Take off!

When we arrived on the island of Barra this morning by ferry from Eriskay, we drove straight to the airport on the off-chance of seeing a plane come in.

For those not conversant with Barra Airport the runway is actually the beach at Traigh Mhor, when the tide is out, of course! The beach has been used for this purpose since 1933 and the cockle pickers have to stay out of the way during the twice daily summer service.

We were met by a horde of people lining the fence, a pretty unusual sight - two buses of Americans off a cruise ship! Fortunately a flight from Glasgow - about 140 miles - was due in and we watched the plane, de Havilland Canada Twin Otter G-SGTS, circle the bay and land into the wind. After this the cruise passengers departed and left the airport almost deserted, so I walked some distance up the beach and photographed the aircraft as she took off for the return trip to Glasgow.

I first heard about this airport in the mid-fifties when two new four-engined de Havilland Herons were bought for the route - an article appeared in 'Meccano' magazine with a photograph on the front cover. I was about 7 but remember it well!

Fifty-five or more years later we booked to do this flight, choosing June as the most likely time to be dry and clear. We drove to Glasgow Airport and the pilot took off in thick mist, assuring us that we'd make it!  We hoped it would be cancelled so we could try again, but he made it, flying the whole way in cloud! We saw nothing at all until we touched down on the sand - so disappointing!

My extra is of the control tower.