Britten-Norman Trislander

A great barrier airlines Trislander aircraft

A Trislander aircraft at Guernsey airport.

The Britten-Norman Trislander (more formally designated the BN-2A Mk III Trislander) is an 18-seat triple-engined piston-powered civilian utility aircraft produced by Britten-Norman of Britain.

The aircraft are known locally in the Channel Islands as Joeys, and one Aurigny Air Services craft carries the registration G-JOEY

It 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, modified landing gear and a third (tail-mounted) engine. The prototype of the Trislander, which was constructed from the original second Islander prototype, first flew on September 11 1970. The production ceased in 1982 after 73 were ordered

The Trislander is capable of taking off from a 450 m long landing strip and can also readily operate from unprepared surfaces.

Among the airlines that have used this airplane are Aurigny Air Services, Loganair, Lydd Air, Blue Islands, Great Barrier Airlines, and Vieques Air Link.

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Capacity: up to eighteen passengers
• Length: 35 ft 8 in (10.86 m)
• Wingspan: 49 ft 0 in (14.94 m)
• Height: 13 ft 9 in (4.18 m)
• Wing area: 325 ft² (30.2 m²)
• Empty: 3,588 lb (1627 kg)
• Loaded: up to 6600 lb ( 2994 kg) BN2A-20 onwards
• Maximum takeoff: 6600 lb (2994 kg)
• Powerplant: 3x Lycoming O-540-E4C, 260 hp (195 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 170 mph (273 km/h)
• Range: 875 miles (1400 km)
• Service ceiling: 13,200 ft (4024 m)
• Rate of climb: 970 ft/min (295 m/min)
• Wing loading: lb/ft² ( kg/m²)