Starling Aerospace has delivered the fully trimmed crew and passenger seating for aircraft 2317, the first Britten‑Norman Islander to be built entirely in the UK from detail component level at the manufacturer’s reshored production line in Bembridge, Isle of Wight.
Since 1968, Islander airframes were produced in Bucharest before being shipped to the Isle of Wight for fit‑out, customisation and certification, with design authority and production control retained in the UK. Aircraft 2317 marks a major shift: both the detail parts and the full airframe assembly are now completed at Bembridge.
As an approved line‑fit and refurbishment seating provider, Starling Aerospace built and trimmed the first shipset of passenger and crew seats, including foams and covers. The company also supplied the design data and supporting certification evidence required for Britten‑Norman to complete final approval.
Coralie Wigg, co‑founder and director of Starling Aerospace, said: “It is a real privilege for Starling Aerospace to play a part in this important chapter for Britten‑Norman and British manufacturing. The Islander is an iconic aircraft, and seeing it built from detail component level on the Isle of Wight is a significant moment for the industry.”
She added that seating plays a crucial role in both comfort and safety: “The seats may be a small part of the finished aircraft, but they are an essential contributor to both crew and passenger safety and comfort. We are delighted to have delivered these seats and to support Britten‑Norman as this aircraft moves towards delivery, with additional aircraft to follow as production ramps up.”
Aircraft 2317 rolled out at Bembridge on 30 July 2026 and completed its first flight on 3 September 2026 — from the same Isle of Wight runway used by the Islander prototype in 1965. It is now in flight test ahead of delivery to the Falkland Islands Government Air Service (FIGAS) and will be the first aircraft handed over from the reshored Bembridge line.
