en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Britten-Norman Trislander is a three-engine passenger aircraft that first flew in 1965, ceased production in 1980, with only 72 units built. Despite its limited production, this model has carved a unique niche on inter-island routes worldwide due to its short-takeoff-and-landing capability and low operating costs. A small number of these aircraft are still in operation, notably in Guyana.

The Trislander was developed by Britten-Norman based on the Islander model, making its first flight on September 11, 1970. Its distinctive three-engine configuration mounts the third engine on the tail, designed to meet higher passenger capacity requirements. With a maximum takeoff weight of 4,536 kilograms, it can accommodate 17 passengers.

This model primarily served inter-island routes in regions such as the British Channel Islands, Scotland, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia. Its largest operator, Aurigny Air Services, once had 16 Trislanders, retiring them in 2017. The last two flying Trislanders are operated by Roraima Airways in Guyana for tourist charter flights.

In recent years, modern competing aircraft such as the De Havilland Twin Otter and the Cessna Caravan have gradually replaced the Trislander in the market. Lara Harrison, Business Development Director at Britten-Norman, stated: "While the Trislander is an excellent aircraft, there are currently no plans to put it back into production." She added: "If a customer wanted to order a suitable number of Trislanders, we would certainly consider it. Anyone interested in purchasing new Trislanders would need to order at least ten aircraft to make reviving the project feasible."

Despite the uncertain prospect of resuming production, the Trislander still holds a place in aviation history, with its efficient short-haul capabilities still valued by some operators.

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