Pilatus/Britten-Norman aeroplanes
Same with cars, want a simple car.. with electric windows, climate control, cruise control, lane assist..
Standard footwear on the Barra Twotter actually, no requirement for the hi-float option.
And many aircraft types are able to land at Barra. Subsequent departure, however, and counter-corrosion, can be a little more challenging; Shorts 360 being an example.
And many aircraft types are able to land at Barra. Subsequent departure, however, and counter-corrosion, can be a little more challenging; Shorts 360 being an example.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
I said not many; there are a few. I flew Logibear's Twotter as well, more years ago than I care to remember. But this is a Britten-Norman thread.
H , Believe Logibairs 'Tris took Shetland ponies from Shetlan' to Bergen back in the day ..
Island Pilot by Capt Alan Whitfield . Kea publishing ISBN-13:9780951895887
rgds condor
Island Pilot by Capt Alan Whitfield . Kea publishing ISBN-13:9780951895887
rgds condor
I rode front seat shotgun on an Islander from Grenada to Carriacou and back. The pax load was just myself and Mrs Akro along with a local govt official transporting ballot boxes over to Lauriston airport. On the return flight the driver asked me to hold his clipboard in the windshield to prevent being dazzled by the lowering sun. We pulled up on the tarmac next to a Virgin Airlines B747 whose crew gazed down from the flight deck with envy at our little yellow bird of paradise.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Thanks condor17. I knew Alan a little. He was Base Captain Sumburgh, and we used to spend a lot of time there. Amazon are asking £ 30 for a copy. Waterstones is a more believable £ 13.95, but out of stock.
What the Islander needed was two skin windows to keep the noise down. It was an airborne Transit truck and my Granny could fly it.
Problem comes when the routes get longer (with associated flight time) and you need something properly deiced and heated. However the name is the clue :-
ISLANDER not intercontinental speed junkie.
Problem comes when the routes get longer (with associated flight time) and you need something properly deiced and heated. However the name is the clue :-
ISLANDER not intercontinental speed junkie.
H , 1st edition by Shetland Time ISBN 1 898852 05 7 .
Sadly took 16yrs to get to Highland Division , but thoroughly enjoyed my 4yrs ; following in Alan's footprints . 'Tho only once got to try an Islander between BVI and San Juan .
rgds condor.
Sadly took 16yrs to get to Highland Division , but thoroughly enjoyed my 4yrs ; following in Alan's footprints . 'Tho only once got to try an Islander between BVI and San Juan .
rgds condor.
An Air Anglia DC3 performed the very first Shell Oil Rig Crew change at Sumburgh sometime in 1971; I can't remember the date for sure but as Air Anglia's one and only Operations Officer I went along for the ride from Aberdeen. I remember a group photograph of us standing by the Dak at Sumburgh being taken by a Shell Publicity photographer (Oh to have a copy of that snap!). Anyway a couple of months later I bummed a lift on a Dak up to Sumburgh, hired a car and spent a night in a delightful farmhouse B+B by a lochside not far from Sumburgh. That evening I met Alan Whitfield at the Sumburgh Hotel and he mentioned that he was flying up to Unst the following morning and would I like to come along for the ride ? Enough said - there followed a most fantastic flight in the Islander at low level over crystal clear seas, skirting cliffs, flying up lonely valleys, Alan keeping an eye open for potential landing strips as we progressed. We flew over the strip at Tingwall, which I think had recently or was about to open and finally arrived at Unst a very bleak place indeed. What a privilige, just the two of us - there and back. Never forgotten.
Flew from Sumburgh in '72 but although Alan Whitfield was the boss, I went with his No 2, a guy called Peter. Did 2 trips, once across to Foula and then the 'round the island' schedule.
The grass strip at Tingwall, Lerwick was later suprseded by a tarmac strip and we also took in Unst (which didn't have a control tower or terminal at the time), Whalsay and Fetlar, as you say, flying below the hilltops. We dropped off one pax at Lerwick and picked up another at Unst.
The grass strip at Tingwall, Lerwick was later suprseded by a tarmac strip and we also took in Unst (which didn't have a control tower or terminal at the time), Whalsay and Fetlar, as you say, flying below the hilltops. We dropped off one pax at Lerwick and picked up another at Unst.
Last edited by chevvron; 30th May 2023 at 15:05.
Shell Oil Rig Crew change at Sumburgh - see https://atchistory.files.wordpress.c...r-disaster.jpg
Outer Skerries and the 'back-door' way to the Fair Isle strip were always interesting experiences in a BN2. All a routine day's work for the jovial Tingwall crew.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
dixi188. Have you a date for that incident? A colleague was well known for flying low enough to get wave-lift off the sea. That's less than half a wingspan I believe. Years later I spoke to someone who was offered a lift from Aberdeen to Norwich. He said they had to climb to cross the Norfolk coast!!
dixi188. Have you a date for that incident? A colleague was well known for flying low enough to get wave-lift off the sea. That's less than half a wingspan I believe. Years later I spoke to someone who was offered a lift from Aberdeen to Norwich. He said they had to climb to cross the Norfolk coast!!
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Came back from the Scillies in an S-61N - 500ft all the way, round the cliffs between Lamorna and Mousehole - absolutely gorgeous day, perfect vis.
Coincidentally, my only ride in an Islander was also in one of Air BVI's. During an unsuccessful campaign to sell them 330's (it needed several visits 
), the question came up of how it would perform in and out of Virgin Gorda. "How long is the runway there?", we enquired (there being no such thing as a BVI AIP). "No idea - but the Islander has no problem there" was the reply.
So we jumped in an Islander with the airline's CP in front and hopped over there (interesting approach over the hill!). Being as the runway was a bit too long for our tape measure, we commandeered a truck and timed a few passes at a constant speed and did the sums.
Needless to say it was far too short.
), the question came up of how it would perform in and out of Virgin Gorda. "How long is the runway there?", we enquired (there being no such thing as a BVI AIP). "No idea - but the Islander has no problem there" was the reply.So we jumped in an Islander with the airline's CP in front and hopped over there (interesting approach over the hill!). Being as the runway was a bit too long for our tape measure, we commandeered a truck and timed a few passes at a constant speed and did the sums.
Needless to say it was far too short.