The three-engined Trislander was an unorthodox solution for short-haul island hopping and feeder routes.

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: With a third engine mounted atop its tail, the Britten-Norman Trislander is one of aviation's most distinct silhouettes. Designed in the late 1960s to expand the capacity of the successful Islander, this rugged, piston-powered aircraft became a staple for commuter airlines needing to operate from short, unprepared landing strips.

The Trislander, formally the BN-2A Mk III, emerged from the British manufacturer Britten-Norman as a strategic evolution of their twin-engined Islander. By stretching the fuselage and adding a third engine on the centre line of an elongated tailfin, engineers created a utility aircraft capable of seating up to 18 passengers. This configuration allowed for exceptional low-speed handling and short takeoff and landing (STOL) performance, enabling the aircraft to operate from strips as short as 150 metres. Its practical design shared a final assembly line with its predecessor, keeping development costs manageable.

First taking flight on 11 September 1970, the Trislander was primarily marketed as a feederliner. While it never achieved the widespread production of the Islander, it found a dedicated niche among civilian operators. The Guernsey-based airline Aurigny became the type's largest operator, flying the aircraft for over 40 years until retiring its fleet in May 2017. Manufacturing was an international effort: while production began on the Isle of Wight, it later shifted to the Avions Fairey factory in Belgium following the company's acquisition by the Fairey Aviation Group in 1972.

By the time production in Britain ceased in 1982, 73 aircraft had been delivered, with seven more completed but unsold. Attempts to license the design for American production under the name Tri-Commutair failed to materialise. Despite its unconventional appearance and the end of its production run, the Trislander remains a subject of interest for aviation historians and enthusiasts. Several examples have been preserved in museums, and the aircraft continues to see limited use in the 2020s, proving that its rugged, utilitarian engineering provided a lasting solution for challenging regional aviation environments.

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