British aircraft manufacturer Britten-Norman has officially commenced ground testing on the first Islander aircraft to be fully built in the United Kingdom since returning its full manufacturing operations to Great Britain. The aircraft rolled out at the company's Isle of Wight facility on July 30, 2026, after electrical power was successfully applied for the first time on the preceding day.
The aircraft, currently registered under the mark G-FRZT, is expected to make its inaugural flight in September 2026. Following the completion of comprehensive flight testing and customer preparation at the Bembridge site, the newly built aircraft will be delivered to the Falkland Islands Government Air Service (FIGAS) to support essential community transport links across the archipelago.
Before achieving rollout status, Britten-Norman assembly personnel completed major integration milestones, installing the twin-engine aircraft's engines, propellers, engine cowlings, electrical systems, landing gear brakes, and flight control surfaces. This followed confirmation in June 2026 that the initial airframe had achieved 75% structural completion.
Production activity at the historic Bembridge manufacturing plant continues to expand. The manufacturer confirmed that a second Islander airframe is currently progressing through the assembly line, while sub-assemblies and components for subsequent follow-on aircraft are actively being manufactured as part of efforts to establish a steady production rate.
First produced in 1967, manufacturing of the Islander was subsequently moved to Romania to manage production costs. In June 2023, Britten-Norman announced its strategic decision to bring full manufacturing back to Bembridge, aiming to secure direct control over assembly processes, enhance supply chain resilience, and increase total factory output.
