Last totally British designed and built aircraft

[Capt Ecureuil]

Can anyone think of a totally British designed and built certified aircraft after 1994?

Could the FLS Sprint (Trago Mills SAH1) made in Bournemouth in 1994 be the last?

BN Islanders I believe are semi Romanian so I don’t think count.

[Pypard]

I seem to recall that there's a high-wing aircraft built in East Anglia?

Or, given that they are still being built, the Spitfire maybe?

[Less Hair]

How about the Optica?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgley_Optica

[Asturias56]

The islander was originally built in the UK from 1965 - then some were built in Romania starting in '69

I think manufacture returned to the UK after 2010

[treadigraph]

Doesn't the Hawk count?

[Asturias56]

I think he said "after 1994"

[treadigraph]

He did... but mentioned Islanders...

[chevvron]

Originally Posted by Less Hair

How about the Optica?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgley_Optica

First flew 1979

[Less Hair]

But it is intended to be restarted - if they find investors.

[Self loading bear]

UK engine as well??

[DB777]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-Go_Aeroplanes_e-Go

[mikeoneflying]

I was lucky enough to see an Optica at a airshow-- if I remember rightly the manufacturer had great hopes in the plane for police work in the UK and overseas.

This was dashed after the crash of the Police aircraft being evaluated.

At the time their was all sorts of wild speculation in the press for the reason for the crash -- some even blaming the passenger..

The aircraft was also touted for survey work and traffic management.

[chevvron]

Originally Posted by mikeoneflying

I was lucky enough to see an Optica at a airshow-- if I remember rightly the manufacturer had great hopes in the plane for police work in the UK and overseas.

This was dashed after the crash of the Police aircraft being evaluated.

At the time their was all sorts of wild speculation in the press for the reason for the crash -- some even blaming the passenger..

The aircraft was also touted for survey work and traffic management.

I flew the prototype at Farnborough and the pilot, Angus McVitie, handed over to me at about 500ft on climbout . With the engine back at idle and full flap, it showed about 42 kt ias, it was just like a glider with a superb view and when I turned back to Farnborough, I noticed Angus seemed a bit 'wary' when I pushed the nose down and opened the throttle before retracting the flaps. The one which crashed apparently 'lost control' during a similar manouevre.
I uneventfully flew it back to Farnborough and found it was easy to land.

[sealo0]

Originally Posted by mikeoneflying

I was lucky enough to see an Optica at a airshow-- if I remember rightly the manufacturer had great hopes in the plane for police work in the UK and overseas.

This was dashed after the crash of the Police aircraft being evaluated.

At the time their was all sorts of wild speculation in the press for the reason for the crash -- some even blaming the passenger..

The aircraft was also touted for survey work and traffic management.

Sorry to say this killed one of my best mates he was the pilot, still see his widow from time to time

Mike

[uxb99]

What about the

Hybrid Air Vehicles Airlander 10

Hybrid Air Vehicles Airlander 10 - Wikipedia

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Originally Posted by Pypard

I seem to recall that there's a high-wing aircraft built in East Anglia?

Or, given that they are still being built, the Spitfire maybe?

Not sure if this qualifies but it has a high wing and is manufactured in Norfolk. I don't know if the original design pre-dates 1994. This is the electric Kub which first flew in 2022 and is under development.

[dangermouse]

Don't forget helos

Wildcat is uk designed, with no foreign input to the best of my knowledge

[Capt Ecureuil]

Thanks all for the replies, pretty certain that all the Opticas were built well before 1994.
I was seeking any certified types as I’m sure there are many LAA permit aircraft that have been built since that time.

[JagRigger]

https://www.swiftaircraft.com/the-swift.html being built at Coltishall

[dixi188]

What about the electrical/radio/navigation equipment. I doubt there is much UK made stuff around now.
The last Vickers Viscounts built for China 1963/4, had all Brit stuff due to USA sanctions.
All the Islanders I worked on had Narco, King or Bendix radios.