Aviation Festival off to a flying start

September 15, 2017 at 2:15 pm

This Sunday will see a visit by the seaplane G-DRAM to commemorate Squadron Commander Dunning.

Orkney Aviation Festival got off to a flying start yesterday, with a talk from aviation historian Iain Hutchison.

With a packed itinerary full of fun and educational activities throughout the weekend, this year’s festival celebrates two important events in aviation history — the 50th anniversary of Loganair’s Orkney inter-island air service, and the centenary of the world’s first landing of an aircraft onto a moving ship by Squadron Commander Dunning.

Tonight, it’s time to get the popcorn ready for a fun fancy dress night at the Phoenix Cinema, Kirkwall, where cult comedy Airplane! will be shown.

There will prizes on the night and if you can prove your name is Shirley, you could win yourself a free ticket for the show! According to organisers, at least one Shirley has already come forward to claim her prize.

Rounding off the weekend’s events will be a visit, on Sunday, by the seaplane G-DRAM to commemorate Squadron Commander Dunning. The aircraft will be touching down at Orkney’s WW1 Naval Air Station sites. Meanwhile, it’s all aboard for an Open Day at HMS Tern/Twatt Aerodrome, hosted by Birsay Heritage Trust & Argo’s.