Showing posts with label Britten-Norman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Britten-Norman. Show all posts

20 November, 2023

A team of UK companies to trial advanced airborne 5G connectivity from a Britten-Norman Islander

A team of UK companies led by Stratospheric Platforms Limited (SPL), a Non Terrestrial Networks telecoms developer, has won a significant contract trialling advanced airborne 5G connectivity from a Britten-Norman Islander. Aircraft manufacturer Britten-Norman will be providing key design and trials support for the project, with Marshall Futureworx providing important cooling systems technology.

SPL is pioneering the concept of using a High-Altitude Platform (HAP) with airborne antenna to provide widescale coverage of high performance 5G from the stratosphere.

The goal of the project is to deliver an unmanned, liquid hydrogen-powered aircraft, designed with a 56-metre wingspan that will, due to its lightweight structure and significant power source, enable a flight endurance of over a week.

The first phase of the contract will see SPLs 5G airborne phased array integrated to a Britten-Norman Islander, with flight trials due to begin in July 2024. The turbine-powered BN2T-4S Islander variant has been selected for the programme due to its performance and payload capacity and the simplicity with which it can be modified to accommodate the equipment. The trial will be conducted under Britten-Norman’s Civil Aviation Authority test conditions.

Britten-Norman will operate the aircraft from its Solent Airport aircraft maintenance (MRO) facility, with the mission to be performed over the North Sea. The 5G phased array will be linked via a backhaul link to the Adastral Tower in Suffolk, England, from which the telecommunications and mission equipment will operate.

Garnet Ridgway, Flight Test Engineer at Britten-Norman, remarked: “This is a great opportunity to demonstrate the full capabilities of both Britten-Norman as an accomplished trials organisation and the Turbine Islander as a highly capable trials aircraft. Working closely with our partners, the project includes deliverables from our design, manufacture, MRO, continued airworthiness, flight test and flight operations teams. 

The project requires a test platform that can be easily modified; the BN2T-4S Islander has a combination of payload capacity, endurance, climb performance, twin engine reliability, robustness and electrical power generation that makes it unbeatable for this mission.

We are very pleased to have been selected by Stratospheric Platforms to assist in pioneering this innovation.” 

 

23 September, 2023

Bringing back aircraft manufacturing to the UK ...... Britten-Norman returns Islander production to the UK

British aircraft manufacturer, Britten-Norman, has begun UK production of the Islander, the world-leading sub-regional aircraft, having shifted its manufacturing back to the UK from overseas.


This historic moment is the culmination of years of strategic planning and follows the announcement by the company in June that new aircraft production was to be fully repatriated to its flagship manufacturing site in Bembridge on the Isle of Wight.

Historic milestone reached as new aircraft manufacturing returns to UK for first time since 1968.

Bob Seely MP officially opens production line at Bembridge facility on the Isle of Wight.

First new Islander aircraft built in UK is set to be completed in May 2024.

New aircraft output set to increase by 4x over the coming years creating new skilled jobs for the area.




The iconic Islander aircraft, variants of which have been manufactured by the company for more than 50 years, will be built in the UK for the first time since production was moved to Eastern Europe in the late 1960s. The first UK Islander aircraft now in production is due for completion in May 2024.

A ribbon-cutting took place at an event on Thursday 21st September as the new production line at the Bembridge manufacturing facility was officially opened by Bob Seely, MP for the Isle of Wight.

The move signifies Britten-Norman's commitment to British manufacturing and its dedication to fostering innovation within the aerospace sector. Returning manufacturing to the UK will not only strengthen the company's position as the world-leading sub-regional aircraft manufacturer but also contribute to the growth and development of the British aerospace industry.


The Bembridge manufacturing site has been at the heart of Britten-Norman's operations since its inception, and this repatriation marks a significant homecoming for the company. With a renewed focus on British craftsmanship and engineering, Britten-Norman will be able to enhance its production capabilities, improve supply chain efficiency, and accelerate innovation in aircraft design and manufacturing.

The Company is planning for new aircraft production to increase fourfold by 2027 with strong economic performance and increased revenue projected. The repatriation to Bembridge is expected to create numerous job opportunities and contribute to the economic growth of the Isle of Wight and the wider Solent area.

21 September, 2023

Britten-Norman has begun UK production of the Islander Aircraft......

British aircraft manufacturer, Britten-Norman, has begun UK production of the Islander, the world-leading sub-regional aircraft, having shifted its manufacturing back to the UK from overseas.


This historic moment is the culmination of years of strategic planning and follows the announcement by the company in June that new aircraft production was to be fully repatriated to its flagship manufacturing site in Bembridge on the Isle of Wight.

Historic milestone reached as new aircraft manufacturing returns to UK for first time since 1968.

Bob Seely MP officially opens production line at Bembridge facility on the Isle of Wight.

First new Islander aircraft built in UK is set to be completed in May 2024.

New aircraft output set to increase by 4x over the coming years creating new skilled jobs for the area.




The iconic Islander aircraft, variants of which have been manufactured by the company for more than 50 years, will be built in the UK for the first time since production was moved to Eastern Europe in the late 1960s. The first UK Islander aircraft now in production is due for completion in May 2024.

A ribbon-cutting took place at an event on Thursday 21st September as the new production line at the Bembridge manufacturing facility was officially opened by Bob Seely, MP for the Isle of Wight.

The move signifies Britten-Norman's commitment to British manufacturing and its dedication to fostering innovation within the aerospace sector. Returning manufacturing to the UK will not only strengthen the company's position as the world-leading sub-regional aircraft manufacturer but also contribute to the growth and development of the British aerospace industry.


The Bembridge manufacturing site has been at the heart of Britten-Norman's operations since its inception, and this repatriation marks a significant homecoming for the company. With a renewed focus on British craftsmanship and engineering, Britten-Norman will be able to enhance its production capabilities, improve supply chain efficiency, and accelerate innovation in aircraft design and manufacturing.

The Company is planning for new aircraft production to increase fourfold by 2027 with strong economic performance and increased revenue projected. The repatriation to Bembridge is expected to create numerous job opportunities and contribute to the economic growth of the Isle of Wight and the wider Solent area.

The Company has already embarked on a recruitment campaign, further boosting job creation in the UK’s Solent Local Enterprise Partnership area, with roles including aircraft fitters and technicians, production engineering and supply chain management. The expansion will also create new traineeship and apprenticeship opportunities on the Isle of Wight and in South Hampshire.

Chief Executive of Britten-Norman, William Hynett, expressed his enthusiasm for this pivotal moment: "We are immensely proud to bring production back to the UK, where our manufacturing story began nearly seven decades ago. This move underlines our dedication to the highest standards of quality, innovation, and the resurgence of British aerospace manufacturing.

We look forward to a bright future as we continue to build world-class aircraft right here in the UK."

Island MP Bob Seely said:  “The Islander's return to the Isle of Wight is an important and exciting day. I am delighted that Britten-Norman has made the decision to bring back the production line of their iconic plane to where it was first built, on the Isle of Wight.
It’s a major vote of confidence in the future of the Island and a significant investment for our skilled manufacturing base.”

The repatriation of production to Bembridge represents a new chapter in Britten-Norman's storied history, promising exciting developments, and opportunities for both the company and the UK aerospace sector.

12 June, 2023

Britten-Norman to repatriate aircraft production to its historic home in Bembridge on the Isle of Wight.

UK aircraft manufacturer Britten-Norman reveals plans to increase production rates and to repatriate aircraft production to its historic home in Bembridge on the Isle of Wight. The move is a major change for the British SME which has been manufacturing its aircraft in Eastern Europe since the late 1960s.

Britten-Norman will invest in new jigs and tooling to create two additional production lines as well as modernising production and decarbonising the site with new sustainable energy initiatives.

The investment is in preparation for intensified interest in the Islander following the planned launch of an OEM, zero-emissions Islander aircraft in 2026 as well as wider interest that has resulted from the introduction of finance and leasing options for the resurgent sub-regional aircraft market.

In the coming months the Company will be embarking on a recruitment campaign, further boosting job creation in the UK’s Solent Local Enterprise Partnership area. The focus will include aircraft fitters and technicians, production engineering and supply chain roles. The expansion will also create new traineeship and apprenticeship opportunities on the Isle of Wight and in South Hampshire.

In addition to the ramp up in production, the company will be investing in its supply chain and spare parts stock holdings to support its existing operators.

“The project is a great success story for the British aircraft manufacturing industry. I am very proud to be involved in this next chapter at Britten-Norman” commented Chief Executive, William Hynett OBE.

Britten-Norman will retain its 34,000sq ft. stronghold at Solent Airport Daedalus, home of the final assembly line for the Islander. The site also provides OEM aircraft refurbishment, EASA Part 145 MRO services, international field servicing, and specialist avionics and mission systems integration. As a Garmin-approved dealer, the company offers services to the wider General Aviation community.

24 May, 2020

Britten-Norman Islander, skidded on touchdown and overran the runway in Montserrat - AAIB Report

Britten-Norman Islander, skidded on touchdown and overran the runway

The UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch has released its report into an incident that occurred on the beautiful island of Montserrat in September last year that saw a Britten-Norman Islander run off the runway. The small aircraft was carrying six passengers and the pilot at the time of the incident

Following a heavy rain shower which made the runway wet, a Britten-Norman Islander (VP-MNI) made a positive touchdown but could not stop. It overran the runway and departed the level surface of the airfield, 23 September 2019.The aircraft was on a return flight from Antigua to Montserrat, which was experiencing a heavy rain shower. After the shower had passed the aircraft made a normal approach in a light tailwind to Runway 10, which was still wet from the rain. The pilot made a positive touchdown and applied appropriate braking but was unable to stop the aircraft. The pilot steered the aircraft to the right but it skidded through 180° and departed the level surface of the airfield backwards, down a steep incline at the end of the runway, before coming to a stop when the tail caught in the airport security fence. The pilot and passengers were able to exit the aircraft and the airport rescue and firefighting service responded promptly.

No aircraft defects were found that would have contributed to the outcome. The touchdown groundspeed was higher than appropriate, either because the approach was flown at an airspeed greater than the normal, or because of a significant change in windspeed and direction during the approach. This, combined with a wet runway and skidding, resulted in the aircraft requiring more distance to stop than was available on the runway.

Safety Recommendations are made regarding aircraft operations at John A Osborne Airport, access for rescue and firefighting vehicles, and a means of arresting aircraft that overrun the runway.

Read the report.


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03 January, 2020

Island-hopping on batteries.........the story of Project Fresson

In the still-emerging world of aviation electrification, learning is good, whether that be pure research, learning by doing, or involvements in projects that rapidly go into service.



For Rolls-Royce, Project Fresson combines all three elements and adds to its already established position as an electrification pioneer.



The programme, run by Cranfield Aerospace Solutions, involves the design, manufacture and integrate a hybrid-electric propulsion system into a 9-seat Britten-Norman (B-N) Islander aircraft, which is typically used on short flights such as island-hopping routes in Scotland, with the Orkney Islands one particular example.



The ultimate goal is to deliver the first commercial passenger-carrying all-electric aircraft service in the UK, marking a significant breakthrough for all-electric propulsion. Conventional engines will still be available for the aircraft’s longer-range flights.




Project Fresson is expected to take two and a half years, with a fully developed prototype taking to the skies by mid-2022, making it the first fully electric passenger-carrying plane in the UK and one of only a small number being developed across the world.

26 November, 2019

Hybrid electric passenger aircraft coming to the UK

Hybrid electric passenger aircraft will be coming to the UK soon,  thanks to a major UK Government grant to Cranfield Aviation Solutions.

The firm, a leading aircraft integrator in green commercial aviation, has received the backing of the UK Government for a project to develop electric aviation. Project Fresson has received a grant of £9 million to design, manufacture and integrate a hybrid-electric propulsion system into a 9-seat Britten-Norman (B-N) Islander aircraft, which is typically used on short flights such as island-hopping routes. The grant is provided through the ATI Programme: a partnership of the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), the Department for Business, Energy & Industry Strategy, and Innovate UK to maintain and grow the UK’s competitive position in civil aerospace design and manufacture.

Mark Scully, Head of Technology for Advanced Systems & Propulsion at the ATI, said: “Project Fresson brings together a great partnership to develop innovative technology for a sustainable all-electric air transport solution for isolated islands. The partners’ ultimate goal of delivering the first commercial passenger-carrying all-electric aircraft service in the UK will mark a significant breakthrough for all-electric propulsion.”

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