The Britten-Norman Aircraft Preservation Society

This year the Preservationist of the Year award goes not to an individual but to a group of individuals - the Britten-Norman Aircraft Preservation Society, which representatives are pictured below being presented with their trophy by the National Transport Trust Patron, Her Royal Highness, the Princess Royal.

Charlie November was the third Britten-Norman Islander built and was the first actually delivered, to Glos Air in August 1967.  She started with Aurigny, serving the Channel Islands, especially Alderney, in whose livery she is displayed, from 1st March 1968.  She continued with Aurigny until being returned to Britten-Norman in 1975 to be replaced by her big sisters, the three engined Trislanders, which went on to serve Alderney for many years.  She then had the usual sort of international career common to the splendidly flexible Islander, going to the Caribbean in 1976 and finishing up in Puerto Rico.

In 1999, Charlie November lay at Isla Grande Airport in Puerto Rico in a partly disassembled state, from where she was repatriated in 2000, packed into a 40 ft container.  She was shipped to Bembridge Airfield, her place of origin.

After initial work within the hangar at Bembridge, the Britten-Norman company in 2005, with conflicting priorities and with some issues arising around the feasibility of returning the aircraft to flight, moved the aircraft outside where significant deterioration occurred.

At this point the Britten-Norman Aircraft Preservation Society stepped in and the decision was taken to proceed to a museum exhibit instead of trying to reach flying condition.  This had the advantage of enabling much more of the original components to be retained and the result is an example which really is representative of the aircraft as built.

The project continued in two consecutive locations on the Isle of Wight, before being moved in late 2020, prior to completion of the restoration, to the Wight Military and Heritage Museum.

The engines are complete but not functional, but the aircraft has its full complement of instruments and a fully fitted interior.

She can be electrically powered up, so that the panel and cabin lighting are illuminated, the beacons illuminate and rotate and the flaps can be electrically raised and lowered.

One non-standard feature is a set of small plaques below the tail plane which would not be possible on a flying exhibit, but which identify those involved in supporting the project, including the National Transport Trust which has made two financial contributions to the restoration.

More than 1200 of these planes were built and many survive, but this one, Charlie November, is the oldest and its restoration is a fitting tribute to the achievement of John Britten & Desmond Norman and their Island workforce.

This has been a complex project with many setbacks along the way.  A credit to the Society and their representatives today, Bob Wealthy, Bob Wilson, Allan Wright and Andy Clancey.