Bluegrass Airlines

October 2005

 

 

ORKNEY INTER-ISLAND FLIGHTS

By Allan Lowson

 

 

 

The Ring of Brodgar – copyright Internet Guide to Scotland

 

Beyond Britannia, where the endless ocean opens, lies Orkney

Orosius, fifth century AD

 

The Orkney Islands Inter-island Air Service

 

The Orkney Islands lie just to the north of mainland Scotland, or as Orcadians would probably have it Scotland lies to the south of the Orkneys. Orkney consists of about 70 small islands 16 km north of Caithness in northern Scotland. The largest island in the group is known as "The Mainland"; about 20 of the islands are inhabited and seven have airfields used by the inter-island air service.

 

Orkney's administrative capital is Kirkwall on The Mainland. This is the source point of all the inter-island air services and also the air services to points beyond the islands.

 

The climate of Orkney is quite temperate for such a northerly latitude, but the winds and sea currents can be ferocious. Because of this, there has been support for an air service from the time of the earliest aviation links to the mainland.

 

The first inter-island service was provided by Highland Airways in 1934 using Monospar and DH-84 Dragon aircraft. Scottish Airways was formed on 12 August 1937 after a merger between Highland Airways, Northern Airways and Scottish Motor Traction Company.

 

During WWII the service was provided by Scottish Airways using DH-89 Dragon Rapide aircraft.

 

Currently Loganair operate the service on behalf of the Orkney Islands Council. Loganair also operate the air services which link Orkney to the Scottish mainland and the Shetlands to the North.

 

Timetables

 

A Loganair DHC-6 provides the Orkney Islands Council air services between Kirkwall and the Northern Isles seven days a week. As the flights vary in stage length from two minutes, the shortest scheduled flight in the world, to a marathon fifteen minutes you could be forgiven for thinking that the timetable is boringly repetitive. In fact pilots in the Orkneys are kept on their toes by schedules that vary day to day in the times of flights and the order of visits to the outlying islands. Add to this the facts that all the runways beyond the Mainland are less than 1840 feet and they are frequently barely distinguishable from the surrounding grassland and you will be kept busy sticking to the schedules below. If you cannot find the time to manage all seven days, the full permutation of scheduled flights can be covered by the Monday, Wednesday and Saturday schedules.

 

Monday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kirkwall dep.

EGPA

0815

0910

1015

1115

1500

1555

1650

Sanday arr.

EGES

--

--

--

--

--

--

1700

Sanday dep.

 

--

--

--

--

--

--

1707

North Ronaldsay arr.

EGEN

0830

--

--

1130

1515

--

--

North Ronaldsay dep.

 

0837

--

--

1137

1522

--

--

Stronsay arr.

EGER

--

--

--

--

--

--

1712

Stronsay dep.

 

--

--

--

--

--

--

1718

Westray arr.

EGEW

--

0922

--

--

--

--

--

Westray dep.

 

--

0929

--

--

--

--

--

Papa Westray arr.

EGEP

--

0931

--

1145

--

1607

--

Papa Westray dep.

 

--

0938

--

1152

--

1614

--

Stronsay arr.

EGER

--

--

1023

--

--

--

--

Stronsay dep.

 

--

--

1030

--

--

--

--

Sanday arr.

EGES

--

--

1035

--

--

--

--

Sanday dep.

 

--

--

1042

--

--

--

--

Westray arr.

EGEW

--

--

--

--

--

1616

--

Westray dep.

 

--

--

--

--

--

1623

--

Kirkwall arr.

EGPA

0852

0950

1052

1205

1537

1635

1727

 

Tuesday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kirkwall dep.

EGPA

0815

0910

1010

1450

1545

1645

Sanday arr.

EGES

--

0921

--

--

1556

--

Sanday dep.

 

--

0928

--

--

1603

--

North Ronaldsay arr.

EGEN

--

--

1025

--

--

1700

North Ronaldsay dep.

 

--

--

1032

--

--

1707

Stronsay arr.

EGER

--

0933

--

--

1608

--

Stronsay dep.

 

--

0940

--

--

1615

--

Westray arr.

EGEW

0827

--

--

--

--

--

Westray dep.

 

0834

--

--

--

--

--

Papa Westray arr.

EGEP

0836

--

--

1502

--

--

Papa Westray dep.

 

0843

--

--

1509

--

--

Westray arr.

EGEW

--

--

--

1511

--

--

Westray dep.

 

--

--

--

1518

--

--

Kirkwall arr.

EGPA

0855

0948

1047

1530

1623

1722

                                                           

Wednesday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kirkwall dep.

EGPA

0815

0915

1015

1215

1445

1545

1645

Eday arr.

EGED

--

--

--

--

--

--

1653

Eday dep.

 

--

--

--

--

--

--

1650

Sanday arr.

EGES

0826

--

--

--

--

--

--

Sanday dep.

 

0833

--

--

--

--

--

--

North Ronaldsay arr.

EGEN

0838

--

--

1230

1500

--

--

North Ronaldsay dep.

 

0845

--

--

1237

1507

--

--

Westray arr.

EGEW

--

0927

--

--

--

1557

--

Westray dep.

 

--

0934

--

--

--

1604

--

Papa Westray arr.

EGEP

--

--

1027

1245

--

--

1707

Papa Westray dep.

 

--

--

1034

1252

--

--

1714

Sanday arr.

EGES

--

--

--

--

1512

--

--

Sanday dep.

 

--

--

--

--

1519

--

--

Stronsay arr.

EGER

--

0943

--

--

--

1613

--

Stronsay dep.

 

--

0950

--

--

--

1620

--

Eday arr.

EGED

--

--

1041

--

--

--

--

Eday dep.

 

--

--

1048

--

--

--

--

Kirkwall arr.

EGPA

0900

0958

1056

1305

1530

1628

1726

 

Thursday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kirkwall dep.

EGPA

0815

0910

1010

1345

1450

1545

1645

Sanday arr.

EGES

--

0921

--

--

--

1556

--

Sanday dep.

 

--

0928

--

--

--

1603

--

North Ronaldsay arr.

EGEN

--

--

1025

1400

--

--

1700

North Ronaldsay dep.

 

--

--

1032

1407

--

--

1707

Stronsay arr.

EGER

--

0933

--

--

--

1608

--

Stronsay dep.

 

--

0940

--

--

--

1615

--

Westray arr.

EGEW

0827

--

--

--

--

--

--

Westray dep.

 

0834

--

--

--

--

--

--

Papa Westray arr.

EGEP

0836

--

--

1415

1502

--

--

Papa Westray dep.

 

0843

--

--

1422

1509

--

--

Westray arr.

EGEW

--

--

--

--

1511

--

--

Westray dep.

 

--

--

--

--

1518

--

--

Kirkwall arr.

EGPA

0855

0948

1047

1435

1530

1623

1722

 

Friday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kirkwall dep.

EGPA

0815

0910

1010

1345

1450

1545

1645

Sanday arr.

EGES

0826

--

--

--

1501

--

--

Sanday dep.

 

0833

--

--

--

1508

--

--

North Ronaldsay arr.

EGEN

--

--

1025

1400

--

--

1700

North Ronaldsay dep.

 

--

--

1032

1407

--

--

1707

Stronsay arr.

EGER

0838

--

--

--

1513

--

--

Stronsay dep.

 

0845

--

--

--

1520

--

--

Westray arr.

EGEW

--

0922

--

--

--

--

--

Westray dep.

 

--

0929

--

--

--

--

--

Papa Westray arr.

EGEP

--

0931

--

1415

--

1557

--

Papa Westray dep.

 

--

0938

--

1422

--

1604

--

Westray arr.

EGEW

--

--

--

--

--

1606

--

Westray dep.

 

--

--

--

--

--

1613

--

Kirkwall arr.

EGPA

0853

0950

1047

1435

1528

1625

1722

 

Saturday

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kirkwall dep.

EGPA

0900

1000

1430

1530

1635

Sanday arr.

EGES

0911

--

--

1541

--

Sanday dep.

 

0916

--

--

1546

--

North Ronaldsay arr.

EGEN

0921

--

1445

1551

--

North Ronaldsay dep.

 

0927

--

1502

1556

--

Stronsay arr.

EGER

0934

--

--

1604

--

Stronsay dep.

 

0940

--

--

1609

--

Westray arr.

EGEW

--

1012

--

--

--

Westray dep.

 

--

1017

--

--

--

Papa Westray arr.

EGEP

--

1019

--

--

1647

Papa Westray dep.

 

--

1024

--

--

1654

Westray arr.

EGEW

--

--

--

--

1656

Westray dep.

 

--

--

--

--

1702

Kirkwall arr.

EGPA

0947

1036

1517

1617

1714

 

Sunday

 

 

 

 

 

Kirkwall dep.

EGPA

1000

1245

1350

1600

North Ronaldsay arr.

EGEN

1015

1300

--

1615

North Ronaldsay dep.

 

1022

1307

--

1622

Papa Westray arr.

EGEP

--

--

1402

--

Papa Westray dep.

 

--

--

1409

--

Kirkwall arr.

EGPA

1037

1322

1421

1637

 

Orkney History

 

Don’t just hop round the airfields, check out some of the local sights and heritage.

 

Viking settlers comprehensively occupied Orkney, and the islands became a possession of Norway until being given to Scotland during the 15th century as part of a princesses dowry settlement. Evidence of the Viking presence is widespread, and includes the vast majority of place names, and runic inscriptions at Maes Howe and other ancient sites.

 

Rich in ancient sites, the Orkneys have remains of prehistoric villages, stone circles and tombs.

 

Among these is Skara Brae, a Neolithic village more ancient than the Pyramids. This is a UNESCO-recognised World Heritage Site. The ten houses that can be seen today were occupied from about 3100 to 2500 BC. Over the centuries it was covered with sand and remained untouched until a winter storm blew up in 1850, bringing the Stone Age into the modern era.

 

The Ring of Brodgar stone circle has been dated to at least 1560 BC. Even though today only thirty-six stones remain out of the original sixty, the size of the site is breathtaking. Set on a promontory between the Lochs of Harray and Stenness, the circle is exactly 125 Megalithic yards across (just over 100 metres).

 

The Mainland also includes the site of the major naval base of Scapa Flow, where the German Imperial Fleet scuttled itself after WWI. Check out www.scapaflow.co.uk

 

If all this culture has developed your thirst, you could always pop over to the Highland Park Distillery, the northern-most Scotch Whisky distillery at www.highlandpark.co.uk 

 

The Orcadians are great craftspeople, with a strong tradition of jewellery making as well as fine knitwear, weaving and pottery. More information on the Orcadians, their history and culture can be found at the links below.

 

 

Skara Brae - copyright Internet Guide to Scotland

 

The Northern Isles

 

Eday

 

Along with prehistoric sites such as the Seter Stone and the Vinquoy Cairn be sure to visit Carrick House, the place where John Gow, Britain’s last pirate, was captured after his ship ran aground on the Calf of Eday.

 

Check out the Eday School Community website at http://www.eday.org.uk/

 

North Ronaldsay

 

The most northerly island in Orkney. A unique feature is the drystone sheep dyke that surrounds the island. This keeps the unique North Ronaldsay seaweed-eating sheep off the agricultural land. I’m not sure if they are seaweed-eating out of choice or necessity!

 

The original 1789 lighthouse is still standing and was the third lighthouse built in Britain. The current lighthouse is the tallest land-based lighthouse in Britain at 138 metres.

 

Sanday

 

Home of Viking burial grounds and broch sites, plus the Quoyness chambered tomb dating from around 2900 BC. Also home to the UK's most northerly passenger carrying railway! Check out the link on Joannne’s website below.

 

Stronsay

 

You will see a photo of the airfield, together with other island information, at www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/stronsay/stronsay

 

You will find details of the Stronsay Beast at www.orkneyjar.com/folklore/seabeasts.htm , and if the link doesn’t awaken your curiosity – shame on you.

 

Westray

 

The ongoing excavation at Quoygrew on the island is becoming one of the most extensive explorations of a Viking Age and medieval settlement in Scotland. More information is available at http://www.york.ac.uk/depts/arch/quoygrew/

 

Papa Westray

 

The two oblong stone built houses at Knap of Howar, preserved by wind blown sand are the earliest North European dwellings known, dating back to 3800 years BC. Check out the Papa Westray website at http://www.papawestray.co.uk/papay/pw_official2.html

 

Map

 

The clearest map for the islands showing the airfield locations can be found on Joanne Mackenzie-Winters’ site at  http://www.scotland-info.co.uk/orkney.htm

 

Links

 

Apart from those mentioned above check out :

 

Internet Guide to Scotland

 

Joanne Mackenzie-Winters has been particularly helpful in providing information and permission to use pictures and her pages on Orkney can be found at:

 

http://www.scotland-info.co.uk/orkney.htm

 

Loganair

 

A brief history of the company and details of current services can be found at :

 

www.loganair.co.uk

 

 

Orkneyjar

 

This site gives information on the heritage of the Orkney islands.

 

www.orkneyjar.com

 

Wikipidia

 

The internet free encyclopaedia

 

"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Orkney_Islands"

 

Escape to the Edge

 

A website dedicated to travel to the Highland and Islands of north and west Scotland. The air travel page has a picture of a Loganair DHC-6 on Barra beach in the Hebrides.

 

www.escapetotheedge.co.uk/orkney.html is specific to this feature.

 

Aircraft

 

General Aircraft Monospar

 

The first aircraft used to provide a link between the Islands and mainland Scotland was a General Aircraft Monospar. The only Monospar available for fs2004 is the GA Monospar ST10 which won the Kings Cup Air Race on handicap in 1934. This is monospa2.zip available from www.flightsim.com

 

de Havilland DH89 Dragon Rapide

 

During the war years the inter-island service was provided by Scottish Airways using a DH-89 Dragon Rapide. Just such an aircraft is available as fs9-dh89.zip from

 

www.avsim.com and  www.flightsim.com

 

Both these sites generally host the files listed here, unless stated otherwise.

 

Even thought the timetable above is for modern turbo-prop aircraft, the DH-89 will only be a couple of minutes behind on even the longest legs. Granted they are only 15 minutes long!

 

Beechcraft D-18

 

Loganair took up the inter-island service and one of the aircraft used was the Beech D-18. There is a texture file available for the Loganair D-18 currently on display at the East Fortune Museum. The base file is d18svc4.zip and the texture file b18logan.zip. The fancy retracting undercarriage did not catch on in this service.

 

Britten-Norman Islander

 

Loganair used the Britten-Norman Islander for the inter-island service and still use it for the Scottish Air Ambulance service to the islands. The base aircraft is available from Marcel Kuhnt’s website http://www.m-r-software.de/. A Loganair texture set has been produced by Mark ‘Dark Moments’ Beaumont as loganbn.zip and bnfix.zip.

 

de Havilland Canada DHC-6

 

The DHC-6 is the current aircraft used by Loganair on the inter-island service. For those who have gone over to the dark side of paraffin burners, there is a Loganair texture file. This is d6logan4.zip and this requires the base file d6skybus.zip. Well at least it is still a de Havilland and foregoes the fancy city slicker nonsense of retractable under-carriages.