Flight

The World's Shortest Scheduled Flight

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We were given boarding passes. The Scots truly are thrifty, though. You had to give them back when you boarded! They use them over and over. Also, click for a larger view and note the newspaper headline that day! We thought it appropriate.

If you're a travel nut, you're always on the lookout for interesting experiences. When we were told that the world's shortest scheduled airline flight was between the islands of Westray and Papa Westray in the Orkneys, we had to go for it.

We started in Kirkwall, then touched down at Westray to drop off cargo and passengers. The flight from there to Papa Westray was 2 minutes ending on a runway the followed the gentle profile of the hill it was built on. We were the only passengers continuing on.

The plane was a vintage Britten-Norman Islander. They've been around for almost 40 years, although this one looked as if it had been retrofitted with newer engines and digital instruments. The plane had room for 9 passengers in a squeeze. And there was no metal detector or rude questions -- just a polite announcement in the airport lounge that sharp and pointy objects were forbidden. There was one pilot and no in-flight food or entertainment. We loved it. This was aviation.

A view of Kirkwall harbor as we returned on a slightly foggy afternoon. Kirkwall was an important port during the Second World War. Then it dwindled for years before North Sea oil rekindled the shipping trade somewhat.

An abandoned farmstead; sadly, its a common sight. Farming used to be a major occupation in the Orkneys, but large industrial farms and sheep ranching have taken much of the business. Now most of the children of farm families are moving off the islands.

We never got above a 750 foot altitude, giving us a wonderful view of the islands and, especially, the rugged shorelines.

Here's Papa Westray, viewed shortly after our takeoff from Westray. You can see why it's a short trip.

The airport terminal at Westray. We didn't "deplane" but it looks identical to the one on Papa Westray. That would be 3 small rooms: a locked cargo room, a waiting room with weather instruments and paperwork, and a bathroom.

Puffins are fond of these cliffs -- they make good nesting places, safe from most predators. But the season was wrong; we saw no puffins at all.

The view from our seats, looking over the pilot's shoulder. Of course we had to get in a view of the cockpit!
And, as you can see from the view out the windshield here, there were times when the visibility was less than we might have liked.

On the way back, the pilot gestured out the window and Ron realized we were flying over an interesting archaeological site. He grabbed the camera and aimed, but it was too late. The pilot noticed, and circled again so Ron could get this shot! We later found that the site is the Broch of Gurness, a Pictish settlement that probably housed 40 families around 100-200 BC. It has an interesting history. Click to read all about it.

Here it is! Documented proof that we were there -- signed, certified and suitable for framing.