Britten-Norman BN-3 Nymph

The Britten-Norman BN-3 Nymph: Origins and Design

In the late 1960s, Desmond Norman and John Britten began designing a new light multi-purpose aircraft, designated the Britten-Norman BN-3 Nymph. This aircraft was conceived as a four-seat, all-metal high-wing monoplane.

The BN-3 Nymph was equipped with a Lycoming O-235-C1B engine, delivering 115 horsepower. Its design aimed to offer versatility for various applications, a common objective for light aviation during that period.

Development and First Flight

The prototype of the Britten-Norman BN-3 Nymph, registered as G-AXFB, made its maiden flight on May 17, 1969. Despite exhibiting promising flight characteristics and generally acceptable performance, the aircraft failed to attract sufficient orders or find a significant market for serial production.

This outcome meant the project did not advance beyond the prototype stage. However, its legacy continued; Desmond Norman later leveraged some of its experience and design when creating his own aircraft, the NAC-1 Freelance, incorporating lessons learned from the Nymph.

Technical Specifications

Modification	BN-3
Wingspan, m	11.98
Length, m	7.20
Height, m	2.90
Wing area, m2	15.70
Empty weight	517
Maximum takeoff weight	873
Engine type	1 Piston engine Lycoming O-235-C1B
Power, hp	1 x 115
Max diving speed, km/h	188
Cruising speed, km/h	182
Practical range, km	966
Maximum rate of climb, m/min	180
Practical ceiling, m	3414
Crew, crew members	1
Payload:	3 passengers

Image and diagram gallery of the Britten-Norman BN-3 Nymph

BN-3 Nymph	BN-3 Nymph
BN-3 Nymph