First fully UK-built Britten-Norman Islander enters ground testing

Britten-Norman has begun ground testing on the first Islander built entirely in the United Kingdom since the company brought production back to its Isle of Wight site. The aircraft, a BN2B-26 Islander, was rolled out at the Bembridge facility on 30 July, a day after it received electrical power for the first time.

The company says the aircraft's maiden flight is scheduled for September 2026. Testing now under way is meant to check systems ahead of that flight.

The milestone is a step in Britten-Norman's effort to bring Islander production together in the UK, after periods when parts of the manufacturing process were carried out elsewhere. No further technical details about the aircraft's configuration or customer were included in the available material.

The Islander is a light utility aircraft long used for short regional routes, cargo work, and specialist military and surveillance roles. Britten-Norman has continued to build and support the type for decades. The company has presented the return of full assembly to Bembridge as part of a wider push to strengthen domestic manufacturing capability.

Details on the testing programme, including specific milestones between now and next year's flight, were not disclosed.