Not the subject of our Airtest, but two interesting Islander variants nevertheless were (left) the Dowty Rotol ducted propulsor test bed of the late seventies

Airtest – Britten Norman BN2 Islander

Pilatus Britten-Norman Islander Bn2B

Evolution, rather than revolution, is often the surest path to excellence in aircraft design. This design philosophy is strengthened when the starting point of the aircraft is based on well proven and conventional principles.

The newest Pilatus Britten-Norman (PNB) Islander is at the end of a two and a half decades of design and development path and the maturity of the design and manufacturing experience shows.

I have always been familiar with Islanders, but must admit that when Monarch Aviation flew their new Islander into Canberra, it was the first opportunity I have had to see and touch one, let alone fly one.

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