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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
|---|---|---|
| May 17 2009, 3:07 PM EDT | LaurentH | 8 words added |
| Mar 1 2008, 12:12 PM EST | LaurentH | 1 word added, 1 word deleted |
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Already in 1973 the Belgian Army started looking for a replacement for the Dornier Do27 and in 1975 it was decided to purchase 12 Britten Norman BN2A-21 Islanders. The contract was signed on November 19th, 1975 and was valued at 139 million Bfr/aircraft.
The aircraft were build at Fairey, Gosselies and completed at Bembridge (Isle of Wight, UK). Aircraft B-01 to B-05 were used for transport and liaison missions, B-06 to B-08 for paradrops while the remaining Islanders were mainly used for reconnaissance missions. During their careers the aircraft were converted from BN2A-21 to BN2B-21 standards.
One aircraft (B-02) was equipped with a SLAR (Side Looking Airborne Radar), infra-red and UV sensors for the detection of marine pollution by ships in the North Sea. The last Islanders were withdrawn from military service in late 2004. In 2005 two aircraft (the already modified B-02 and B-09 as spares source) were reserved for the Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical Models, the operational aircraft is now operated under a Belgian civil registration. In early 2006 all remaining aircraft were offered for sale to the highest bidder.
B01 c/n 466 ex G-BDJA (testregistration) Callsign OT-ALA
Equipped for transport and liaison
Kleine Brogel 310802 - Photo Daniel Brackx
B02 c/n 468 ex G-BDHG (testregistration) Callsign OT-ALB
Equipped for transport and liaison
Bierset 030600 - Photo Daniel Brackx
B03 c/n 476 ex G-BDJV (testregistration) Callsign OT-ALC
Equipped for transport and liaison (AW/IFF radar)
Bierset 030601 - Photo Daniel Brackx
B04 c/n 498 ex G-BDPN (testregistration) Callsign OT-ALD
Equipped for transport and liaison (AW/IFF radar)
Brasschaat 240206 - Photo Daniel Brackx
B05 c/n 501 ex G-BDPP (testregistration) Callsign OT-ALE
Equipped for transport and liaison
Brasschaat - 120982 - Photo Daniel Brackx
B06 c/n 510 ex G-BDPU (testregistration) Callsign OT-ALF
Brussels 030405 - Photo Laurent Heyligen (c)
B07 c/n 523 ex G-BDVX (testregistration) Callsign OT-ALG
Equipped for paradrops
Brasschaat - Photo Fernand Domange
B08 c/n 531 ex G-BDZI (testregistration) Callsign OT-ALH
Equipped for paradrops
Bierset 310503 - Photo Jos Schoofs
B09 c/n 533 ex G-BDZK (testregistration) Callsign OT-ALI
Equipped for aerial photography (AW/IFF radar)
Brasschaat 060504 - Photo Daniel Brackx
B10 c/n 541 ex G-BEDW (testregistration) Callsign OT-ALJ
Equipped for aerial photography (AW/IFF radar)
Brasschaat 240206 - Photo Daniel Brackx
B11 c/n 549 ex G-BEED (testregistration) Callsign OT-ALK
Equipped for aerial photography
030605 Bierset - Photo Laurent Heyligen (c)
B12 c/n 553 ex G-BEFI (testregistration) Callsign OT-ALL
Equipped for aerial photography
Beauvechain 200684 - Photo Daniel Brackx
The aircraft were build at Fairey, Gosselies and completed at Bembridge (Isle of Wight, UK). Aircraft B-01 to B-05 were used for transport and liaison missions, B-06 to B-08 for paradrops while the remaining Islanders were mainly used for reconnaissance missions. During their careers the aircraft were converted from BN2A-21 to BN2B-21 standards.
One aircraft (B-02) was equipped with a SLAR (Side Looking Airborne Radar), infra-red and UV sensors for the detection of marine pollution by ships in the North Sea. The last Islanders were withdrawn from military service in late 2004. In 2005 two aircraft (the already modified B-02 and B-09 as spares source) were reserved for the Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical Models, the operational aircraft is now operated under a Belgian civil registration. In early 2006 all remaining aircraft were offered for sale to the highest bidder.
B01 c/n 466 ex G-BDJA (testregistration) Callsign OT-ALA
Equipped for transport and liaison
- 220975: first flight
- 030676: taken on charge
- 000500-000800: deployed to Benin to act as medevac aircraft during a training mission of the Royal Military School, 'Red Cross'-marks added.
- 050505: stored Brasschaat
- 010705: kept airworthy at Brasschaat to maintain fixed-wing pilot qualification
- 070705: noted operational Antwerp
- 070705: wfu
- 270106: offered for sale at Brasschaat (tt 6186 hours, 6852 landings)
- 000006: sold to the French-Belgian company 'United Mining Supply' who intend to use it as a supply aircraft in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- 070906: noted as 3X-GEF (Deurne-Antwerp), the aircraft was demilitaried and got an overhaul at Styl Aviation before departure to the Congo.
- 161106: departed from Deurne-Antwerp on delivery to its new owner
Kleine Brogel 310802 - Photo Daniel Brackx
B02 c/n 468 ex G-BDHG (testregistration) Callsign OT-ALB
Equipped for transport and liaison
- 011075: first flight
- 250576: taken on charge
- 000991: modified for Pollution Control
- 310305: wfu
- 050505: stored Brasschaat
- 100605: transferred to Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical Models (MUMM)
- 210605: ferried for inspection and repairs to the Bembridge (Isle of Wight) Britten Norman factory
- 270206: registered OO-MMM (CofA 10036) Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, to be used by 'Unité du Modéle Mathematique de la Mer du Nord de l'Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique (Beheerseenheid van het Mathematisch Model Noordzee Koninklijk Belgisch Instituut voor Natuurwetenschappen), officially based at Antwerp
Bierset 030600 - Photo Daniel Brackx
B03 c/n 476 ex G-BDJV (testregistration) Callsign OT-ALC
Equipped for transport and liaison (AW/IFF radar)
- 081175: first flight
- 030676: taken on charge
- 140203: Cat.? Heavy landing by a student-pilot during a IFT trainingsflight at Brasschaat. The nosegear collapsed, damage to the nose and structural damage to the fuselage. Due to the planned retirement of the type the aircraft was not repaired. (tt 6277 hrs)
- 080803: noted in mantenance hangar Brasschaat
- 030504: noted stored Brasschaat (outside)
- 270106: wreck offered for sale at Brasschaat (tt 6277,20 hours, 6410 landings)
- 000006: sold to Cormack Aircrft Services Ltd.
- 080806: registered G-BDJV, Cormack Aircraft Services Ltd, Cumbernauld Airport, 2-6 Duncan McIntosh Road, Wardpark North, Cumbernauld, Glasgow, United Kingdom G68 0HH, United Kingdom
- 080906: noted at Cumbernault (United Kingdom).
Bierset 030601 - Photo Daniel Brackx
B04 c/n 498 ex G-BDPN (testregistration) Callsign OT-ALD
Equipped for transport and liaison (AW/IFF radar)
- 090376: first flight
- 010776: taken on charge
- 010204: first noted stored Brasschaat
- 000604: wfu
- 270106: offered for sale at Brasschaat (tt 6100 hours, 5460 landings)
- 000006: sold to Fly BN Ltd
- 080806: registered G-BDPN Fly BN LTD, Hangar 3, Bembridge Airport, Bembridge, PO35 5PR, United Kingdom
- 251006: departed Brasschaat to Bembridge as G-BDPN
- 011106: noted at Bembridge
- 150509: cancelled as G-BDPN
- 150509: registered as G-ECZA
Brasschaat 240206 - Photo Daniel Brackx
B05 c/n 501 ex G-BDPP (testregistration) Callsign OT-ALE
Equipped for transport and liaison
- 160376: first flight
- 160776: taken on charge
- 001284: emergency landing on sandband in the river Schelde
- 231188: damaged during hangarfire at Butzeweilerhof (Germany)
- 000089: to Technical School at Saffraanberg as instructional airframe
- 120594: last noted as instructional airframe at Technical School, Saffraanberg
- 170995: noted stored Bierset
- 000196: last noted stored Bierset
- 050207: wreck offered for sale at Bierset
- 000507: first noted stored at PS Aero, Baarlo (the Netherlands)
- 151207: noted stored at PS Aero, Kessel (the Netherlands).
Brasschaat - 120982 - Photo Daniel Brackx
B06 c/n 510 ex G-BDPU (testregistration) Callsign OT-ALF
- Equipped for paradrops
- 270376: first flight
- 240876: taken on charge
- 231188: damaged during hangarfire at Butzweilerhof (Germany) (was not repaired)
- 000000: noted stored Bützweilerhof (Germany)
- 000489: arrived for preservation at Brussels Air Museum.
Brussels 030405 - Photo Laurent Heyligen (c)
B07 c/n 523 ex G-BDVX (testregistration) Callsign OT-ALG
Equipped for paradrops
- 040676: first flight
- 100976: taken on charge 040676 eerste vlucht / ex G-BDVX
- 240703: wfu
- 080803: noted wfu in maintenance hangar Brasschaat, was being cannibalised for spares
- 050505: noted stored Brasschaat (outside)
- 270106: offered for sale at Brasschaat (tt 5093 hours, 7451 landings)
- 000006: sold to Fly BN Ltd.
- 080806: registered G-BDVX Fly BN Ltd, Hangar 3, Bembridge Airport, Bembridge, PO35 5PR, United Kingdom
- 251006: departed Brasschaat to Bembridge as G-BDVX
- 011106: noted at Bembridge
- 210507: cancelled as G-BDVX
- 210507: registered as G-OBNL B-N Group Ltd, Bembridge Airport, Bembridge, PO35 5PR, United Kingdom
Brasschaat - Photo Fernand Domange
B08 c/n 531 ex G-BDZI (testregistration) Callsign OT-ALH
Equipped for paradrops
- 070776: first flight
- 201076: taken on charge
- 050505: noted stored Brasschaat
- 010705: kept airworthy at Brasschaat to maintain fixed-wing pilot qualification
- 290805: wfu
- 270106: offered for sale at Brasschaat (tt 5390 hours, 2637 landings)
- 000006: sold to Fly BN Ltd
- 080806: registered G-BDZI Fly BN Ltd, Hangar 3, Bembridge Airport, Bembridge, PO35 5PR, United Kingdom
- 251006: departed Brasschaat to Bembridge as G-BDZI
- 011106: noted at Bembridge
Bierset 310503 - Photo Jos Schoofs
B09 c/n 533 ex G-BDZK (testregistration) Callsign OT-ALI
Equipped for aerial photography (AW/IFF radar)
- 040876: first flight
- 181176: taken on charge
- 050505: noted stored Brasschaat
- 100605: transferred to Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical Models (MUMM) (to be used as a spares source)
- 210605: ferried to the Bembridge (Isle of Wight) Britten Norman factory (fuel stop at Koksijde), engine problems forced the aircraft to return to Braschaat
- 220605 ferried to the Bembridge (Isle of Wight) Britten Norman factory (after repairs at Brasschaat)
- 100807: registered G-BDZK for B-N Group Ltd, Bembridge, United Kingdom
- 200907: noted at East Midlands (Nottingham) in a basic military colorscheme with registration G-BDZK
- 011007: first noted at East Midlands (Nottingham) in a white colorscheme with black/brown cheatlines, registration G-BDZK
- 121007: cancelled as G-BDZK
- 121007: registered N21BN, Panthers Inc, Wilmington, Delawara, USA.
- 141107: ferry-flight to the USA via the following route : Bembridge - Stornoway – Reykjavik – Kulusuk – Kangerlussuak – Iqaluit – Kuujuak - Sept Iles - Bangor - Atlantic City - Charleston - Opa Locka
- 000108: at Opa Locke where additional avionics are being installed
Brasschaat 060504 - Photo Daniel Brackx
B10 c/n 541 ex G-BEDW (testregistration) Callsign OT-ALJ
Equipped for aerial photography (AW/IFF radar)
- 231276: taken on charge
- 050505: noted stored Brasschaat
- 270106: offered for sale at Brasschaat (tt 5995 hours, 7100 landings)
- 000006: sold to Fly BN Ltd.
- 080806: registered G-BEDW Fly BN Ltd., Hangar 3, Bembridge Airport, Bembridge, PO35 5PR, United Kingdom
- 251006: departed Brasschaat to Bembridge as G-BEDW
- 011106: noted at Bembridge
Brasschaat 240206 - Photo Daniel Brackx
B11 c/n 549 ex G-BEED (testregistration) Callsign OT-ALK
Equipped for aerial photography
- 051076: first flight
- 120177: taken on charge
- 310503: noted Bierset (wfu?)
- 220404: noted stored Bierset (outside, no engines) 210904 noted stored Bierset
- 000000: restored, to be used as gateguard at Bierset
- 030605: first noted Bierset (ready to be placed near gate)
- 080905: placed at gateguard Bierset
030605 Bierset - Photo Laurent Heyligen (c)
B12 c/n 553 ex G-BEFI (testregistration) Callsign OT-ALL
Equipped for aerial photography
- 141076: first flight
- 110277: taken on charge
- 000504: wfu
- 050505: noted stored Brasschaat
- 270106: offered for sale at Brasschaat (tt 5040 hours, 6813 landings)
- 000006: sold to Fly BN Ltd.
- 080806: registered G-BEFI Fly BN Ltd, Hangar 3, Bembridge Airport, Bembridge, PO35 5PR, United Kingdom
- 251006: departed Brasschaat to Bembridge as G-BEFI
- 011106: noted at Bembridge
- 111207: noted at Nottingham-East Midlands in new white/green colourscheme, with COWI Aerial Survey markings
- 000008: OY-CKS reserved in Denmark
- 190208: cancelled as G-BEFI
- 200208: registered OY-CKS for Cowi A/S
Beauvechain 200684 - Photo Daniel Brackx
