UK aircraft manufacturer Britten-Norman has gained FAA type certification for the BN2T-4S Islander turboprop aircraft powered by the Rolls Royce 250-hp engine.
The BN2T-4S, the larger variant of the piston BN2B Islander, comes with an increased maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 8,500 pounds, according to company officials.
The FAA certification is an important milestone for Britten-Norman and compliments existing type certificates for the aircraft with the UK CAA and EASA, company officials noted. The new certification opens up new markets for the company in the USA and internationally, they added.
“The USA is the world’s largest aviation market and the FAA is a hugely respected regulator of that market,” said Mark Shipp, technical director. “We are very proud to have had the opportunity to work closely with the FAA to achieve this important goal and now look forward to the opportunities this will bring.”
The aircraft is powered by two Rolls Royce M250-B17F/1 turboprop engines rated at 450 shaft horsepower (shp) but derated to 400 shp for integration into the Islander platform.
“250” is the RR series designations with the “B17F/1” as the model.
I think the RR 250 powerplant is a 400 hp engine, not 250.