The wee Scottish airline with only one aircraft! Flying Oban to Coll with Hebridean Air Services.
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- Опубліковано 5 лип 2021
- I must admit until I saw a recent Tom Scott video featuring Hebridean Air Services, I didn't even know about this awesome little airline. But once I did, I just had to book a seat on their bright yellow Britten-Norman BN-2B-26 Islander!
They fly scheduled services out of Oban to the islands of Coll, Islay, Colonsay and Tiree, as well offering sightseeing and charter flights. There is a little hack to get the return flight straight back again like I do in the video. If you'd like to know how, just give me a shout :) They are a great airline to deal with by the way - they even offered me use of the GoPro mount on the planes dashboard (but alas I turned up with the wrong mount)
I took a Friday afternoon scholar flight on Friday 25th June 2021 with 15 minutes on Coll before flying back to Oban. The return flight cost me a grand total of £69.17 and was booked only a couple of weeks in advance. Flight time was under 30 minutes each way. We dropped the school pupils off on the island and then headed back to the mainland.
Hi, I’m Steve. I am a travel reviewer and post my trip reports here on UA-cam. I pay for my own travel and produce my own videos. If you have any questions about my journeys or travel advice in general, please drop me a comment - I do my best to respond to every single one. I’d also love to hear any recommendations you may have for future content, or why not challenge me to try something a little out of the ordinary! If you are looking to collaborate on any type of project, I’d love to hear from you - email me your ideas and hopefully we can work together in the future.
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/ stevemarsh
Music courtesy of epidemicsound.com
Here is the exact flight but in Microsoft Flight Simulator!
ua-cam.com/video/XWl__h51o3M/v-deo.html
Thanks for the inspiration Steve!
Thanks so much mate! :)
@@steve-marsh I was so captivated by your video that I wanted to experience it for myself in some way. Oban to Coll is on my bucket list! Thank you! 🥲
I apologize for mispronouncing Oban :(
@@simtherapy9533 One day! :)
@@steve-marsh 🤠👍
U should try to go to Isles of Scilly
You would love it
I remember contracting for Loganair in the nineties on Orkney doing major maintenance to the Islanders to keep them serviceable. That aircraft is SUCH an amazing and versatile one, at night it was an air ambulance, in the morning we refitted it to become a normal passenger aircraft, thank you for posting this Steve, it brought back some seriously precious memories, I subscribed, and look forward to seeing more
Thanks so much and welcome aboard! Thanks for the support and delighted to be able to bring back some memories. And thanks for your work on the islands!
As a former air-freight pilot, this is exactly the kind of flying I once did to earn a living! Instead of passengers, I had an airplane filled with boxes and bags crammed in behind me. Great video without a doubt!
Wow that sounds amazing! What a great career!
I’m with you. Flew boxes and bags way back when before I made it to the big birds.
"The proud bird with the cast iron tail"
Nice, little operation and a stunning background for it..
Reminds me of travelling from Manchester to Bournemouth via Cardiff on a small passenger-aircraft with no toilet. The previous week the aircraft had to make a diversion because a lady passenger was desperate to have a wee. Six of us decided to go to the bar before the flight. During the flight I needed to go... I held on in desperation. On landing at Cardiff it seemed that all the passengers evacuated the aircraft in a hurry; without being asked the ground staff pointed and said "that way, it happens on every flight".
😂😂😂😂
I've flown into Oban in my own Piper Arrow III, having previously made the beach landing at Barra. The fantastic guys from the airport fire brigade, brought their fire truck over and hosed the plane down for me to remove the salt from the beach landing.
A great bunch of guys and a lovely airport. I can definitely recommend a visit to any other pilots that are flying around Scotland.
Great video Steve!!
They are the best at that airport! :)
Lovely old BN2 Islander. 2 x 260HP Lycoming flat sixes and reliable as a swiss watch. Beautiful views to boot.
When you say flat 6 are they horizontally opposed or just dry sump on their side?
@@seanworkman431 Horizontally opposed, wet sumps...
@@seanworkman431 Horizontally opposed, three cylinders per side. Dry sump also with scavenge pumps.
My Rolex has failed three times in the past thirty years.
@@harrothepilot (dry sumps) You may wanna check on that...
Thank you came across this, I have neber been to Coll but your flight ovrr Mull btought back memories of my childhood spending time with the Carmichael family and the daily mail/bus service between Tobermoray & Salen. Over 50 years ago.
A nice little update for anyone thinking about doing this flight - the screen has been removed and row 1 RHS is now available to book for passengers! That's right, you can sit right up front next to the pilot as a regular passenger. Of course I intend to do this, but will you beat me to it??? :)
Thanks for the heads up! Booked a trip up to Oban especially for this later this week having watched your video, going to make stops in Islay and Colonsay!
I guess I can beat you to it virtually on Microsoft Flight Simulator 😂
Thats awesome, Oban may become the first Scottish Island I've visited only lived in Glasgow all my life... Have you still got the Orkneys flight planned, Westray to Papa Westray? Looking forward to seeing that one.
@@aidanmochan306 Culture shock, Oban is not an island. It's on the Scottish mainland and only a 3-hour direct train journey away from Glasgow. 😅
@@Drawyah Ohh my bad, nevertheless I've never been lol. Drove up to Inveraray last summer for a wee day trip, Oban doesn't look much further. Beautiful part of the country for being an hour or so from a major City.
Well Steve we Scots certainly have been blessed with such a beautiful Country .
Well said Duncan! So true
Brings back the memories of my 2 months in Thurso in 1984. Shorts 330 Aberdeen to Wick.
A special view of a great part of the world. Reminds me of the last time I was in Mull and witnessed a golden eagle trying (and failing) to snatch a very small lamb from a field. Momma sheep wasn’t having it!
I've never flown in a lighter aircraft, now it's on my bucket list. Cheers Steve.
The Islander is a solid workhorse and can be found flying all over the world. My flight from Manchester to Heathrow in a Islander put me on the path to getting my pilots licence. Thank you for sharing the video clip, its so nice to see an Islander in mint condition. Stay safe and healthy. Mike.
Cheers for that Mike!
Steve, how fantastic, what a great journey, thank you.
Cheers Jon! :)
As you said "proper flying", no showing ID, no security lines, just get in the plane and enjoy the flight. I loved that the whole apron area was covered in brick pavers at the main airport... stunning.
That was a lovely trip Steve thank you. Another one maybe for the bucket list, I so want to go Scottish Island hopping!
Another great video Steve. It’s always great to see bits of our wee country, that I haven’t been to personally. Haven’t been to Oban for many years, after watching this I’ve said to my other half we have to get up there from Glasgow. Thanks again 🏴🏴
Cheers Arron! No a bad wee drive from Glasgow too :)
Love the sound of those sync’d engines.
Me too William! :)
Wow brilliant Steve and spectacular scenery. Loved seeing the beautiful Isle of Mull from the air, especially as I lived on Mull 20 years ago. My favourite of all the Scottish Islands. Thanks for sharing :)
It really is a wonderful spans Wendy, and not explored enough by me so excited to go back there! :)
Steve - thank you! All the familiar places I know so well around Oban, and then to see the little airport (instead of just the sign for it, which I have passed so many times) and to go on the flight with you. You filmed it all beautifully.
Thanks so much Sue! It was a real challenge to film, but an enjoyable challenge:)
Well pickles now I want TO build me a little airport as well. Might have to start off with some kind of helipads and dirigible hangars though...
So great to see someone flying a plane.
Fantastic! Just like flying back in the Caribbean.
Stunning. Absolutely stunning.
Great video Steve! I remember commenting on a previous video how much I'd like to see your take on this flight, so very pleased to see that come true! Enjoying all your videos!
Cheers George it was a fantastic idea!!!
"Thanks Steve, this is a little gem. Great views.
Cheers Jack!
Scotland and its islands never cease to amaze me! I can’t wait to travel up from England again. Thanks for your videos Steve!
Cheers George!
What a fantastic flight, thankyou so much for sharing. Next time I'm in Scotland I must visit this airfield and jump aboard myself.
Well worth it, fantastic wee airport :)
Another amazing video, thanks Steve. Brilliant
Jump on a plane…. Fly 50 mile….stay 15 minutes… fly back … 😂🤣 You mad bastard ! 😂
Great stuff Steve !
Haha cheers Dean 🤣
This was great ! Really enjoyed it . Thanks for taking us along Steve .
Cheers for coming Paul!
That brought back a few memories! Firstly of a caravan holiday in 1968 in the highlands towing a caravan when neither the Connel or Ballachuilish bridges existed, so it was take the wee ferry or drive round the lochs on tiny, rough, single track roads. More recently I stayed in the campsite at North Ledaig at the end of that runway. Then lastly a holiday on Mull and walking my dog, Rohan, around Loch Frisa and on Calgary beach. White tailed eagles circled over us at Loch Frisa eyeing up Rohan as a tasty snack! Thank you Steve
Absolutely loved it!
Great trip and thanks for the memories... I used to fly for TCNA in the 80's Islanders and their bigger brother the Tri-Islanders in the West Indies. They are reliable aircraft. and easy to fly. Perfect for island hopping !
Thanks so much for watching my wee video!
well, Captain Dave! i came to say the same thing about TCI's original national airline ... must have flown on those Islanders and the Trilander scores and scores of times. and if Steve thinks that wee airport was small, he's never seen the little shacks on Middle Caicos and Salt Cay! i remember when 1st time tourists got on a 9 seat Islander, they often looked kinda nervous. i used to calm them down by telling them not to worry, 'cos these little planes were designed to float real good! (was not too sure about the Tri, though. that engine in the tail always seemed kinda heavy ) ... ( there is still an Islander flying here, owned by an Ambergris Cay developer. )
That is so cool, thought the terminal was someone's cottage lol, and what a great little plane. Glad you enjoyed your trip
Haha yes it so does!!!
Another great watch! You are now top of our "to watch list" - thanks for sharing your adventures 🥰
Thank you Steve ,that looked beautiful . please keep them coming.🌠🛫✈️
Cheers Sean! :)
That was great...loved it. Thank you for a great review of Oban Airport too...its right up there with Gibralter...well thirty years ago anyway 🤗
What a fantastic experience 👍
Haha I can remember Gib 30 years ago too!
The airport terminal building reminds me of 'St. Mary's International' on the Isles of Scilly.... about the same size!
Good old style flying experience .., thanks Steve!
Cheers! :)
Fabulous flight! Smooth as silk landing at Coll. Great views of grand scenery and competent narration. A fun ride. Thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!
Very Nice..I have been to Oban and Mull many times As i worked for fish farming for 27 yrs..had a small aircraft here in Donegal also..So your video brought back many lovely memories..Thanks For sharing..
Great vlog Steve, nice to see a lot of the surroundings. Fine experience.
Cheers Hans!
That was so cool Steve. I'll have to check out the Hebridean Air website. Thanks for making my holiday plans so difficult with so many wonderful places to choose from! 😅
Haha you’re very welcome mate 🤣
Wonderfull!!!
Awesome flight with a tough plane!!!.
God bless you!.
Lovely 🌹 I toured Scotland in 1973. Faded memories siggh I did climb King Arthur's Seat, and recall the extended daylight in the summer evenings. Edinburgh Castle was gorgeous.
A great view from up there! 1973 - my year of birth!
Steve, Another cracking video 👌🏻 would never have thought of this being a way to travel to Coll for some reason, beats 3 hours on a ferry! You're right, another one to add to the list 🤦🏼♂️🤣
Cheers Bryan! It was all new to me too :)
Enjoyed seeing the video, I have added Dunstaffnage Castle to my ever growing list of places to visit when we are allowed from Australia.
Ha you and me both Annette! But not as far for me to travel :)
Beautiful aircraft and a thoroughly professional pilot-in-command.
This is just brilliant !!
Oh my god this is just an amazing video. Your channel content is amazing too
Thank you so much William! Super-appreciated! :)
I'm always learning parts of Scotland i never knew about!
Haha me too Frank! :)
Excellent vlog. Islanders are tremendous aircraft, a real workhorse...Ford Transits of the sky. All my experience on them has been via sport skydiving, so I've never landed on one despite dozens of rides in one. Can be noisy in the cabin but love the noise....brought back memories.
Sailed from Loch Eil to Tobermory, Isle of Mull as an 18 year old back in 1980 as part of an adventure/character building course. Three boats ( twin masted open boats)/ eight crew each. Took us over a week to sail to Mull, having to tack against the wind the entire way. It rained every day and there was no shelter bar what you wore. Ten hrs on the boat a day, ar#e over the side was the toilet!...frozen and wet. Slept in two man tents on the beach/shoreside where ever we ended up that day. No washing facilities, obviously, so we all stank to high heaven! Wretched experience at the time however good to look back on. Didn't appreciate the scenery as I should have then but certainly appreciate it now...in the comfort of my warm home via your wonderful upload. 😊
Enjoyed very much. Many thanks.
Thanks Patrick!
We are just back from the west coast, I said to my lass wouldn't it be funny if we bumped into Steve. We tried walking up the the Steall Waterfall yesterday but my lass got a bit worried about the path, so we went back. Then down to Oban were we stayed at Loch Melfort but passed Oban airport and I said I can't believe they have an airport, i thought it might have been for model aircraft enthusiasts
I’ve stayed at the Loch Melfort hotel a few times, such a beautiful setting, so peaceful apart from the chickens lol.
@@claired3764 yes it's now our go to place in Oban area, although we didn't hear the Chickens
Haha that would have been awesome to meet you guys! I’m sure it will happen sometime :) never been to Steall, you’ve added more to my list!!!
@@steve-marsh also another great one is from the Auch Estate off A82 follow the Allt Kinglass up to Loch Lyon very beautiful and peaceful walk normally takes 2 to 3 hours. There's an old Bothy with sheep pens at the edge of the Loch we used to stay in during the early 90s.
@@JamesMcDermott1968x Cheers (as I write all this down) :)
Great wee trip to the island and back! Not something one get to experience daily! So this service is like a commuter service for students
And those kids take it all in their stride!
Am enjoying all your videos, thank you!
You are so welcome!
Thank you for this unique video. I really enjoyed watching this!
Cheers Arron! :)
Interesting - I knew of the flights to Barra (on my bucket list though probably never happen) to land on the beach but this certainly looks worth checking out.
I have landed on Coll once (decades ago, diving trip based on Mull) but didn't get to explore.
Glad I found this channel. Been stuck in Edinburgh for too long. Given me lots of ideas.
I’m glad Philip! I’ve discovered so much more of Scotland with this wee hobby. All the best!
Wow, thanks for that! Stunning scenery!! Bought back memories of school trip to Iona, but by train and boat! Oban to Mull, Mull to Iona. Happy days!!
Thanks Nigel!
Great walk over the bridge.This flight is now top of my bucket-list.
It’s so cool Janet! And the folks at Hebridean and Oban airport are so friendly!
I love it. Never knew this existed
Ha me neither until very recently!
What a absolutely stunning flight and the scenery is amazing thank you Steve for another fantastic video and entertaining my boy kean who's even more excited about our trip to your fair land 😀 kean asks if you could would you sit next to the pilot and help fly the plane 😆
Kean, I wouldn’t need the pilot, I’d do all the flying myself :)
@@steve-marsh thanks for the reply Steve kean says that's fine as long as he can be the co-pilot and help you fly the plane 😀
@@MrJoffster Anytime! :)
@@steve-marsh kean has just said he wants to send you some money so you can have a coffee next time your at oban airport 😉
Wow, I love Scotland!! Thanks for the video, I've loved every second, another place in my wish list!
Thanks so much! :)
It's the little things that make life worthwhile. Put them all together and your adventure grows. Thank you.
Well said!
That's brilliant that. Scotland's equivalent to bush flying or Alaska flying.
Sit up front🤣🤣🤣 see yourself as a budding co-pilot then. Great views all round though, you won't get that in your average passenger aircraft. Another one for the "to do" list.👍
Haha absolutely, give me the controls anytime :) cheers Michael!
When we're in Scotland and if we get to meet you, I'll have to tell you about our seriously comical flight from Kirkwall to North Ronaldsay 😀
Like you, we liked the fact that you barely get off the ground and the views of the islands as you pass over them are magnificent. Great video as always.
Oh guys I hope this happens! You’ve got me googling it already :)
I have traveled from Bandirma to Istanbul, Turkey and back in an "Islander" in 1990. Wish it could be much longer flight but each one lasted only 25 minutes. Very good and strong aircraft with a fixed landing gear. Thank you for the video.
Magnificent, the flight may be short but it is oh so sweet, superb scenery I am now quite envious., all the best and stay well.
Cool flight! Fantastic journey!
I was surprised there was no co-pilot though. 😯🤔⚠️
Yeah me too! I was ready to jump into the hotseat if required!
@@steve-marsh I sure would have asked, "Hey! Can I ride shotgun?"
Great video. I'm surprised there was not 2 pilots on board.
Pilots are expensive.
What a great video. I really liked the plane...it's pretty cool! And the scenery is beautiful! Thank you for sharing!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I'm a long-time F-simmer (30+ years) and I often get bored with real flights produced by some folk that seem to enjoy promoting their degree of knowledge instead of the delights of the flight and scenery. Yes. it's nice to get a little useful info' on the aircraft. performance etc, but I also want to enjoy the flight experience. Now, at last, someone who's given a most enjoyable no-nonsense commentary on a short flight, just sharing his pleasure. Some nice, clear photography, gorgeous views of the isles, one nice t/o, two tidy landings, and a little look around before, during and after the flights. I really enjoyed this video and would love to see some more. Many thanks for posting. It's a thumbs-up from me. Funny thing is, I did that selfsame flight two days ago in a Cessna (using MSFS2020), and tonight have just discovered this video!
Thanks so much for the awesome feedback Reg! :)
Now that is what you call a school bus😀
The school pupils were so chilled about it - and then there was ME 🤣
Hi steve,wonderful flight beautiful pictures,is this the only leg the airline fly's? cheer's bob from down under(sydney australia).
Cheers Bob! They also fly to other islands, do charters and sightseeing flights, all with this one aircraft. They go places like Islay, Colonsay etc...
This is proper flying 😉👍 What a stunning place!
Great to see the pilot and cockpit.
"sound of Mull" was more like the sound of the starboard engine. Last at Tobermory in 1968 for the Highland Games.
I assume the flights never get high enough to be picked up by any of the ADS-B receivers and that’s why they don’t show of FlightRadar
Ahhh good point! I normally like to include the route but this was a real ghost plane :)
Just love the views, all the tiny islands, on your way to Oban,
Great video as always Steve
I'm loving your little island hopping flight Steve. Very enjoyable. Take care buddy. 👌😎☕️🍁
Another cracking video. You’re the sort of guy that needs to hired to show people these hidden gems of Scotland 🏴!!!
Cheers for the kind words :)
Stunning
Wow!!!
Look at the views on this vid.
Congrats.
Beautiful work.
👍👏
Cheers Monica! :)
A nice show. Enjoyed thank you
Thanks John!
Steve wonderful video and some really beautiful landscapes thank you
Cheers Russ!
Thank You very much for this nice trip over The Beautiful landscape 👍🌷🌷🌷
PS...
Britten Norman Islander 👍❤
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks so much!
Very nice... thanks for the tour!
Cheers Herman!
a wee Scottish Airline perhaps, but colossal of heart.
So true :)
Very well done. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you too!
Thanks for exploring this route from Oban to Coll. Really enjoyed your video footage 'oot the windae.' Aviation adventure!
Cheers Kevin!
Lovely and very enjoyable too watch......
Thanks so much :)
Fantastic video mate , you learn something everyday , thanks for this one too.
Thanks so much for coming along :)
Hi Steve. thanks for taking me along to Coll. A most enjoyable trip. Spent a lot of time in Oban but did'nt know about Connell airport. Thank you Steve. There used to be a sea plane service from Glasgow to Oban don't know if it is still in service. Best wishes to you and your good lady.
Ohhh Derek, that would be an amazing flight, I’ll be frantically googling it now :) all the best from both of us :)
Lovely stuff; beautiful country. Thanks.
Cheers Terence :)
Lovely Little Aircraft
WOW What a view from up there
You make awesome vlogs, Steve.
Thank you!!!!! 👌🏴
Thanks so much :)
Love these videos Steve, keep them coming .
Thanks so much :)