Max Kingsley-Jones/LONDON
Britten Norman (BN) has relaunched production of its 16-seat Trislander commuter aircraft, following an order from China for three aircraft.
Shenyang-based China Northern Airlines has selected the tri-piston-powered aircraft to upgrade its regional services, with deliveries due between September next year and January 2001.
The airline has a need to replace its 15 ageing Harbin Y-5 biplanes - the Chinese version of the Antonov An-2 - deployed on its short-haul services, which include operations from semi-prepared grass strips.
The Trislander, a stretched three-engined derivative of the twin Lycoming O-540-powered Islander, entered production in 1970, but the programme was terminated in 1984 after 80 aircraft had been built.
Subassembly kits were also manufactured, resulting in more aircraft having been assembled since production ceased.
"Now we have secured this order, we are putting the Trislander back into production," says BN commercial manager Guy Palmer. "We hope to sell more Trislanders in China, both to this airline and other carriers," he adds. BN believes there are good prospects for more sales worldwide.
The first of the three new Trislanders will be assembled at BN's site in Bembridge, Isle of Wight, from a kit supplied by BN Romaero, its recently acquired manufacturing plant in Bucharest, Romania. The second and third aircraft will be built in Romania and ferried to Bembridge "green", for completion by BN.
"We have manufactured brand-new kits for China Northern," says Palmer. Further production will be undertaken when more orders are received for the $1.6 million aircraft, he adds.
"We have a 15-month lead time on deliveries, but this will come down to about 12-13 months once production builds up," says Palmer.
Source: Flight International
