View source for Britten-Norman Trislander

{{Short description|Three-engined piston airliner of the Britten-Norman BN-2 family 1970}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox aircraft
  |name = Trislander
  |image = File:G-FTSE Trislander Aurigny Air Services (7003405361).jpg
  |caption = [[Aurigny Air Services]] Trislander 
  |type = Airliner
  |national_origin= United Kingdom
  |manufacturer = [[Britten-Norman]]
  |designer = 
  |first_flight = 11 September 1970
  |introduction = 
  |retired = 
  |status = In limited service
  |primary_user = [[Vieques Air Link]]
  |more_users = [[Roraima Airways]]
  |produced = 1970–1982
  |number_built = 80
  |developed_from = [[Britten-Norman Islander]]
  |variants = <!-- variants OF the topic type -->
}}

The '''Britten-Norman Trislander''' (more formally designated the '''BN-2A Mk III Trislander''') is a [[trimotor|three-engined]] [[piston engine|piston]]-powered utility [[aircraft]] designed and produced by the British aircraft manufacturer [[Britten-Norman]].

The Trislander was designed in the late 1960s as an expanded derivative of the company's [[Britten-Norman Islander|Islander]], a twin-engined commercial aircraft that had proved to be a commercial success. In comparison to its predecessor, it had a larger carrying capacity, being capable of seating up to 18 passengers, and could also perform [[STOL]] operations when required.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/document-library/type-certificates/aircraft-cs-25-cs-22-cs-23-cs-vla-cs-lsa/easaa389 |title = Type Certificate No. EASA.A.389 for BN2A Mark III Trislander |publisher = easa.europa.eu |date = 23 November 2020}}</ref> On 11 September 1970, the prototype Trislander performed its [[maiden flight]]; the type entered revenue service less than a year later.

Being marketed primarily as a [[Regional airliner|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 [[Airworthiness certificate|certification]].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.bnhistorians.co.uk |title = Home |publisher = BN Historians |access-date = 6 June 2014}}</ref> 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 [[Britten-Norman]], founded by John Britten and [[Desmond Norman]], had designed and commenced production of the [[Britten-Norman Islander|Islander]], a twin-engined commercial aircraft that quickly proved itself to be a commercial success.<ref name = "ain 40">{{cite web |last = Goold |first = Ian |url = http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aviation-international-news/2006-10-16/britten-norman-islander-celebrates-40th-anniversary |title = Britten-Norman Islander celebrates 40th anniversary |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170915121721/http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aviation-international-news/2006-10-16/britten-norman-islander-celebrates-40th-anniversary |archive-date = 15 September 2017 |publisher = AIN Online |date = 16 October 2006}}</ref> Being keen to capitalise on the Islander, the company's management opted to pursue development of a larger aircraft that would be derived from its predecessor as to benefit from commonalities and to lower development costs. In 1968, the company flew a stretched variant of the aircraft, known as the ''BN-2E Islander Super'', however, this model was never pursued through to certification in favour of a more radical alternative design - the Trislander.<ref name = "ain 40"/>

[[File:Britten-Norman BN-2A Mk III Trislander Roraima Airways-9921 (6) - Flickr - Ragnhild & Neil Crawford.jpg|thumb|Head-on view of a Trislander. Note the third engine on the tailfin]]
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 [[vertical stabilizer|tailfin]].<ref name = "ain 40"/> A fixed [[tricycle landing gear]] arrangement was also adopted. While possessing an unorthodox appearance, the arrangement proved practical; in terms of construction, the Trislander was similar enough to the Islander that the two aircraft shared the same final assembly line.<ref name = "ain 40"/>

The prototype of the Trislander was constructed from the original second prototype of the Islander; it performed its [[maiden flight]] on 11 September 1970.<ref name="jawa76 p176-7">[[John W. R. Taylor|Taylor, John W. R.]] ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976–77''. London: Jane's Yearbooks, 1976. {{ISBN|0-354-00538-3}}, pp. 176-177.</ref> Confidence in the type was such that it appeared at the [[Farnborough Air Show]] that same day.<ref name = "ain 40"/> Britten-Norman opted to principally promote the Trislander to prospective operators as a [[Regional airliner|feederliner]]; foreseen secondary roles included its potential use by military air services as well.<ref name = "ain 40"/>

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 {{convert|492|ft|m|order=flip}} 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 [[Propeller_(aeronautics)#Feathering|auto-feathering]] propellers and auxiliary [[JATO|rocket-assisted takeoff]] (RATO) apparatus.<ref name = "ain 40"/>

==Operational history==
During July 1971, the Trislander entered service with the [[Guernsey]]-based [[Aurigny]], one month after the deliveries of the type had commenced.<ref name="AI1015 p123">{{cite journal |last = Cunliffe |first = Charles |title = Trislander Sunset |journal = [[Air International]] |date = October 2015 |volume = 89 |number = 4 |issn = 0306-5634 |page = 123}}</ref> Aurigny would be the largest operator of the type, operating 16 Trislanders at its peak.<ref name="AI1015 p123"/> In May 2017, Aurigny opted to withdraw all of its Trislanders,<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.itv.com/news/channel/2017-05-31/aurigny-trislander-takes-final-commercial-flight/ |title = Aurigny Trislander takes final commercial flight |date = 31 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title = Trislander for Solent Sky |magazine = [[Aeroplane Monthly|Aeroplane]] |date = May 2017 |volume = 45 |issue = 5 |page = 10 |issn = 0143-7240}}</ref> the type having been replaced by newer [[Dornier 228]]s.<ref>{{cite news |title = Aurigny Dornier 'should' arrive in Alderney in October |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-29423354 |access-date = 14 March 2016 |publisher = BBC News |date = 30 September 2014 |archive-date = 30 November 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141130022505/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-29423354 |url-status = live}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-duxford |title = Imperial War Museum Duxford}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1 = Baudains |first1 = Nigel |title = Joey's new home attracts crowds despite 'soft launch' |url = https://guernseypress.com/news/2019/01/02/joeys-new-home-attracts-crowds-despite-soft-launch/ |access-date = 28 March 2021 |work = Guernsey Press |date = 2 January 2019 |archive-date = 21 October 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211021190046/https://guernseypress.com/news/2019/01/02/joeys-new-home-attracts-crowds-despite-soft-launch/ |url-status = live }}</ref>

Following the acquisition of Britten-Norman by the [[Fairey Aviation]] Group in August 1972 and the formation of the Fairey Britten-Norman company; the majority of manufacturing activity for both the Islander and Trislander was transferred to its [[Avions Fairey]] factory in [[Gosselies]], Belgium.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.baha.be/Webpages/Navigator/Belgian_Aviation_History/Industry/Sonaca.htm |title = Avions Fairey Gosselies & Sonaca: a Tips of genie |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100620005139/http://www.baha.be/Webpages/Navigator/Belgian_Aviation_History/Industry/Sonaca.htm |archive-date = 20 June 2010 |publisher = Belgian Aircraft History Association |access-date = 25 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last = Fricker |first = John |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=SOUUuRXEFmoC&pg=PA271 |title = Past and Present |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160411025505/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=SOUUuRXEFmoC&pg=PA271 |archive-date = 11 April 2016 |magazine = [[Flying Magazine|Flying]] |date = September 1977 |volume = 101 |issue = 3 |issn = 0015-4806 |page = 271}}</ref> All production activity of the type in Britain ceased in 1982, by which point 73 Trilanders had been delivered while a further seven aircraft were complete but unsold; that same year, Pilatus Britten Norman sold a [[licensed production|manufacturing license]] to the American manufacturer International Aviation Corporation (IAC). IAC had planned to produce an initial batch of 12 Trislanders (which were to be marketed under the name ''Tri-Commutair''s) from parts kits supplied by Britten-Norman before undertaking full production,<ref name="jawa82 p268, 395">{{cite book |last = Taylor |first = John W. R. |title = Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83 |location = London, UK |publisher = Jane's Yearbooks |date = 1982 |isbn = 0-7106-0748-2 |pages = 268, 392}}</ref> however, these plans ultimately came to nothing.<ref>{{cite web |last = Trevett |first = John |title = Commuter Aircraft Directory: International Aviation Corp (USA) |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1985/1985%20-%201425.html |publisher = [[Flight International]] |date = 11 May 1985 |page = 47}}</ref>

Into the 2020s, companies have continued to operate the Trislander; a number have been made available for private entities to hire.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.privatefly.com/private-jets/turboprop-hire/BN2A-Trislander.html |title = BN2A Trislander |publisher = privatefly.com |access-date = 27 April 2023}}</ref>

==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 {{cvt|350|lb|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.

{{more citations needed section|date=October 2016}}

==Operators==
===Current operators===
;{{flag|Anguilla}}
* [[Anguilla Air Services]]<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/78194-anguilla-air-services-adds-maiden-trislander |title = Anguilla Air Services adds maiden Trislander |publisher = ch-aviation.com}}</ref>
;{{flag|Guyana}}
* [[Roraima Airways]]<ref>{{cite web |url = http://guyanachronicle.com/roraima-unveils-britten-norman-trislander/ |title = Roraima unveils Britten Norman Trislander |publisher = guyanachronicle.com |date = 26 April 2016}}</ref>
;{{flag|Puerto Rico}}
* [[Air Flamenco]]
* [[Vieques Air Link]]

===Former operators===
[[File:Aurigny Air Services Britten-Norman BN-2A Mk3-2 Trislander Haafke-1.jpg|thumb|[[Aurigny Air Services]] Trislander]]
[[File:G-rhop-esh.jpg|thumb|[[Blue Islands]] Trislander]]
[[File:Great Barrier Aircraft-2219.jpg|thumb|[[Great Barrier Airlines]] Trislander]]

;{{flag|Antigua and Barbuda}}
* [[LIAT]]<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.liat.com/ |title = LIAT: the caribbean airline |website = www.liat.com}}</ref>
;{{flag|Australia}}
* Aerodata
* [[Air Queensland]] 
;{{BAH}}
* Lucaya Air
;{{CAN}}
* Burrard Air Ltd.
* Questor Surveys Ltd.
;{{flag|Colombia}}
* Tavina
;{{flag|Costa Rica}}
* Travel Air 
;{{flag|Botswana}}
* [[Botswana Defence Force Air Wing]] 
;{{flag|Cayman Islands}}
* [[Cayman Airways]] 
;{{FIJ}}
* [[Fiji Airways|Air Pacific]]
* [[Air Fiji]]
;{{flag|Guernsey}}
* [[Aurigny]]<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.aurigny.com/ |title = aurigny.com – channel islands |access-date = 1 December 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080913094239/http://www.aurigny.com/ |archive-date = 13 September 2008 |url-status = dead}}</ref>
;{{JAM}}
* [[Trans-Jamaican Airlines]] 
;{{flag|Jersey}}
* [[Blue Islands]]<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.blueislands.com/flying-with-us/aircraft-fleet |title = Aircraft fleet, Blue Islands aircraft fleet, Blue Islands ATR aircraft - Blue Islands |website = www.blueislands.com}}</ref> 
;{{flag|Liberia}}
* [[Air Liberia]] 
;{{PHL}}
* PinoyAir
;{{NZL}}
* [[Barrier Air]]<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.barrierair.kiwi/about-us/fleet/ |title = Barrier Air. Fleet |website = Barrier Air}}</ref> 
;{{flag|Sierra Leone}}
* [[Sierra Leone Airways]] 
;{{TWN}}
* [[Taiwan Airways]]
;{{TCA}}
* Turks & Caicos Airways
;{{flag|United Kingdom}}
* [[Air Ecosse]] 
* Air Sarnia
* [[Emerald Airways]] 
* [[GB Airways]]
* [[Hebridean Air Services]]{{cn|date=November 2025}} 
* [[Lydd Air]]<ref>{{Cite web |url = http://www.lyddair.com/-our-fleet.html |title = Our fleet |publisher = lyddair.com}}</ref>
* [[Loganair]]<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.loganair.co.uk/loganair/aircraft |title = Loganair :: Aircraft – Loganair |access-date = 3 December 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151208053608/http://www.loganair.co.uk/loganair/aircraft |archive-date = 8 December 2015 |url-status = dead}}</ref> 
* National Airways
* Sky Trek
* Willow Air
* XP - Express Parcel Systems
;{{USA}}
* [[Air St. Thomas]]
* Air South
* Cen-Tex Airlines
* Channel Islands Aviation (based at the [[Camarillo Airport]])
* Slocum Airlines
* [[Stol Air Commuter]] (renamed [[WestAir Commuter Airlines]]) 
* Tri Air
* [[Wings Airways]] 
;{{VAN}}
* [[Vanair]] 
* Unity-Airlines
;{{VEN}}
* 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 International Airport|Lanseria]] in [[South Africa]]. Despite sustaining severe damage (it was damaged beyond repair) the aircraft performed an emergency landing and neither occupant was injured.<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19771008-1 |title = ASN Aircraft accident Britten-Norman BN-2A Trislander Mk.III-2 ZS-JYF Lanseria Airport (HLA) |first = Harro |last = Ranter |website = aviation-safety.net}}</ref>

On 25 October 1991, a Trislander operated by [[Bali Air|Bali International Air Service]] disappeared during a holding pattern near [[H. Asan Airport]] in Indonesia. There were 17 people on board, which were all presumed dead.<ref>https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/325674</ref>

On 15 December 2008, a Trislander operated by [[Línea Aérea Puertorriqueña|LAP]] in [[Puerto Rico]] crashed into the sea somewhere near the [[Turks and Caicos]], shortly after a distress call. A spokesman for the Asociación Nacional de Pilotos reported that the pilot had his licence suspended in October 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |url = http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20081215-0 |title = Accident description|website = aviation-safety.net |date = 16 December 2008 |access-date = 28 February 2009}}</ref>

On 5 July 2009, a Trislander belonging to [[Barrier Air|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.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.taic.org.nz/ReportsandSafetyRecs/AviationReports/tabid/78/ctl/Detail/mid/482/InvNumber/2009-004/Page/0/language/en-US/Default.aspx?SkinSrc= |title = 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 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111003103346/http://www.taic.org.nz/ReportsandSafetyRecs/AviationReports/tabid/78/ctl/Detail/mid/482/InvNumber/2009-004/Page/0/language/en-US/Default.aspx?SkinSrc= |archive-date = 3 October 2011 |publisher = New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) |access-date = 11 May 2011}}</ref>

==Specifications (BN-2A Mk III-2)==
[[File:ZK-LOU BN-2 Trislander Great Barrier Cockpit (8390957633).jpg|thumb|Cockpit]]
[[File:Aurigny Trislander (16125811745).jpg|thumb|Closeup of the tail unit and the third engine]]
[[File:( ZK- ) LOU BN-2 Trilander Great Barrier (8392041614).jpg|thumb|Starboard wing and engine]]

{{Aircraft specs
|ref= ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976–77''<ref name="jawa76 p176-7"/>
|prime units?= imp
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|genhide=

|crew= 1 or 2
|capacity= 16 or 17 passengers
|length m= 15.01
|length ft=
|length in=
|length note=
|span m= 16.15
|span ft=
|span in=
|span note=
|height m= 4.32
|height ft=
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqm= 31.31
|wing area sqft=
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio= 7.95:1
|airfoil= NACA 23012
|empty weight kg= 2,650
|empty weight lb=
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg= 4,536
|max takeoff weight lb=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity= {{convert|154|impgal|USgal L|abbr=on}}
|lift kg=<!-- lighter-than-air -->
|lift lb=<!-- lighter-than-air -->
|lift note=
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number= 3
|eng1 name= [[Lycoming O-540|Lycoming O-540-E4C5]]
|eng1 type= air-cooled [[flat-six]] [[piston engine]]s 
|eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 hp= 260<!-- prop engines -->
|prop blade number= 2<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop name= [[Hartzell Propeller|Hartzell]] HC-C2YK-2G/C8477-4 constant speed propellers
|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia note=

<!--
        Performance
-->
|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph= 180
|max speed kts=
|max speed note= at sea level
|max speed mach=<!-- supersonic aircraft -->
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph= 155
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note= (59% power) at {{convert|13000|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=
|range km=
|range miles= 1,000
|range nmi=
|range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m= 4,010
|ceiling ft=
|ceiling note=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin= 980
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|more performance=
* '''Take off run to 50 ft (15 m):''' {{convert|1950|ft|m}}
* '''Landing run from 50 ft (15 m):''' {{convert|1445|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|avionics=
}}

==See also==
{{Portal|UK|Aviation}}
{{Aircontent|
|related=
* [[Britten-Norman Islander]]
|similar aircraft=
* [[de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter]]
* [[Dornier 228]]
* [[GAF Nomad]]
* [[Let L-410 Turbolet]]
|lists=
|see also=
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading==
{{Commons and category|Britten-Norman Trislander}}
* {{cite patent |country = US |number = 3807665 |pubdate = 30 April 1974 |assign1 = Britten Norman}}
* ''The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985)''. London: Orbis Publishing, 1985.
* Stroud, John. "Post War Propliners: Islander and Trislander". ''[[Aeroplane Monthly]]''. Vol. 22, No. 8. August 1994. pp.&nbsp;44–49. {{ISSN|0143-7240}}.
* {{cite web |url = http://www.airliners.net/aircraft-data/stats.main?id=134 |title = Britten-Norman BN-2A Mk.3 Trislander |work = airliners.net}}
* {{Official website|http://www.britten-norman.com|Britten-Norman company}}

{{Britten-Norman aircraft}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1970s British civil utility aircraft]]
[[Category:Britten-Norman aircraft|Trislander]]
[[Category:Trimotors]]
[[Category:High-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Cruciform tail aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1970]]
[[Category:1970s British airliners]]
[[Category:Aircraft with fixed tricycle landing gear]]