EGPI - Islay Airport, Scotland GB

World Heritage Sites Air Adventures: Whisky, Whiskey, Whales, and Gophers
Operation Highland Haul: The Great Scottish Sweep
Aircraft: DHC-5 "Pipi" (N8086K)
Date: June 14, 2025
Guest Co-Pilots: Graham Chapman, Billy Connolly, David Attenborough

Mission Overview
While the DHC-5 "Pipi" only landed at three primary airports—Campbeltown, Gigha, and Islay—our support crew executed additional landings and sorties wherever feasible, utilizing the versatile EM-50ex and the rugged Gopher Tanks to reach remote distilleries and outposts, ensuring that no bounty was left behind. These support vehicles allowed the squadron to collect whisky, supplies, and local delicacies from locations inaccessible to the main aircraft, maximizing the haul and the adventure for all involved.

Phase 1: Glasgow to Campbeltown – Graham Chapman
Right! This is your guest co-pilot, Graham Chapman, commandeering the logbook as we depart Glasgow with Cropduster at the helm—his moustache and goatee impeccably groomed, already glistening with anticipation for the next bowl of noodles—and the crew in high spirits. Before we get too far, I must announce that today’s leg is proudly sponsored by Scott Pallets: Raising Scotland’s Spirits, One Barrel at a Time. ‘If it’s not on a Scott Pallet, it’s not going far!’ Rather like some of our crew, I suspect.

As the city slips away beneath our wings, the gentle strum and warm vocals of Dougie MacLean’s ‘Caledonia’ drift through the DHC-5’s speakers. The melody wraps us in a sense of homecoming and longing, the kind that makes even the most hardened aviator pause and gaze out at the misty hills beyond the window. Lani and Kai, our four-legged morale officers, have already returned from a brisk preflight romp in the drizzle, and now the unmistakable, earthy scent of wet dog—pungent, musty, and oddly comforting—lingers in the cabin, mingling with the aromas of malt and anticipation.

Glasgow Stop:
Before departure, Cropduster insisted on a visit to ‘Ramen Dayo!’ on Ashton Lane, Glasgow’s original ramen shop. He slurped down a steaming bowl of ‘Clydebank Curry Ramen’—a rich chicken and curry broth with thick noodles, Scottish chicken, soft-boiled egg, leeks, and a dash of local curry sauce. ‘Nothing like a bowl of noodles to start a Highland haul,’ he declared, broth dripping from his moustache and goatee.

At Prestwick, we acquired Ayrshire cheese, Turnberry golf balls, and a crate of haggis—none of which, I assure you, the dogs have managed to liberate. Campbeltown brought barrels of Springbank and Glen Scotia, plus smoked salmon for the crew’s midnight rations. The DHC-5 now smells of adventure, malt, and that persistent fug of damp canine—a scent that clings to flight suits and memories alike.

Support Crew Operations:
While the DHC-5 landed only at Campbeltown, the support crew, using the EM-50ex and Gopher Tanks, made tactical landings and sorties to nearby distilleries and supply points, ensuring the cargo hold was filled with the region’s finest offerings. These vehicles, renowned for their off-road and short-field capabilities, allowed the team to access locations that would otherwise be out of reach for the main aircraft.

With the hold filling and the crew’s accents thickening, we set course for Gigha, where my kilted replacement awaits, and I remind all: ‘No golf on the flight deck!’ Lani’s paw hovers over the ‘Nessie Alert’ button, and anything could happen next.

Phase 2: Gigha & Jura – Billy Connolly
Billy Connolly here, takin’ over the logbook and the right-hand seat! Before we go any further, let me give a big shout out to our sponsor for this leg: the Hebridean Oatcake Cooperative – Fuelling Island Adventures Since 1873. ‘Oatcakes: The only thing more rugged than the landscape.’ Never let it be said we flew these islands on an empty stomach—or an empty sense of humour!

Just as we taxi out, the unmistakable stomp and infectious chorus of The Proclaimers’ ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)’ erupts from the sound system. The whole crew can’t help but join in, voices rising with each chorus, the rhythm matching the bounce of the Buffalo’s wheels along the island airstrips. There’s laughter, clapping, and a sense that, no matter how far we roam, we’d walk—or fly—five hundred miles for a dram and a story in these isles.

Gigha Stop:
On Gigha, Cropduster led us to ‘Noodle Nirvana’—a tiny hut with a view of the sea. Their ‘Hebridean Surf & Turf Ramen’ features a dashi broth with local crab, wild garlic, Stornoway black pudding, and hand-pulled noodles. Cropduster inhaled two bowls, his moustache and goatee now sporting a fresh sheen of broth and satisfaction. ‘If I ever disappear, check the noodle shops first.’

As we prepared to load up the next round of Jura barrels, Sergeant Major Palin’s unmistakable bellow rang out across the apron:
“Right! Today we’re going to do marching up and down the square. That is, unless anyone’s got anything better to do? Anyone? No? Good! Left, right, left, right—no slouching, and no nipping off for ramen until I say so!”

Several crew, including Rick ‘Powder’ Burgess and Kacie ‘O-Ren’ Liu, tried to slip away to the noodle hut, but were promptly excused by the Sergeant Major, who then found himself alone and muttering about democracy and the decline of discipline.

Support Crew Operations:
During this phase, while the DHC-5 landed at Gigha, the support crew fanned out in the EM-50ex and Gopher Tanks, landing or driving wherever possible to collect whisky barrels, oatcakes, and local specialties from Jura and other nearby islands. The flexibility of these vehicles ensured that the squadron’s haul was both bountiful and diverse, even from the most remote corners.

Jura next—barrels from the distillery, plush Highland coos for the squadron mascot shelf, and peat bricks for emergencies. The cargo bay is a riot of whisky, oatcakes, and laughter. Meanwhile, Lani and Kai, still slightly damp from their earlier escapades, shake off another round of Hebridean drizzle. The smell of wet dog—earthy, swampy, and reminiscent of sodden wool and rain-soaked carpets—permeates the cargo bay, a constant reminder that adventure is never entirely clean or tidy. Spirits are high, and the crew’s on patrol for stray haggis. Islay, here we come!

Phase 3: Islay Finale – David Attenborough
This is David Attenborough, joining Cropduster for the final approach to Islay. Before we touch down, allow me to thank our sponsor for this concluding phase: Peat & Peeterson’s Islay Mud Spa and Barrel Rejuvenation Clinic. ‘Where whisky barrels and weary aviators alike come for a restorative peat bath and a dram of the good stuff. Our secret? It’s all in the mud!’

As the DHC-5 descends over the rugged coast, Runrig’s sweeping version of ‘Loch Lomond’ fills the cabin—pipes and electric guitars blending into a soaring anthem. The music seems to lift the aircraft itself, every note echoing the grandeur of the landscape below and the bittersweet joy of a journey’s end. The crew grows quiet, taking in the view, the song, and the significance of the moment.

Islay Stop:
Upon landing, Cropduster made a beeline for ‘Broth & Beyond’—Islay’s only ramen shack, run by a retired fisherman. Their ‘Peat-Smoked Whisky Ramen’ is legendary: a smoky chicken and kelp broth, barley noodles, Islay whisky-cured pork, soft egg, and a drizzle of peated whisky oil. Cropduster, eyes misty and moustache-goatee combo glistening with broth, declared, ‘This is the taste of Scotland in a bowl.’

The DHC-5, expertly piloted, arrives with a cargo hold brimming with Scotland’s finest: legendary whiskies—Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Ardbeg, Bowmore, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Kilchoman, Ardnahoe, Port Charlotte—plus tartan scarves, clan banners, plush Highland cows, mysterious ‘Nessie’s Eggs,’ and the revered ‘Angel’s Share’ barrel. Lani and Kai, ever attentive, oversee the offloading with the dignity befitting seasoned aviators, their fur still radiating that persistent, unmistakable ‘eau de wet dog’ that now seems as much a part of the squadron as the sound of coconuts and the clink of whisky glasses.

Support Crew Operations:
On Islay, as at each stop, the support crew continued their mission, landing or deploying wherever possible in the EM-50ex and Gopher Tanks to gather additional bounty from outlying distilleries and villages, ensuring the squadron’s celebration was truly comprehensive.

But as any Tiger Shark Squadron pilot knows, a mission’s not complete until the ground crew have had their fun. And on Islay, they outdid themselves.

End of the Day – Observed by David Attenborough
Here, on the windswept tarmac of Islay, an extraordinary spectacle unfolds. As the sun begins its descent, anticipation builds for the First Annual Barrel Relay—a contest of wit and strength between aviators and locals alike. Barrels, polished to a gentle sheen, await their moment. At the signal, they roll and tumble across the airfield, watched intently by Lani, whose herding instincts ensure order is maintained. Kai, ever exuberant, inadvertently causes a minor pile-up with a Gopher Tank, prompting a ripple of laughter that carries on the breeze.

Not to be outshone, the Gopher Tanks become the centrepiece of a tartan-festooned ceilidh parade. Under the guidance of Rick ‘Powder’ Burgess and Kacie ‘O-Ren’ Liu, the tanks wheel gracefully, confetti bursting in time to the familiar refrain of ‘Donald Where’s Your Troosers?’ The air is alive with laughter and the unmistakable aroma of damp dog fur.

The Haggis Drop Challenge follows. The EM-50ex, piloted by Tyrell ‘Slip’ Grisi, launches parcels skyward, while Kai retrieves each one with remarkable enthusiasm, earning applause and the occasional oatcake.

Meanwhile, the Nessie’s Egg Scavenger Hunt is underway. Plush, squeaky eggs are discovered in the most unlikely places—beneath the EM-50ex, inside a whisky barrel, even atop the nose of the DC-3—thanks in no small part to the keen noses of Isabella ‘The Wiz’ Hermosa, Su-Jin ‘Choo-Choo’ Cho, and Lani.

As dusk settles, the entire squadron assembles for the Tarmac Toast and Ceilidh. Tartan blankets are unfurled, and Cropduster’s legendary grill sends forth the aromas of whisky-marinated rabbit and wild boar sausages. Drams are raised, arms linked, and as Runrig’s ‘Loch Lomond’ swells, all—aviators, ground crew, and dogs—join in a final, exuberant ceilidh. The air is thick with the mingled scents of peat, whisky, ramen, cheese, smoked fish, and, inevitably, wet dog, as laughter and music drift into the Islay night.

Amidst the revelry, Reg, self-appointed leader of the People’s Front of Alba, could be heard raising his voice over the crowd:
‘All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, public order, irrigation, roads, a fresh water system, public health, gin, cider, and IPA… what have the Brits ever done for us?’

Closing Scene: David Attenborough
As the festivities wind down and the last rays of sun gild the barrels, the music fades to a gentle hum, and one observes the harmony of crew, canines, and community—brought together by adventure, laughter, and the enduring spirit of Scotland. The DHC-5 ‘Pipi’ rests, her mission complete, as we raise a final toast, the scent of wet dog lingering as a badge of camaraderie and a memory of journeys shared.

And so, as night falls over Islay, the Tiger Shark Squadron and their companions look to the horizon, where a new adventure beckons—across the sea, to the green fields and wild coasts of Ireland.
‘Slàinte mhath and aloha, Islay!’

End Log.

Graham Chapman: “If you’ve read this far, you probably need a drink.”Read more