<P> Maritime industries, especially the making of sailcloth and boat building, have long been associated with the island, although this has diminished somewhat in recent years . GKN operates what began as the British Hovercraft Corporation, a subsidiary of (and known latterly as) Westland Aircraft, although they have reduced the extent of plant and workforce and sold the main site . Previously it had been the independent company Saunders - Roe, one of the island's most notable historic firms that produced many flying boats and the world's first hovercraft . </P> <P> Another manufacturing activity is in composite materials, used by boat - builders and the wind turbine manufacturer Vestas, which has a wind turbine blade factory and testing facilities in West Medina Mills and East Cowes . </P> <P> Bembridge Airfield is the home of Britten - Norman, manufacturers of the Islander and Trislander aircraft . This is shortly to become the site of the European assembly line for Cirrus light aircraft . The Norman Aeroplane Company is a smaller aircraft manufacturing company operating in Sandown . There have been three other firms that built planes on the island . </P> <P> In 2005, Northern Petroleum began exploratory drilling for oil at its Sandhills - 2 borehole at Porchfield, but ceased operations in October that year after failing to find significant reserves . </P>

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