Flight Simulator Flights at X6BU Bute

Bute (X6BU) is a small grass airfield situated on the Isle of Bute, an island in the Firth of Clyde off the west coast of Scotland. It offers a single grass runway suited to light aircraft, set within the island's characteristic mix of hilly terrain and low-lying farmland.

Overview

X6BU is a small grass airfield on the Isle of Bute, an island lying in the Firth of Clyde. The island is divided into highland and lowland areas by the Highland Boundary Fault, giving the surrounding terrain a distinctive mix of hills to the north and gentler, cultivated land further south. For a visiting VFR pilot, the appeal lies chiefly in the island setting itself, with the Firth of Clyde and neighbouring islands of Arran, Inchmarnock and the Cumbraes all within easy reach.

Airspace & Location

The airfield is located on the Isle of Bute, an island in the Firth of Clyde separated from the Cowal peninsula to the north by the narrow Kyles of Bute and from the Ayrshire coast to the east by open water. The island's only town, Rothesay, lies on the eastern side of the island, with smaller settlements including Port Bannatyne to its north and the hamlets of Ascog, Kilchattan Bay and Kingarth elsewhere on the island. No specific controlled airspace or air traffic service for the field is described in the available material.

Runways

The airfield has a single grass runway, 09/27, measuring 1574 feet in length. There is no ILS. Field elevation is 48 feet.

Visual Reference Points

The island's hilly northern interior, rising to Windy Hill at 278 metres, and its western beaches overlooking the Sound of Bute towards Arran and Inchmarnock, offer useful general landmarks for pilots locating the island from the air. Loch Fad, the island's largest body of freshwater, runs along the central fault line and is another notable feature visible from above.