Britten-Norman Trislander
| Trislander | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Role | Airliner |
| Manufacturer | Britten-Norman |
| First flight | 11 September 1970 |
| Status | Out of production, in service |
| Primary user | Aurigny Air Services |
| Produced | 1970–1980 |
| Number built | 72 |
| Developed from | Britten-Norman Islander |
The Britten-Norman Trislander (more formally designated the BN-2A Mk III Trislander) is an 18-seat three-engined piston-powered civilian utility aircraft produced in the 1970s and early 1980s by Britten-Norman of Britain. The aircraft were produced on the Isle of Wight. They were also produced in Romania, and delivered via Belgium to Britain for their certification.[1]
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Design and development [edit]
Designed by John Britten and Desmond Norman, the Trislander is a further development of Britten-Norman's better-known Islander aircraft in order to give it a larger carrying capacity. In comparison with the Islander, the Trislander has a stretched fuselage, strengthened, fixed tricycle landing gear and a third engine on the fuselage centre line atop the fin. The Trislander has exceptional low speed handling characteristics, extended endurance, increased payload, low noise signature and economical operating costs. Capable of taking off from a 450 metre long landing strip, the Trislander can readily operate from unprepared surfaces.
Operational history [edit]
The prototype of the Trislander, which was constructed from the original second Islander prototype, first flew on 11 September 1970. Initial production ceased in 1982 after 73 were ordered. As of January 2008, Britten-Norman was preparing a second production run of the Trislander.[2]
Variants [edit]
- BN-2A Mk III-1
- First production version, with short nose.
- BN-2A Mk III-2
- Lengthened nose and higher operating weight.
- BN-2A Mk III-3
- Variant certified for operation in the United States.
- BN-2A Mk III-4
- III-2 fitted with 350 lb rocket-assisted takeoff equipment.
- BN-2A Mk III-5
- III-2 with sound-proofed cabin, modernised cockpit/interior and new engines (proposed, unbuilt as yet).
- Trislander M
- Proposed military version, not built.
Note: Aurigny Air Services has fitted all Trislanders in its fleet with 3 blade propellers (Hartzell HC-C3YR-2UF/FC8468-8R) on the front two engines so as to increase maximum take-off weight.
Operators/Former Operators [edit]
Italics implies current operator.
 Aurigny Air Services Trislander (G–JOEY) |
External images
Antigua and Barbuda-
- LIAT
- Montserrat Air Services
Australia-
- Air Queensland
- Eagle Airways
Barbados-
- Aero Services
- Botswana Defence Force Air Wing - Former operator.
Colombia-
- TAVINA
Indonesia-
- Bali Int. Air Service
Mexico-
- Aero Cozumel
Panama-
- Aero Taxi Intl
- Aviones de Panama
- Chitreana de Aviación
- PARSA
Papua New Guinea-
- Provincial Air Services
Philippines-
- Pinoy Air[3]
United Kingdom-
Guernsey-
- Aurigny Air Services Largest Operator
England-
- Air Ecosse
- Air West
- Emerald Airways
- Kondair
- Lydd Air
- XP Express Parcel Systems
United States-
- Cen-Tex Airlines
- Channel Islands Aviation
- Mountain High Aviation
- Stol Air Commuter (renamed WestAir)
- Wings Airways
U.S. Virgin Islands-
- Air Saint Thomas
Venezuela-
- Sol America
- Bluestar Airlines
-
- TCNA (Turks and Caicos National Airline)
Accidents and Incidents [edit]
The most recent crash was 15 December 2008 by LAP in Puerto Rico. The aircraft crashed somewhere near the Turks and Caicos. This was the first crash since 2005. The aircraft probably crashed into the sea shortly after the distress call. A spokesman for the Asociación Nacional de Pilotos reported that the pilot had his licence suspended in October 2006.[4]
On 5 July 2009 in New Zealand, a Trislander belonging to Great Barrier Airlines lost its starboard side prop six minutes into a flight from Great Barrier Island to Auckland city. The prop sheared off and impacted the fuselage, prompting a successful emergency landing. While there were injuries, no deaths were reported. The accident was caused by undetected corrosion of the propeller flange which led to its eventual failure.[5]
Specifications (III-2) [edit]
Data from [6]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 (2 with co-pilot)
- Capacity: 17 passengers (16 if co-pilot)
- Length: 49 ft 3 in (15.01 m)
- Wingspan: 53 ft 0 in (16.15 m)
- Height: 14 ft 2 in (4.32 m)
- Wing area: 337 ft2 (31.31 m2)
- Empty weight: 5,843 lb (2,650 kg)
- Gross weight: 10,000 lb (4,536 kg)
- Powerplant: 3 × Avco Lycoming O-540-E4C5 horizontally-opposed piston engine, 260 hp (194 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 167 mph (267 km/h)
- Range: 1,000 miles (1,609 km)
- Service ceiling: 13,150 ft (4,010 m)
References [edit]
- Notes
- ^ Britten-Norman Historians website
- ^ "Britten-Norman Trislander." britten-norman.com. Retrieved: 13 November 2011.
- ^ "Pinoy Air Trislanders." philskies.net. Retrieved: 12 November 2011.
- ^ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, 16 December 2008. Retrieved: 28 February 2009.
- ^ "Investigation 09-004 Report 09-004, Britten Norman BN2A-Mk III Trislander, ZK-LOU loss of engine propeller assembly, near Claris, Great Barrier Island, 5 July 2009." New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) via taic.org. Retrieved: 11 May 2011.
- ^ Orbis 1985, p. 993.
- Bibliography
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). London: Orbis Publishing, 1985.
- Trislander Patents: Patent number: 3807665
External links [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Britten Norman Trislander |
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