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Traveller films his 74-second trip on the world’s shortest flight between two Scottish islands

Traveller films his 74-second trip on the world's shortest flight between two Scottish islands 2

A travel vlogger has filmed his trip on the world’s shortest – and technically most expensive – commercial flight, which takes just one minute and 14 seconds.

Noel Philips, 41, shot the video flying between the islands of Papa Westray and Westray in the Scottish archipelago of Orkney – with the flight covering a distance of just 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometres).

The flight only costs £17, but its cost-per-mile ratio applied to a flight from London to Dubai would produce a £34,000 fare. 

Travel vlogger Noel Philips (above) filmed himself experiencing the world's shortest flight, between the islands of Papa Westray and Westray in the Scottish archipelago of Orkney

The Loganair flight covers a distance of just 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometres) and takes just one minute and 14 seconds. The record journey time is 53 seconds

Travel vlogger Noel Philips (left) filmed himself experiencing the world’s shortest flight, between the islands of Papa Westray and Westray in the Scottish archipelago of Orkney. The Loganair flight (right) covers a distance of just 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometres) and takes just one minute and 14 seconds. The record journey time is 53 seconds

The Papa Westray to Westray service can carry up to eight passengers and operates twice a day with Loganair

The Papa Westray to Westray service can carry up to eight passengers and operates twice a day with Loganair

The footage shows Noel, from Mansfield, Derbyshire, boarding the Britten-Norman Islander plane in Papa Westray, with the vlogger setting a timer on his phone to record the length of the journey.

It sets off, flying briefly over the channel of water between the isles as Noel spins the camera around to show the interior of the plane.

‘You barely get airborne from the runway before the aircraft is turning onto its final approach into the destination,’ Noel says in the clip. 

He adds: ‘It ranks as one of the most expensive flights that you can take on a per-mile basis. It’s actually more expensive than Emirates’ first-class.’

Seconds later, the plane touches ground in Westray, as Noel holds up his timer to prove that a total time of one minute and 14 seconds has been recorded. 

Tiny Westray airport comes into view, as a baggage handler helps to unload the small plane.  

The plane used for the service is a Britten-Norman Islander, with the film showing Noel boarding it in Papa Westray

The plane used for the service is a Britten-Norman Islander, with the film showing Noel boarding it in Papa Westray 

The flight can carry up to eight passengers and operates twice a day with Loganair, with the record journey time just 53 seconds.

Some say the flight’s distance makes it environmentally questionable, but the alternative is a 20-minute boat ride through choppy waters.

The route acts as a connecting flight to Kirkwall on Orkney, which helps locals get to the more populous places.

The video shows the interior of the plane, which can carry up to eight passengers and operates twice a day with Loganair

The video shows the interior of the plane, which can carry up to eight passengers and operates twice a day with Loganair

The plane descends into Westray

The plane descends into Westray

The local council has suggested that a bridge be built to connect Papa Westray and Westray, but nothing has been authorised so far.

For the time being, the plane bridges the gap and is used regularly by both tourists and locals.

Describing his trip, Noel said: ‘When I got to Westray, I stayed there overnight to explore, and flew back to Kirkwall the following morning, once again taking the world’s shortest flight along the way.

‘I love flying on little flights like this and travelling around some of the world’s most remote communities.

‘Scotland has so many of these tiny flights connecting the remote communities in the islands, and living in the UK it’s so easy to travel to.

‘The planes that serve these islands are quite small, they’re like getting onboard a minibus.

‘You can’t take any hand baggage onboard, it all has to go in the boot when you get onboard.

A baggage handler unloads bags from the Loganair flight. You can't take any hand baggage onboard, it all has to go in the boot when you get onboard, Noel reveals

The video gives  a view of tiny Westray airport

Pictured left, a baggage handler unloads bags from the Loganair flight. You can’t take any hand baggage onboard, it all has to go in the boot when you get onboard, Noel reveals. On the right, the video gives a view of tiny Westray airport

‘It’s very popular with tourists and aviation enthusiasts.

‘On my flights were several people who were staying on the islands and just wanted to experience the world’s shortest flight.

‘But it’s also relied upon for locals to be able to connect with Kirkwall and be able to leave or return to the islands.’

Noel is no stranger to the world of transport and has travelled on some of the planet’s more obscure flights, trains and transport links.

He has travelled across the globe and reviewed the likes of the world’s ‘longest’, ‘worst’ and most ‘dangerous’ flights.

He said: ‘I’ve been a full-time travel vlogger for three years now.

‘Before this, I worked as an IT consultant and did YouTube as my side hobby.

'You barely get airborne from the runway before the aircraft is turning onto its final approach into the destination,' Noel says in the clip

‘You barely get airborne from the runway before the aircraft is turning onto its final approach into the destination,’ Noel says in the clip

‘I’ve been an aviation enthusiast since a very young age, and I started sharing my passion with others via YouTube in 2013.

‘I was fortunate enough to be able to take it full time in 2019 when my channel grew to such a size that it was taking up more of my time than my full-time job!

‘Since then I’ve travelled around the world and made videos on every continent – apart from Antarctica.

‘I consider myself very lucky to have what I think is the best job in the world – travelling around the world flying on unique airlines and pursuing my passion, then coming home to spend months at home with my family.

‘I still have more countries to visit and more airlines to fly.

‘Every time I think I’ve “done it all”, I find another experience that goes on the list.’

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