The Ultimate Trislander Compilation: The Trimotor with an Epic Sound

The Trislander was essentially a growth model based on the widely popular Islander twin. I personally find “stretched” models an interesting study, on how manufacturers handled their lengthened variants (Cherokee 140 to Cherokee 6, for example). Typically, this will involve more power, larger lift surface area, etc. The Trislander took this to the extreme, and grew FIFTEEN FEET (35ft to 50ft).
To accommodate this pinnochian extension, a 3rd Lycoming O-540 was grafted to a ridiculously large tailfin. In my humble opinion, a stroke of genius, as this simplified matters for operators by maintaining the same engine type, plus the diminished risk of asymmetrical thrust if you blew an engine in climb. And both models were built on the same production line. Bloody brilliant, I tell ye!
Passenger capacity doubled from 8 to 16. Lacking an aisle, you need a total of 5 doors to stuff all those pax inside. Payload is a monstrous 2,800 lbs, yet it reportedly could handle a 600 ft runway with aplomb.
As with anything that’s too good, the Trislander was produced in vastly fewer numbers compared to its semi-mundane sibling Islander (80 vs the Islander’s 1,250). But it was certainly used and abused quite handily, especially in remote areas of the UK. Sadly the last UK operator in commercial service seized ops in 2015 and retired its fleet of 15 Trislanders. There might be a small handful left in South America.
You might be wondering why the Trislander sounds like it does. Note that most Trislanders featured 3-blade props on the wing-mounted engines, and 2-blades on the tail. To what purpose this served totally escapes me (I would think there’d be a delta between thrust ratings). But one thing is certain, this bizarre hybrid arrangement produces a very distinct sound, almost like 2 different planes flying in formation. Pretty neat, eh?
Video Credits:
• END OF an ERA! 46 yea...
• Classic Aurigny Trisla...
• (4K) Aguilla Air Servi...
• Trislander G BEVT taki...
• The Trislander Files
• Aurigny Trislander tak...
• Britten Norman Trislan...
• Trislander from Southa...
• Britten Norman Trislan...
• Flying in Alderney - G...

[@vapsa56]

I grew up with these things. They flew all over Puerto Rico, St. THOMAS, St. JOHN and St. CROIX.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

I've never seen one up close. Here in Florida, the Islanders are relatively common though.

[@ValectraMW]

*4:39** That sound gave me goosebumps* 😍😍😍

[@COOLNIGHTSHADOW-yg2xm]

Wear ear protection...You can find a good pair of ep in a wall mart store near You

[@ValectraMW]

​@@COOLNIGHTSHADOW-yg2xm 🤨🤔🤷🏻

[@brandonaviationhd]

See these often when ever I’m back at home in St Thomas

[@LDTV22OfficialChannel]

EPIC PISTONS!

[@GulfCoastTim]

Nice to see (and hear) a real Trislander. I love this plane in flight sim and it sounds great in the sim too.

[@philalcoceli6328]

Sounds similar to a World War II P-51 Mustang fighter aircraft! Amazing!

[@COOLNIGHTSHADOW-yg2xm]

lawn mower Briggs@Stratton

[@AstrogeoJay]

Sure miss the sound and sight of the Trislander, did you know that the Aurigny Trislanders had a unique sound compared to other Trislanders, as they were the only ones which had a prop arrangement of 3 blades on the wing engines and 2 on the tail.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

That was the main idea behind the video, to capture their unique sound. 👍

[@COOLNIGHTSHADOW-yg2xm]

flying pedestal fan. For all those, who cannot afford an aircondition at home, this is a cheap alternative. At hot days just aim the three props at Your bed and apply full throttle. The temperature in Your bedroom shoud drop within 30 minutes. A free earprotection is included in dat fan package. The fan comes in two colors: Tripical sun yellow and Ocean blue, for those who prefer cool, cool colors. I´ve ordered one, its name is: Merry Poppins, very limited edition with no retracts, no aircondition, hot jump seats and only one pilot seat. As a bonus. The co pilot seat is a toilet instead with a bulit in stereo, boomer Wisconsin. Great sound. Aaaand, the best thing: automatic flush with instant waste water disposal. So You can use dat toilet while running the prop at full speed. Any bad odour will be blown away instantly. What a wonderful invention.

[@RLVIDEOS2024]

Great

[@renandavidsoriaahumada6093]

an engine on a T tail!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wtf man, and it flyes!!!! god the wings are soooooooooooooooo back

[@madmaxington]

How much of this footage was captured by Michael J Fox?