Westray and Papa Westray airports are two small yet fascinating airfields located in the Orkney Islands, a remote archipelago off the northern coast of Scotland. These airports are most famously linked by the world’s shortest scheduled flight, operated by Loganair which draws aviation enthusiasts from around the world eager to experience this unique journey. The flight between the two airports covers a distance of just 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometers), with a flight time of about two minutes—or less if the wind is favorable!
Westray Airport is a small hub on the island of Westray, serving as a critical transportation link for both residents and visitors. The airport primarily supports the inter-island air service, which connects Westray to Kirkwall, the capital of Orkney, and other neighboring islands. The facilities are minimal, reflecting the rural nature of the island, but they are vital lifelines for the community, supporting tourism, medical transport, and everyday travel.
Papa Westray Airport, even smaller than its counterpart on Westray, serves the tiny island of Papa Westray. This airport is crucial for connecting the island’s small population to the wider world. Like Westray Airport, it plays an important role in tourism, particularly for visitors drawn to Papa Westray’s rich archaeological heritage, including the Knap of Howar, one of the oldest preserved stone houses in Europe.
Westray & Papa Westray airports have been faithfully recreated by Burning Blue Design, undertaking on-site visits to ensure the highest levels of accuracy featuring:
- Over 50 custom 3D objects each with full Physical Based Rendering (PBR) textures.
- Based on the 2024 layout.
- Full custom night lighting.
- Animated garage doors that close at night.
- Custom windsocks.
- Animated spectators who leave at night.
- Real-life static aircraft are seen at the airport:
- Loganair Brittan-Norman BN-2 Islanders (G-BCPA & GBLDV)
- Real-life Surrounding scenery has been added as visual reference points:
- All trees have been removed from the island of Papa Westray and the Aikerness peninsular
- Tens of miles of dry stone walls have been added to the areas around the airports
- numerous farms and surrounding buildings have been created to ensure accuracy during approach and take-off.
- Papa Westray War Memorial
- High-resolution color-corrected ground textures taken from Bing maps and manipulated for consistency and realism.
