LEE-ON-THE-SOLENT, UK - An advanced airborne 5G connectivity system has been successfully integrated into a Britten-Norman Islander aircraft, completing a series of demonstration flights.
The technology is being developed by several UK companies led by Stratospheric Platforms Limited (SPL) in Cambridge, with design, integration, and demonstration flights provided by Britten-Norman in Bembridge.
SPL is working on airborne antennas to deliver wide-scale high-performance 5G coverage. This technology can quickly restore networks after major disasters like earthquakes or tsunamis, where traditional mobile infrastructure has been disrupted.
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On 18 July 2024, potential customers and investors observed the installation of the array under real flight conditions at Britten-Norman’s Solent Airport aircraft maintenance facility. The trial, conducted by Britten-Norman’s Flight Test Organisation, aimed to demonstrate the aircraft's capability to operate safely with the large 5G phased array antenna installed. The flight test program assessed aircraft performance and handling qualities, covering both normal and emergency operations. This will support full certification of the system, enabling integration into terrestrial telecom networks at connection speeds of up to 200Mbps over 15,000 km².
The BN2T-4S Islander variant was chosen for its robust design, all-weather capability, endurance, and payload capacity. The aircraft’s modular design makes it suitable for integrating large mission system payloads while retaining a rapid re-role capability for other tasks.
The next phase of the project involves demonstrating the technology via a connection to a private UK-based national 5G telecommunications network.
Richard Deakin, CEO at Stratospheric Platforms Limited, said:
“Stratospheric Platforms is dedicated to creating pioneering innovative solutions that transform the connectivity landscape. Our commitment to delivering high-altitude, zero-carbon, long-endurance communication platforms will revolutionize how the world stays connected, especially in remote and underserved regions. We believe that our cutting-edge technology will provide unprecedented opportunities for global communication and create a more connected and inclusive world. Today’s flight test is an important step in the continuing validation of our technology breakthroughs.”
Dr. Garnet Ridgway, Head of Flight Dynamics at Britten-Norman, remarked:
“This project demonstrates the full capabilities of both Britten-Norman as an accomplished trials organization and the turboprop Islander as a highly capable trials aircraft. Working closely with our partners, the project includes deliverables from our design, manufacture, MRO, flight test, and flight operations teams. It’s always satisfying to deliver a safe and effective flight test program, but the huge potential of SPL’s system and the collaborative nature of the team made this one particularly exciting. The large and complex nature of the system places significant demands on the host aircraft. However, the BN2T-4S performed admirably; the combination of payload capacity, endurance, climb performance, twin-engine reliability, robustness, and electrical power generation makes it unbeatable for this mission.”
