Tony Arbon photo

Delivered to Suriname in 1982, involved in little accidents in SAF service (Sep'86 a ground collision with truck and in Nov'93 it made a heavy landing). Since late 1993 the SAF tried to repair the Islander, with succes by Jan'94. But it was decided after a few flights to withdraw the aircraft. After several years of inactivity, the BN-2 was given a major overhaul in 2008. Its first flight took place in Sep'08, but due to a fuel leakage it was grounded again since.

This Islander was possibly delivered to Suriname in 1982 and is reported withdrawn from use since April 1995 (but that status was possibly alreay some years before). 004 was earmarked for restoration from 2008, but this never took place and its condition got worse. The aircraft is here seen engineless at its homebase Zorg en Hoop.

This 1981 BN-2B was built by Pilatus Britten-Norman Ltd. as BN-2B-26 as G-BJEA. The Islander was converted to -21 late 1981/early 1982 and sold to the Surinam Air Force as SAF003 in June 1982. It flew several years with the air force until it was stored. The aircraft was offered for sale and Inter Tropical Aviation bought it in November 1997. It became PZ-TGT. The company ceased operations in 2001 and since then the aircraft was abandoned at Zorg and Hoop.

Not one of my best shots, but as one can see it was the last on the roll of film in less than perfect conditions. It was the first & last time I saw this aeroplane.

Belgian Helidays 2001

Support aircraft for the Jordanian Royal Falcons demonstration team.