Few aircraft in Bond’s world are as modest as the one Daniel Craig’s Bond flies in Austria. It is a small, high-winged, twin-engined Britten-Norman, a type built for rugged, practical work rather than for show. The Britten-Norman BN-2 Defender is the special mission development of that same airframe, and it tells you a good deal about why the design has lasted.
In the film
In Spectre (2015), Bond flies a Britten-Norman BN-2 aircraft in Austria and crashes it. Most of the sources we checked describe the aircraft as the civil Islander, while our catalogue notes list a Defender. The Defender is the variant Britten-Norman builds from the Islander, and we have not confirmed which version was used on screen, so we treat it here as the closest relative rather than the exact aircraft. More from the film is on our Spectre page, and on Daniel Craig.
The details of the Britten-Norman BN-2 Defender
Two Rolls-Royce turboprops. The BN2T Defender uses Rolls-Royce 250 engines of 320hp each, and the longer-range BN2T-4S uses the Rolls-Royce 250-B17F. Twin engines are the point: the maker stresses safe operation in cities as well as in harsh conditions.
A modern flight deck. Standard avionics are based on Garmin’s G600 glass cockpit, with a primary flight display, a multifunction display, a flight management system and an integrated autopilot. It is a long way from the analogue panel you might expect of a design this old.
Slow, steady flying. Britten-Norman says the aircraft’s low-speed handling lets it hold a tight orbit at a distance. That is why it is used for surveillance, counter-terrorism and maritime patrol.
Built to be altered. The airframe is designed to take large floor apertures and mission equipment easily, and the maker lists over 2,150 available modifications. Cabin layouts range from a single operator to bespoke.
Owning it now
The button on this page runs an eBay search for the BN-2 Islander, where models, manuals and the occasional aircraft are listed. A working aircraft is not a purchase in the usual sense. The Defender is a special mission aircraft, the maker directs enquiries to its sales team, and no price is published. For most readers the practical way into the story is the Islander lineage: a tough, honest British aeroplane, adapted over the years for very different work.
We would not pretend it belongs on a drive. If you are serious, speak to the maker, and ask first what mission and which version you actually need.
Specifications
| Type | Twin-engined turboprop special mission aircraft, derived from the BN-2 Islander |
|---|---|
| Length | 12.2m |
| Height | 4.4m |
| Wingspan | 16.2m |
| Engines | BN2T: two Rolls-Royce 250, 320hp each; BN2T-4S: two Rolls-Royce 250-B17F |
| Maximum cruise speed | BN2T: 170kt (315km/h); BN2T-4S: 180kt (333km/h) |
| Maximum take-off weight | BN2T: 3,266kg; Defender 4000: 4,048kg |
| Avionics | Garmin G600 series with GTN, KFC325 autopilot, FMS |
| RRP | None published by the maker at the time of writing, October 2026; enquire |
Full technical details are on Britten-Norman’s own Defender page.
Questions
Is the plane in Spectre a Britten-Norman Defender?
Not confirmed. Most of the sources we checked describe the aircraft as a BN-2 Islander, though our catalogue notes list a Defender. The Defender is the special mission version built on the same design, so the two are closely related.
Can you buy a Britten-Norman Defender?
Only by enquiry. Britten-Norman directs buyers to its sales team, and the aircraft is a special mission platform rather than an off-the-shelf purchase.
What is the difference between the Islander and the Defender?
The Defender is the special mission derivative of the civil Islander, optimised for surveillance and intelligence operations. It is built to take mission equipment, and the BN2T and BN2T-4S versions use Rolls-Royce turboprop engines.
How much does a Britten-Norman Defender cost?
The maker does not publish a price. At the time of writing, October 2026, you have to enquire directly.
For more vehicles from the films, see our vehicles collection, or browse every film.
