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A yellow Britten-Norman Islander aircraft.

Britten-Norman Islander

The Islander has connected island communities in Scotland since entering service in 1967.

For residents of the island of North Ronaldsay, this aircraft takes them to the facilities of Kirkwall in Orkney in 25 minutes. In contrast, the weekly ferry trip takes more than two and a half hours.

For almost 40 years Islanders operated as air ambulances, with aircraft based at Lerwick in Shetland, Kirkwall, and Glasgow.

This Islander operated as an air taxi in Germany. For five years it flew parachutists at Errol in Perthshire. It is painted in air ambulance livery in tribute to this important role in Scotland.

You can find out more about the Britten-Norman Islander here.

Date:  1977
Mark: BN-2A
Crew: 2 (pilots)
Passengers: 8
Top speed: 170 mph (273 km/h)
Range: 874 miles (1,400 km)

A yellow Britten-Norman Islander aircraft with wide wings parked on a runway. The side of the plane reads 'Scottish Ambulance Service'

The Britten-Norman Islander aircraft on the runway at the National Museum of Flight. 

Cockpit view

Inside the cockpit of a Britten-Norman Islander aircraft. There are padded black seats and the dashboard has several dials and buttons.

Inside the cockpit of the Britten-Norman Islander aircraft as it sits in the Civil Aviation hangar at the National Museum of Flight. 

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