Islay Airport will host its annual open day on Sunday 22 August, including aerobatics displays and a parachute team display.

The event will run from 1pm to 5pm and will feature pleasure flights in a vintage Dragon Rapide aircraft and a cliff rescue display by HM Coastguard.

Aerobatics will be performed with a Yak 50 aircraft and an Army Air Corp islander is also scheduled to attend the airport. There will also be a static display of the Royal Navy 177 rescue helicopter and performances by Islay Pipe Band. Strathclyde Fire Brigade will demonstrate vehicle rescue techniques during the afternoon while the Airport Fire Service will also display its fire appliances.

Islay Airport Station Manager Andrew Lindsay said: “Last year’s open day was a great success and we look forward to welcoming many local people and visitors to the island to the airport on Sunday.”

Roy Cartledge, Regional Manager South with HIAL, added: “The open day will also provide the opportunity for people to see the results of the major upgrade and refurbishment of the terminal that was completed earlier this year.”

HIAL has invested more than £3 million at Islay Airport over the past two years, including the £2.1 million resurfacing of the airport’s two runways that was completed in December 2002 and work on navigational aids carried out last year. Airport operations were uninterrupted during these projects.

The £750,000 terminal upgrade and extension completed at the famous whisky distilling island’s airport includes a gateway project that gives travellers a flavour of the history and culture of the island when they arrive by air.

The terminal, which handled more than 22,000 passengers last year, has been upgraded and extended to accommodate a new passenger departure lounge, enhanced check-in facilities along with the introduction of a departure control system and an automated baggage reclaim system. The upgrade included facilities for the security screening of hold and cabin baggage and a new archway metal detector for screening passengers. Car parking and disabled facilities have also been extended. The work was carried out to meet UK Department for Transport regulations under the National Airport Security Programme.

In the year ending 31 March 2004, Islay Airport handled 22,382 passengers and 2,623 individual aircraft movements, including scheduled, charter, general aviation, military and air ambulance flights.

Islay received its first recorded flight in July 1928. Midland Scottish Air Ferries operated the island’s first scheduled flight on 16 May 1933, arriving from Renfrew via Campbeltown. Two days earlier, on 14 May 1933, the island’s first air ambulance flight, using a De Havilland Dragon aircraft, landed on the beach at the head of Lochindaal to collect a local fisherman suffering from abdominal pains.

The airport at Gelegadale opened for business in 1935 and was taken over by the RAF during World War Two. The hard runways that exist today at Islay originally date from 1940. The Avro Ansons of 48 Squadron, Beaufighter and Beaufort aircraft of 304 Ferry Training Unit used the new runways while flying boats of 119 Squadron landed in nearby Laggan Bay . By 1944 the airfield was under the control of Coastal Command and included three runways and six hangars. Personnel stationed there included 266 WAAF and 1,113 RAF servicemen.

Many different aircraft have used Islay Airport over the decades, ranging from a Hercules and a BAE 146 jet of the Royal Flight to the smallest microlights. Loganair now uses Saab 340s for scheduled flights to Glasgow and many charter aircraft from the UK and overseas land at the airport. Scottish Air Ambulance Service planes and helicopters are regular visitors along with a variety military and private aircraft.

The terminal building at Islay has also developed over the years and is now unrecognisable from the wooden hut that first welcomed passengers in 1935.

ENDS