ORKNEY INTER-ISLAND FLIGHTS
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
Orkney's
administrative capital is
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
Monday
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EGPA |
0815 |
0910 |
1015 |
1115 |
1500 |
1555 |
1650 |
|
Sanday arr. |
EGES |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1700 |
|
Sanday dep. |
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1707 |
|
|
EGEN |
0830 |
-- |
-- |
1130 |
1515 |
-- |
-- |
|
|
|
0837 |
-- |
-- |
1137 |
1522 |
-- |
-- |
|
Stronsay arr. |
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
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. |
|
-- |
-- |
1023 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Stronsay dep. |
|
-- |
-- |
1030 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Sanday arr. |
EGES |
-- |
-- |
1035 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Sanday dep. |
|
-- |
-- |
1042 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Westray arr. |
EGEW |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1616 |
-- |
|
Westray dep. |
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1623 |
-- |
|
|
EGPA |
0852 |
0950 |
1052 |
1205 |
1537 |
1635 |
1727 |
Tuesday
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EGPA |
0815 |
0910 |
1010 |
1450 |
1545 |
1645 |
|
Sanday
arr. |
EGES |
-- |
0921 |
-- |
-- |
1556 |
-- |
|
Sanday
dep. |
|
-- |
0928 |
-- |
-- |
1603 |
-- |
|
|
EGEN |
-- |
-- |
1025 |
-- |
-- |
1700 |
|
|
|
-- |
-- |
1032 |
-- |
-- |
1707 |
|
Stronsay
arr. |
|
-- |
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 |
-- |
-- |
|
|
EGPA |
0855 |
0948 |
1047 |
1530 |
1623 |
1722 |
Wednesday
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EGPA |
0815 |
0915 |
1015 |
1215 |
1445 |
1545 |
1645 |
|
Eday
arr. |
EGED |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1653 |
|
Eday
dep. |
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1650 |
|
Sanday
arr. |
EGES |
0826 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Sanday
dep. |
|
0833 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
EGEN |
0838 |
-- |
-- |
1230 |
1500 |
-- |
-- |
|
|
|
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. |
|
-- |
0943 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1613 |
-- |
|
Stronsay
dep. |
|
-- |
0950 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1620 |
-- |
|
Eday
arr. |
EGED |
-- |
-- |
1041 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Eday
dep. |
|
-- |
-- |
1048 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
EGPA |
0900 |
0958 |
1056 |
1305 |
1530 |
1628 |
1726 |
Thursday
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EGPA |
0815 |
0910 |
1010 |
1345 |
1450 |
1545 |
1645 |
|
Sanday
arr. |
EGES |
-- |
0921 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1556 |
-- |
|
Sanday
dep. |
|
-- |
0928 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1603 |
-- |
|
|
EGEN |
-- |
-- |
1025 |
1400 |
-- |
-- |
1700 |
|
|
|
-- |
-- |
1032 |
1407 |
-- |
-- |
1707 |
|
Stronsay
arr. |
|
-- |
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 |
-- |
-- |
|
|
EGPA |
0855 |
0948 |
1047 |
1435 |
1530 |
1623 |
1722 |
Friday
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EGPA |
0815 |
0910 |
1010 |
1345 |
1450 |
1545 |
1645 |
|
Sanday
arr. |
EGES |
0826 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1501 |
-- |
-- |
|
Sanday
dep. |
|
0833 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1508 |
-- |
-- |
|
|
EGEN |
-- |
-- |
1025 |
1400 |
-- |
-- |
1700 |
|
|
|
-- |
-- |
1032 |
1407 |
-- |
-- |
1707 |
|
Stronsay
arr. |
|
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 |
-- |
|
|
EGPA |
0853 |
0950 |
1047 |
1435 |
1528 |
1625 |
1722 |
Saturday
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EGPA |
0900 |
1000 |
1430 |
1530 |
1635 |
|
Sanday
arr. |
EGES |
0911 |
-- |
-- |
1541 |
-- |
|
Sanday
dep. |
|
0916 |
-- |
-- |
1546 |
-- |
|
|
EGEN |
0921 |
-- |
1445 |
1551 |
-- |
|
|
|
0927 |
-- |
1502 |
1556 |
-- |
|
Stronsay
arr. |
|
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 |
|
|
EGPA |
0947 |
1036 |
1517 |
1617 |
1714 |
Sunday
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EGPA |
1000 |
1245 |
1350 |
1600 |
|
|
EGEN |
1015 |
1300 |
-- |
1615 |
|
|
|
1022 |
1307 |
-- |
1622 |
|
Papa
Westray arr. |
EGEP |
-- |
-- |
1402 |
-- |
|
Papa
Westray dep. |
|
-- |
-- |
1409 |
-- |
|
|
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
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
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,
Check
out the Eday School Community website at http://www.eday.org.uk/
The
most northerly island in Orkney. A unique feature is the drystone sheep dyke
that surrounds the island. This keeps the unique
The
original 1789 lighthouse is still standing and was the third lighthouse built
in
Sanday
Home of Viking burial grounds and broch sites, plus
the Quoyness chambered tomb dating from around 2900
BC. Also home to the
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
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 :
Orkneyjar
This site gives information on the
heritage of the
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
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
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
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’
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.