Britten-Norman Trislander: Difference between revisions
Wdollivier (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
|||
| Line 46: | Line 46: | ||
==Operators/Former Operators== |
==Operators/Former Operators== |
||
[[Image:TrislanderImage-comp.jpg|thumb|right|A Trislander aircraft at [[Guernsey Airport]], on the Isle of [[Guernsey]], in the [[Channel Islands]], operated by [[Aurigny Air Services]].]] |
[[Image:TrislanderImage-comp.jpg|thumb|right|A Trislander aircraft at [[Guernsey Airport]], on the Isle of [[Guernsey]], in the [[Channel Islands]], operated by [[Aurigny Air Services]].]] |
||
[[Image:G-RBCI.jpg|thumb|G-RBCI operated By [[Aurigny Air Services]] parked at [[Guernsey Airport]]]] |
|||
[[Image:G-rhop-esh.jpg|thumb|A Trislander, operated by [[Blue Islands]] Airline, departing [[Shoreham Airport]], [[Shoreham-by-Sea]], [[West Sussex]], [[England]].]] |
[[Image:G-rhop-esh.jpg|thumb|A Trislander, operated by [[Blue Islands]] Airline, departing [[Shoreham Airport]], [[Shoreham-by-Sea]], [[West Sussex]], [[England]].]] |
||
[[Image:Aircraft Great Barrier Island Aerodrome.jpg|thumb|right|Trislander at the [[Great Barrier Aerodrome]], operated by [[Great Barrier Airlines]], [[Great Barrier Island]], [[New Zealand]].]] |
[[Image:Aircraft Great Barrier Island Aerodrome.jpg|thumb|right|Trislander at the [[Great Barrier Aerodrome]], operated by [[Great Barrier Airlines]], [[Great Barrier Island]], [[New Zealand]].]] |
||
Revision as of 22:29, 10 October 2009
| Trislander | |
|---|---|
| File:Great barrier airline.jpg | |
| Role | Airliner |
| Manufacturer | Britten-Norman |
| First flight | 1970 |
| Primary user | Aurigny Air Services |
| 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]
The aircraft are known locally in the Channel Islands as "Joeys", and one Aurigny Air Services craft carries the registration G-JOEY.
Design and development
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 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 is preparing a second production run of the Trislander.[2]
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 meter long landing strip, the Trislander can readily operate from unprepared surfaces.
Variants
- 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, and with front two engines fitted with 3 blade propellers, to stop the outer edge going at supersonic speeds, therefore reducing noise.
- BN-2A Mk III-4
- III-2 fitted with rocket-assisted takeoff equipment.
- Trislander M
- Proposed military version, not built.
Operators/Former Operators
| External image | |
|---|---|
 Aurigny Air Services Trislander (G–JOEY) |
- LIAT
- Montserrat Air Services
- Aero Services
- PARSA
- Aero Taxi Intl
- Chitreana de Aviacion
- Vieques Air Link
- Wings Airways
- Tavina
- LAP
- Aurigny Air Services (Channel Islands)
- Blue Islands (Channel Islands)
- Loganair
- Lydd Air
- Emerald Airways
- Sol America
- Bluestar Airlines
-
- TCNA (Turks and Caicos National Airline)
Accidents
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.[3]
On 5 July 2009, a Trislander belonging to Great Barrier Airlines lost its starboard side prop six minutes into flight. The prop sheared off and impacted the cockpit, prompting an emergency landing. While there were injuries, no deaths were reported.[4]
Specifications (III-2)
Data from [5]
General characteristics- Crew: 1 (2 with co-pilot)
- Capacity: 15 passengers
Performance
References
- Notes
- ^ Britten-Norman Historians website
- ^ Britten-Norman Trislander
- ^ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, 16 December 2008. Retrieved: 28 February 2009.
- ^ "Report of Incident". New Zealand Herald, 8 July 2009. Retrieved: 8 July 2009.
- ^ 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
