Britten-Norman

Britten- Norman ( officially BN Group or BNG ) is a British aircraft manufacturer. The company is now owned by the Zawawi family from the Sultanate of Oman.

Britten- Norman has sold more than 1,250 aircraft to customers in over 120 countries. In addition to the aircraft, the company also engaged in aircraft maintenance, inspections and repairs. They also perform engineering and design work as a subcontractor for other companies. The factory is located in Bembridge on the Isle of Wight. Some airframes were also built in Romania.

Main models of Britten Norman BN -2 Islander are the, the ( military) BN 2T -4S Defender and the three-engined BN -2A MkIII Trislander. All models are characterized by short take-off and landing distances and are therefore often used for flights between islands.

Many of the modern Islander / Defender were fitted to customer with turbine engines instead of the original piston engines. They are used as an efficient and spacious alternative to the usual helicopters also of maritime and fisheries authorities.

History

John Britten and Desmond Norman got to know each end of the 1940s in the DH Aeronautical Technical School. In 1951, they developed the BN -1 Finibee their first joint prototype, which is at the Museum of Flight Southampton Hall of Aviation today.

1953 she founded the "Company Britten Norman Limited". In addition to aircraft, the operation also dealt with the design of air -cushion vehicles. This business was sold in the early 1970s to the "British Hovercraft Corporation ". In 1965 the prototype BN2, later called " Islander ", and was presented at the Paris Air Show. 1970 saw the first flight of the three -engined BN -2A MkIII, which later received the name " Trislander ".

Britten- Norman is known not least for frequently changing ownership. 1971 the company got into financial difficulties and was taken over in 1972 by the Fairey Company. In 1978 the company went to the Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilatus Aircraft and was renamed " Pilatus Britten Norman Limited". In 1998 she was sold to the present owners, the name changed to " BN Group Limited ".

Both company founders have already died. John Britten died in 1977. Norman Desmond died in 2002.

Models from this manufacturer

  • BN -2A MkIII Trislander (3- engined )
  • BN 2T -4S Defender ( military version )
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