Britten-Norman

In 1954, founders John Britten and Desmond Norman established a company on the Isle of Wight, initially modifying aircraft. After analyzing the aviation market, they identified a need for a simple, twin-engine utility aircraft. This led to the creation of the BN-2 Islander, a plane that prioritized payload over range or speed, designed for short-take-off-and-landing operations in remote locations. The Islander proved highly successful, leading to the development of military versions and the larger, three-engine Trislander. Despite its product's success, the company faced financial difficulties and went through a series of ownership changes. In 1973, it was acquired by the Fairey Aviation Group, followed by Oerlikon-Bührle in 1978, and then B-N Group in 2000. Throughout these changes, manufacturing was often outsourced, with a significant partnership in Romania building aircraft kits for final assembly in the UK. In March 2024, after entering administration, Britten-Norman was acquired by an investment group led by 4D Capital Partners. The deal secured the company's future and the jobs of its employees, with plans to repatriate all manufacturing to the UK. By October 2024, a further investment from Beechlands Enterprises was secured to ramp up production of the Islander, cementing the future of this iconic British aircraft manufacturer.