Jura airfield??
 

The Scottish chart shows an airfield on the island of Jura, which I have flown past a couple of times.

No details are given in the usual sources, does anyone have contact or other info?

Its a very small grass strip right on the beach. No facilities and quite short.

I've never landed there but have passed it low level many times. I have one friend who has landed there.

It gets quite busy for the annual Bens of Jura Fell Race in the late spring, quickest way of getting there of course.

h-r

Guy's does anyone know exactly what the strip is like in regards to length , Approaches and surface ?

Regards,

Like redeye I have flown over it a couple of times and have talked to people who've used it. It's 09/27, probably less than 450m (exact length not known), surface not brilliant, not regularly maintained, and it has a rutted track running across it towards its eastern end (the access road to the house by the beach which is immediately south of the strip). Curved approach from the south required if you're using 09.

Not for the faint-hearted or the spamcan-mounted. I'd say it's Super Cub/Maule territory.

Don't have a phone number to hand but if I remember correctly you want to speak to the factor of the Isle of Jura Estate (should be in the book)

NS

PS Redeye they're Paps not Bens, and I presume the "busy in spring" is with helicopters not REAL aeroplanes? ;)

It's a year since I've been to the strip (surface transport!) and NS's description is accurate. I paced it from the rut at the Eastern end, to the house and trees at the Western end at 357 steps (say metres). Given the house and trees I'd say that's TODA rather than TORA. Taking off to the East I wouldn't like to hit the aforementioned rut - it's broad and rough.

I thought the surface was pretty good for April - firm (sand/soil/grass) and broad, and largely free of rabbit holes. Having said that, I don't think I'd venture in there in a nosewheel aeroplane. I'm sort of tempted now I've access to a Chipmunk, but I'd class the strip as a challenge and intolerant of poor technique on the part of the pilot.

Fly to Islay, get the bus to Port Askaig and the ferry to Feolin on Jura. Then get a lift to Craighouse and walk half an hour to the strip and check it out. If you're happy, go back to Islay and get your aeroplane!

Basically its 90degrees to the coast line and quite rough (Rougher than Cromer if that helps).

If I see my buddy who has landed there (PA38 if I recall) next week I'll ask him.(If it comes to that for recce purposes, remind me next time I go to Oban, which will be soon, to stop off there and walk the runway..)

h-r

Photographs of Jura Airfield: From the Air From the Ground

I find that extremely hard to believe.

Which bit?

1. The landing

2. or my failing memory of the type (I only fly rotary and fixed wing types are a mystery to me...)

I'll ask him when I see him

h-r

that anyone would attempt to take a PA-38 into a strip like Jura

NS

I'd do it in a Super Cub or Citabria but a PA38 errrr no thanks!

Unless that cottage in the background is a distillery, it looks like my search for the perfect whisky will just have to take me to Islay instead ........

Bluebeard

Islay - Laphroaig then ! I concur !!!! Remember, 8 hours to throttle a bottle :p

The surface winds you can get in the Hebrides, VTOL is not entirely impossible in a PA38, let alone a reasonably short field.

Happy to agree that it was unlikely to happen on a still day, but those are fairly rare in the Western Isles.

G

The Loganair BN2 Islander is in and out of there quite a lot

I only said I THOUGHT it was a PA38 (I'll ask him when I see him)

(In fact I'll email him just to avaoid more of a bashin)

h-r:ouch:

Mystery Solved
 

Here is the email reply

I'll do a 'rotary recce' next time I'm passing (April) and report on the state of the 'runway'

Phew, I can stop taking the pills now

NS

I'm going to Jura in 10 days time. I'll take photos and post them. I'll pace the strip again.

As a local pilot and PA38 owner I'm horrified at the thought of a poor old Tommy going in there. Then again, there are a number of spares that I'm looking for....

Actually NS, wrong on both counts I'm afraid.

It is the Bens of Jura Fell Race (even though they are the Paps of Jura and it's now called the Isle of Jura Fell Race) and the 'busy' bit was refering to the number of tents at the hotel down the road for this august event and the numbers of runners in the hills. The reason for the name is of course because it runs over more than 'just' the Paps.

"Historically this support for races is not however restricted to the Peak District. Back in 1983 Donald Booth of Dark Peak was responsible for revitalising the then Bens of Jura Fell race. Although it was originally run in the early 1970’s for four years it wasn’t until Don’s involvement, with the added support of the Isle of Jura distillery that the race become truly established on the calendar. Support for the now renamed Isle of Jura Fell Race continues to this day. Although Don is no longer involved in the organisation on many occasions club members have often exceeded twenty runners with many returning every year. Probably Dark Peak’s finest achievement was in 1985 when the race was won by one of our top runners of the day, the late Ray Aucott in a time of 3.18.36. For this achievement Ray took home 2.5 gallons of whisky for first place, first vet and first team. Not bad for someone who didn’t even drink whisky." (from "25 Years on the Bog - A History of Dark Peak Fell Runners")

For some reason the Race is not in the calendar this year. (Organiser too drunk perhaps?) but is on 28th May so watch out for it being busy.

;) Two and a Half Gallons. You only get 450ml for a complete Black Bottle Round ...