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 1250 aircraft to customers in over 120 countries. In addition to aircraft construction, the company also deals with aircraft maintenance, inspections and repairs. She also carries out construction and design work as a subcontractor for third-party companies. The factory is located in Bembridge on the Isle of Wight . However, some airframes were also built in Romania .
Main models from Norman-Britten are the BN-2 Islander , the (military) BN-2T-4S Defender and the three-engine 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 Islanders / Defenders were equipped with turbine engines instead of the original piston engines at the customer's request. They are also used by maritime and fishing authorities as an efficient and spacious alternative to the usual helicopters.
history
John Britten and Desmond Norman met at DH Aeronautical Technical School in the late 1940s. As early as 1951, they developed their first joint prototype, the BN-1 Finibee, which is now in the Southampton Hall of Aviation Flight Museum .
In 1953 they founded the company "Britten-Norman Limited". In addition to aircraft construction, the company also developed hovercraft. This line of business was sold to the British Hovercraft Corporation in the early 1970s. In 1965 the prototype BN-2, later called "Islander", was created and presented at the Paris Air Show. In 1970 the three-engine BN-2A Mk III, which was later named "Trislander", made its maiden flight.
In 1971 the company ran into financial difficulties and was taken over by the Fairey Company in 1972 . In 1978 the company went to the Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilatus Aircraft and was renamed "Pilatus Britten Norman Limited". In 1998 it was sold to the current owner, the name changed to "BN Group Limited".
Both company founders have already passed away. John Britten died in 1977. Desmond Norman died in 2002.
Models from this manufacturer
- BN-2 Islander (2-engine)
- BN-2A MkIII Trislander (3-engine)
- BN-2T-4S Defender (military version)
