SEE a piece of Island history and admire the Britten-Norman Islander G-AVCN.

The aircraft will be on view at the Wight Military and Heritage Museum’s open day on Saturday, September 25.

After more than ten years of work by the Britten-Norman Aircraft Preservation Society (BNAPS) restoration team, the historic Islander was moved to the museum in December 2020.

Re-assembly of the Islander could not start until the end of April 2021 when pandemic restrictions were eased.

It was soon put back together and work has continued on a number of finishing-off jobs.

It is hoped they will be completed before the end of this year, with an official unveiling at the end of April 2022.

The Britten-Norman Islander aircraft was designed at Bembridge.

The one displayed was the third one built and the first to be delivered to a customer.

It was first flown at Bembridge on April 24, 1967, and is the oldest Islander in existence.

More than 1,250 examples of the Islander, Defender and three engine Trislander have been built.

Britten-Norman still manufacture parts at Bembridge, with new Islander aircraft assembled and flown from the B-N facility at Solent Airport, Lee-on-Solent.

When Islander G-AVCN goes on display it will act as a lasting tribute to the technical genius and marketing flair of John Britten and Desmond Norman and those who worked with them over the years to make it the most successful aircraft in its class.

The open day is from 10am to 3pm and admission is free. 

The museum is on the Cowes to Newport Road at Northwood next to the Isle of Wight County Showground.