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Britten Norman Islander The 13th of June 2025 will be the 60th anniversary of the maiden flight of G-ATCT, Britten Norman prototype BN-2. The flight took off with John Britten and Desmond Norman at the controls and Andy Coombe as flight engineer. The flight lasted about 70 minutes and the crew were able to report that there had been no hitches during the flight. The BN-2, better known as the Islander has stayed in production to this day. The BN-2 project began in early 1963, with detailed design work underway by the end of that year. The concept was to produce a low cost, all weather aircraft with twin engines for reliability along with the capability to carry a good payload. We have produced a commemorative image, (shown on the right) that you can purchase by clicking on the image. |
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Britten Norman prototype BN-2 Islander G-ATCT
Charles Everest (1929-2015) was a freelance stills and newsreel photographer and director who moved to the Isle of Wight in 1960 to cover hard news stories on behalf of the BBC. Charles was a forward thinker and had set up an archive in the mid 1950’s to house his personal assignments. This archive exists today as the CameronLife Photo Library, now administered by his children who work tirelessly to renovate and promote its contents.
Moving forward to late 1964 and Everest was approached by representatives of John Britten and Desmond Norman to see if he would document the construction and subsequent first flights of the prototype BN-2. It was decided that the assignment would consist of both stills photographs and a 16mm film with soundtrack. These assets were to be used both as a record of the project and a sales tool. The content was to include construction within Britten Normans new manufacturing facility at Bembridge, images of G-ATCT on the ground and aerial photographs and film. All the stills and film work were to be carried out by Charles, who then put together a small team, including his great friend Pete Kelly, to help with the film and soundtrack editing.
Access to all areas of the production facility gave Charles the opportunity to photograph the aircraft build and to record aspects of the stress testing process. As the build progressed, he recorded the cockpit 
instrumentation and interior layout specifications and installation of the twin Rolls Royce Continental piston engines. As the 13th June 1965 loomed TCT emerged from its hanger giving Charles opportunities to picture her on and around the airport site and in the hands of Davall Aircraft Services for final tweaks. His final duties on the BN-2 project where to take both ground and air to air stills and film footage of the aircraft in the Island skies. The aerial work to include recording a flight to assess the suitability of the Islander as a skydiving plateform. This task was left to Tony Austin of the British Parachute Club who carried out a successful jump.
Charles association with BN had begun with recording the development, construction and trials of Cushioncraft beginning with CC2 and culminating in the build and construction of CC5-001 in their factory at St Helens Duver and on trials in and around Bembridge harbour. 
CameronLife Archive continue to unearth materials associated with BN, including film and audio reels that sit unopened. Our skills are set firmly in the renovation of still images, so these reels are above our pay grade! Our wish is to investigate the condition of these and if possible, return them to a condition where they can be viewed. If anyone has suggestions to how this can be accomplished, then please contact us: info@cameronlife.co.uk.
© CameronLife Photo Library