Our Fleet

F-HSUR

Britten Norman Islander

Two men in high visibility jackets scraping ice off F-HSUR in Caen
De-icing in Caen – Photograph by Hugo Clarke-Wing
F-HSUR seen from the rear on a taxiway in Rouen
Photograph by Hugo Clarke-Wing

Britten Norman Islander

Undoubtedly the most versatile aircraft type in our fleet, the Britten Norman Islander is a high-wing cantilever airplane with a rectangular fuselage and two wing-mounted piston engines. Adaptable to virtually any mission requirements, the large passenger cabin can accomodate up to four rows of seats, three telecommunication racks, and more. With hard points across its 15 meter wide wingspan, it is well suited for underwing and/or underfuselage equipment such as antenna arrays.

F-HSUR

F-HSUR is the first BN-2 to have entered the PixAir fleet in 2011. First taking to the skies in 1976, it initially saw itself being used as an airliner for Blue Islands connecting the islands of Jersey and Guernsey before becoming a workhorse at PixAir Survey.

General Characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: 8 passengers
  • Length: 10.86 m
  • Wingspan: 14.94 m
  • Height: 4.18 m
  • Wing area: 30.19 m²
  • Aspect ratio: 7.4:1
  • Airfoil: NACA 23012
  • Basic empty weight: 4178 lb (1895 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 6600 lb (2994 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 130 US gal (490 L)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Lycoming O-540-E4C5 6-cylinder air-cooled horizontally-opposed piston engines, 260 hp (190 kW) each
  • Propellers: 2-bladed Hartzell HC-C2YK-2B constant speed propellers, 1.98 m diameter

Performance

  • Standard cruise speed: 130 kts (240 km/h) at 12000 ft (3700 m)
  • Maximum cruise speed: 148 kts (274 km/h) at sea level
  • Stall speed: 40 kts (74 km/h) (flaps down)
  • Maximum speed: 183 kts (339 km/h)
  • Range: 715 NM (1324 km) at 130 kts (241 km/h) and 12000 ft (3700 m)
  • Autonomy: 5 hours and 30 minutes (without fuel reserves)
  • Service ceiling: 13000 ft (4000 m)
  • Rate of climb: 860 ft/min (4.4 m/s) at sea level