aviation.
Main Photo: Britten-Norman Islander serial 2317 makes its maiden flight from Bembridge on 3rd September, becoming the first Islander assembled in the UK from detail component level and marking a major milestone for the aircraft manufacturer and operators including Ireland’s Aer Arann.
