Britten-Norman’s first Islander assembled in the UK from detail components has completed its maiden flight from Bembridge Airport on the Isle of Wight, entering the flight-test programme for the Falkland Islands Government Air Service. The aircraft, serial 2317 and a BN2B-26 Islander, is intended for transport, air ambulance and freight duties across the Falkland Islands, as Britten-Norman resumes full Islander production on British soil.
The aircraft was rolled out at Bembridge in July and had only recently started ground testing before flying on Thursday. Britten-Norman repatriated Islander production to the UK in 2023, and the latest aircraft is the first to emerge from the renewed line. It will be painted in FIGAS colours before delivery to the South Atlantic, although the remaining test milestones and handover timetable have not been disclosed.
FIGAS operates across a demanding island network, where twin-engined utility aircraft support scheduled transport and essential public service missions. The new Islander forms part of a fleet renewal effort for the operator, which relies on the type’s short-field performance and proven role in remote operations.