Britten-Norman Trislander
Trislander | |
---|---|
Aurigny Air Services Trislander
| |
Role | Airliner |
National origin | United Kingdom |
Manufacturer | Britten-Norman |
First flight | 11 September 1970 |
Status | In service |
Primary users | Vieques Air Link Roraima Airways |
Produced | 1970–1982 |
Number built | 80 |
Developed from | Britten-Norman Islander
|
The Britten-Norman Trislander (more formally designated the BN-2A Mk III Trislander) is a
The Trislander was designed in the late 1960s as an expanded derivative of the company's
Being marketed primarily as a feederliner and mostly sold to civilian operators, the Trislander was primarily manufactured at the company's facility on the Isle of Wight between 1970 and 1982. Later on, the Trislander was also produced in Romania, and delivered via Belgium to Britain for certification.[2] Several different commuter airlines have operated the Trislander in scheduled passenger services, the largest being the Guernsey-based operator Aurigny, which flew the type for over 40 years. Despite plans to produce the Trislander at the American manufacturer International Aviation Corporation (IAC) as the Tri-Commutair, these did not come to fruition.
Design and development
During the 1960s, the British aircraft manufacturer
Seeking to give the aircraft a considerably larger carrying capacity, the Islander's fuselage was stretched and strengthened considerably for the Trislander, a measure that necessitated various configuration changes The most visually apparent of these was the addition of a third engine located on the fuselage centre line atop an elongated tailfin.[3] A fixed tricycle landing gear arrangement was also adopted. While possessing an unorthodox appearance, the arrangement proved practical; in terms of construction, the Trilander was similar enough to the Islander that the two aircraft shared the same final assembly line.[3]
The prototype of the Trislander was constructed from the original second prototype of the Islander; it performed its
In terms of its flying characteristics, the Trislander possesses exceptional low speed handling characteristics, extended endurance, increased payload, and a relatively low noise signature. Capable of taking off from a 150 metres (492 ft) long landing strip, the Trislander can readily operate from unprepared surfaces. It was also promoted for its economical operating costs. Some variants came equipped with auto-feathering propellers and auxiliary rocket-assisted takeoff (RATO) apparatus.[3]
Operational history
During July 1971, the Trislander entered service with the Guernsey-based Aurigny, one month after the deliveries of the type had commenced.[5] Aurigny would be the largest operator of the type, operating 16 Trislanders at its peak.[5] In May 2017, Aurigny opted to withdraw all of its Trislanders,[6][7] the type having been replaced by newer Dornier 228s.[8] One of the ex-Aurigny Trislanders has been preserved and placed on display at the Imperial War Museum Duxford in the UK while another aircraft is displayed at Oaty & Joey's play barn at Oatlands Village in Guernsey.[9][10]
Following the acquisition of Britten-Norman by the
Into the 2020s, companies have continued to operate the Trislander; a number have been made available for private entities to hire.[15]
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.
- BN-2A Mk III-4
- III-2 fitted with 350 lb (160 kg) 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.
This section needs additional citations for verification. (October 2016) |
Operators
Current operators
- Anguilla Air Services[16]
Former operators
- Aerodata
- Air Queensland
- Lucaya Air
- Burrard Air Ltd.
- Questor Surveys Ltd.
- Tavina
- Travel Air
- Trans-Jamaican Airlines
- PinoyAir
- Taiwan Airways
- Turks & Caicos Airways
- Air Ecosse
- Air Sarnia
- Emerald Airways
- Lydd Air[22]
- Loganair[23]
- National Airways
- Rockhopper Aero
- Sky Trek
- Willow Air
- XP - Express Parcel Systems
- Air Flamenco
- Air St. Thomas
- Air South
- Cen-Tex Airlines
- Channel Islands Aviation (based at the Oxnard Airport)
- Slocum Airlines
- Stol Air Commuter (renamed WestAir Commuter Airlines)
- Tri Air
- Wings Airways
- Vanair
- Unity-Airlines
- Chapi Air
- Sol America
Accidents and incidents
On 8 October 1977, ZS-JYF, operated by Southern Aviation, impacted the ground while attempting a stall turn during an air display at Lanseria in South Africa. Despite sustaining severe damage (it was damaged beyond repair) the aircraft performed an emergency landing and neither occupant was injured.[24]
On 15 December 2008, a Trislander operated by
On 5 July 2009, a Trislander belonging to Great Barrier Airlines (now Barrier Air) lost its starboard side prop six minutes into a flight from Great Barrier Island, New Zealand, to Auckland. 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.[26]
Specifications (BN-2A Mk III-2)
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976–77[4]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 or 2
- Capacity: 16 or 17 passengers
- 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: 337.0 sq ft (31.31 m2)
- Aspect ratio: 7.95:1
- Airfoil: NACA 23012
- Empty weight: 5,842 lb (2,650 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 10,000 lb (4,536 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 154 imp gal (185 US gal; 700 L)
- Powerplant: 3 × piston engines, 260 hp (190 kW) each
- Propellers: 2-bladed Hartzell HC-C2YK-2G/C8477-4 constant speed propellers
Performance
- Maximum speed: 180 mph (290 km/h, 160 kn) at sea level
- Cruise speed: 155 mph (249 km/h, 135 kn) (59% power) at 13,000 ft (4,000 m)
- Range: 1,000 mi (1,600 km, 870 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 13,160 ft (4,010 m)
- Rate of climb: 980 ft/min (5.0 m/s)
- Take off run to 50 ft (15 m): 1,950 feet (590 m)
- Landing run from 50 ft (15 m): 1,445 ft (440 m)
See also
Related development
- Britten-Norman Islander
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
- ^ "Type Certificate No. EASA.A.389 for BN2A Mark III Trislander". easa.europa.eu. 23 November 2020.
- ^ "Home". BN Historians. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g Goold, Ian (16 October 2006). "Britten-Norman Islander celebrates 40th anniversary". AIN Online. Archived from the original on 15 September 2017.
- ^ ISBN 0-354-00538-3, pp. 176-177.
- ^ ISSN 0306-5634.
- ^ "Aurigny Trislander takes final commercial flight". 31 May 2017.
- ISSN 0143-7240.
- ^ "Aurigny Dornier 'should' arrive in Alderney in October". BBC News. 30 September 2014. Archived from the original on 30 November 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- ^ "Imperial War Museum Duxford".
- ^ Baudains, Nigel (2 January 2019). "Joey's new home attracts crowds despite 'soft launch'". Guernsey Press. Archived from the original on 21 October 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
- ^ "Avions Fairey Gosselies & Sonaca: a Tips of genie". Belgian Aircraft History Association. Archived from the original on 20 June 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
- ISSN 0015-4806. Archived from the originalon 11 April 2016.
- ISBN 0-7106-0748-2.
- ^ Trevett, John (11 May 1985). "Commuter Aircraft Directory: International Aviation Corp (USA)". Flight International. p. 47.
- ^ "BN2A Trislander". privatefly.com. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
- ^ "Anguilla Air Services adds maiden Trislander". ch-aviation.com.
- ^ "Roraima unveils Britten Norman Trislander". guyanachronicle.com. 26 April 2016.
- ^ "LIAT: the caribbean airline". www.liat.com.
- ^ "aurigny.com – channel islands". Archived from the original on 13 September 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
- ^ "Aircraft fleet, Blue Islands aircraft fleet, Blue Islands ATR aircraft - Blue Islands". www.blueislands.com.
- ^ "Barrier Air. Fleet". Barrier Air.
- ^ "Our fleet". lyddair.com.
- ^ "Loganair :: Aircraft – Loganair". Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
- ^ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Britten-Norman BN-2A Trislander Mk.III-2 ZS-JYF Lanseria Airport (HLA)". aviation-safety.net.
- ^ "Accident description". aviation-safety.net. 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). Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
Further reading
- US 3807665, published 30 April 1974, assigned to Britten Norman
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). London: Orbis Publishing, 1985.
- Stroud, John. "Post War Propliners: Islander and Trislander". ISSN 0143-7240.
- "Britten-Norman BN-2A Mk.3 Trislander". airliners.net.
- Britten-Norman company