Historic Aviation in the North of Scotland

Does Machrihanish count..? at age five stayed there while dad flew Corsairs and Sea Furies.

Also on the list should be the Spartan Cruiser (the one from Cowes IOW, not the one from across the pond).

See my post above.;)

Also on the list should be the Spartan Cruiser (the one from Cowes IOW, not the one from across the pond).

G-ACZM (Cruiser II), G-ACYK, G-ADEL & G-ADEM (Cruiser IIIs) were initially operated by Northern and Scottish Airways Ltd, later Scottish Airways. These a/c covered the Highland & Islands services.

G-ACYK crash landed near Largs 14 Jan 38. The remains of the a/c was recovered in July 73 and now lie in the museum at east Fortune.

Planemike.

Full size aircraft are of course the best..however,we may be overlooking a display which the model rail fans have shown to be very popular. A scale diorama can convey a lot to a viewer and has many advantages.
A corner of the first inverness Longman airfield could be displayed as shown in several great paintings.

Couldn’t agree more. The 61 was like settling into grandads old armchair !! A bit slower, but I would trade an extra 20 mins flight time for the comfort. Plenty of room even when trussed up in survival suit. lifejacket and rebreather, as opposed to the Puma / Tiger / 225 series that leaves you with a good idea of what a sardine feels like !!

The 61 although in dwindling numbers nowadays has been a workhorse of the North Sea for 30 years plus and would fully justify is place at near the top of the civil list for the second half of the 20th century in North East aviation.

I’ve not seen a 61 in the air above NE Scotland for some time…. The last one I seen on the ground was beside the Bristows Hangars, all broken down as if for spares recovery or transportation. No rotors, gearbox, engines or sponsons.

I guess the coastguard ones were the last regularly operated ones before being replaced by the S92?

Yes, the old 61 was a comfy beast to fly in, and a lot more stable in a ditching situation. Not like the Puma / Tiger. The new 92’s are comfy too, but I’d still rather take my chance with a 61.

As for the EC225? The seats are even narrower than the Puma. Not good for a 2 hr flight with a full chopper.

Kind Regards
Scotty

Also, Liberators flew from Tain, Harrows kept the Northern Isles in touch with the civilised world throughout the war years, and Spartan Cruisers ventured north of the Highland Boundary Fault from time to time.

Drem, North of Scotland?

That’s like saying Cottesmore is in the North of England.

I know the initial post did suggest various civil helicopters and other posts have hinted on the Viscount, HS748 and Dash 7 in the oil support roles, but how about being a bit more specific – the Sikorski S61N?

These are pretty much extinct in Aberdeen nowadays, a far call from the days when the sky was full of them. Probably the most comfortable chopper I’ve been offshore in.

Also rapidly decreasing in number over the skies of Aberdeenshire is the AS.332L Puma, being edged out in favour of the newer EC225 – probably the most uncomfortable chopper I’ve been offshore in.

Kind Regards,
Scotty

Couldn’t agree more. The 61 was like settling into grandads old armchair !! A bit slower, but I would trade an extra 20 mins flight time for the comfort. Plenty of room even when trussed up in survival suit. lifejacket and rebreather, as opposed to the Puma / Tiger / 225 series that leaves you with a good idea of what a sardine feels like !!

The 61 although in dwindling numbers nowadays has been a workhorse of the North Sea for 30 years plus and would fully justify is place at near the top of the civil list for the second half of the 20th century in North East aviation.

Lodestar and Ju 52.

Blackburn Skuas flew from Hatston on Orkney to bomb the German cruiser Konigsberg, Sopwith Pup, Camel, Ship’s Camel, 1 1/2 Strutter, Short 184 all operated from ships in Scapa and associated RNAS stations, Caudron G.2, Short Folder Seaplane, Borel monoplane operated out of Invergordon off the converted cruiser HMS Hermes prior to the outbreak of WW1. These were among the first naval air operations from RN ships.

A-20 Havoc night fighter. Bits of an He 111 wreck on one of the islands off Shetland.

You can add Trislander to your civil list as well; Loganair operated them, also add the Beech 18 G-ASUG at East Fortune.

If you want to broaden your horizons, there was an airship station on Orkney; Caldale, you can collect airship memorabilia. SSZ Class airship gondola.

Please sir can I put a word in for the Westland Whirlwind Fighter they where based at Drem !!!! And the last ones where broken up in Scotland

Last I heard Drem was in East Lothian. Put your Whirlwind at East Fortune; it is only a couple of miles from Drem.

I cant believe no one has suggested the Scottish Aviation Bulldog. Aswell as the current Grob as its these 2 aircraft that many future pilots learn to fly on.

Please sir can I put a word in for the Westland Whirlwind Fighter they where based at Drem !!!! And the last ones where broken up in Scotland.

Mike E

www.whirlwindfighterproject.org

Just flew over Drem this afternoon. No sign of any Whirlwinds! 😉 😉

What about the BAe ATP:
Otherwise known as
Advanced/Another Technical Problem, The Parrot (cos it’s just a big Budgie), Ancient Technology Perpetuated, Bat Pee, Skoda, 80p, Wigwam (A TeePee).

Many hours of comfortable flights in them. Just like a Viscount with 2 engines.

Forgetting the rotary ?

I know the initial post did suggest various civil helicopters and other posts have hinted on the Viscount, HS748 and Dash 7 in the oil support roles, but how about being a bit more specific – the Sikorski S61N?

These are pretty much extinct in Aberdeen nowadays, a far call from the days when the sky was full of them. Probably the most comfortable chopper I’ve been offshore in.

Also rapidly decreasing in number over the skies of Aberdeenshire is the AS.332L Puma, being edged out in favour of the newer EC225 – probably the most uncomfortable chopper I’ve been offshore in.

Lets also not forget the Bell 212, 214, 412, whose noise advertised their arrival long before you could see them, and the BV234 Chinook, unfortunately better known for the loss of G-BWFC in 1986.

Kind Regards,
Scotty

Please sir can I put a word in for the Westland Whirlwind Fighter they where based at Drem !!!! And the last ones where broken up in Scotland.

Mike E

www.whirlwindfighterproject.org

SARO Lerwick…?

We could be really ambitious and go for a Heinkel He115 as well 😀

Zeb

You could also add the now almost extinct Barracuda to the list.

Both 43 and Treble One Squadron based at Leuchars flew F3’s.

43 Sqaudron from 1989 to 2009 and 111 Squadron from 1990 through to 2011.

Were there any Tornado F3s based in Scotland, especially during The Cold War?

DH 84 Dragon

Dave

What about :-

Heron
Dove
Rapide
Dragon Rapide
EMB 110 Bandirante