Page 32 - Aviation News (February 2020)

Trislander with three 450hp V8 engines, Air Seychelles began operations in 1978 with representation left little money available
certifi cated to run on unleaded automotive two Islanders and three Trislanders, including for investment by the parent company
fuel, thus resulting in a 30% cut in fuel S7-AAG, seen at Mahé in June 1983. The and once again it went into receivership
airline now fl ies Twin Otters on its domestic
consumption, together with higher climb routes. Bob O’Brien on April 3, 2000.
and cruise speeds. Just a month later, a new suitor
The aircraft would be known as the capacity to 20. Lance Watson’s name was arrived on the scene. Alawi Zawawi
Tri-Commuter, but as with IAC, the again involved in the potential deal and Enterprises, a consortium led by the
plans came to nothing. Once again, the kits had now passed on to another Al Zawawi family from Oman, formed
ownership of the kits was changed, company called Aero Masters. Integrity B-N Group, in order to acquire the
this time to the Phoenix Continental Aircraft claimed that it had been issued assets of Britten-Norman Limited. The
Corporation of Florida. However, Watson with a manufacturing licence by PB-N shareholding of B-N is now held between
claimed he was never paid for the kits, to enable it to develop the Trislander two indivduals: Alawi Zawawi and William
because Phoenix Continental was under derivative, and a European patent was Hynett who is the CEO.
investigation with the US Securities and fi led on April 19, 2000 to cover the new Today the company retains the
Exchange Commission. concept. Nothing further was heard of Britten-Norman name, and the head
This was by no means the end of this however and the fate of all but one o ce is situated at Lee-on-Solent,
the story, though. In August 1999 it of the kits is unknown. opened as a fl ying boat base in
was announced that a company called During this time, one set of parts was World War One and until 1996, the
Integrity Aircraft, based in New Zealand, returned to the UK and sent to Anglo establishment and administrative
was in discussion with PB-N. Its plan was Normandy Aero Engineering, based in centre of the Fleet Air Arm, known
to produce a derivative of the Trislander, Guernsey. The company, a specialist in as HMS Daedalus, BN is now the sole
to be called the Integrity, using a single the maintenance of PB-N Islanders and independent commercial aircraft
tail-mounted Allied-Signal TPE-331 Trislanders, assembled the aircraft for producer within the United Kingdom.
turboprop engine. Other design changes Aurigny. Although BN’s historic home is at
would include a lengthened nose, like Bembridge on the Isle of Wight and
that fi tted to the Defender, the military NEW OWNERS spare parts production continues there
version of the Islander. Additionally, In mid-1998, Oerlikon-Bührle took today, all aircraft are manufactured in the
the design would incorporate new the decision to sell PB-N to Litchfi eld UK at the Lee-on-Solent manufacturing
avionics, the Islander 4000’s wing and Continental Limited, a UK-based holding facility at Daedalus Airfi eld. The total
a further 30in (76cm) fuselage plug to company. There followed a protracted number of Trislanders built was 82, of
counter the centre of gravity change legal battle with Romaero, which had which around 10 are in daily service
and compensate for the loss of the wing been building Islanders under licence in (with some more in storage) and are
engines, thereby increasing passenger Romania. The mounting costs of legal supported from Bembridge.

Renamed Barrier Air in 2015 and now fl ying Cessna C.208 Caravans, Great Barrier Airlines connected Auckland and some smaller
towns and islands o the northern part of New Zealand with four Trislanders, including ZK-LGC. AirTeamImages.com/Colin Hunter

30 AVIATION NEWS FEBRUARY 2020

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