Flying experiences - any recommendations ?
Flying experiences - any recommendations ?
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Mrs BlueCerbera

Original Poster:

2,208 posts

270 months

Monday 3rd October 2005
quotequote all
Wondering whether anyone has any recommendations re. companies to buy 'flying experience' gifts from.

It's my mum's 70th next month and I know she'd love something like the Tiger Moth experiences you can buy. I sent her up in a hot air balloon for her 60th and she said she wanted to go 'wing walking' for her 70th, but for some reason I'm not sure I like that idea :yikes:.

So, if anyone's either done this, or bought as a gift for someone else, I'd be very grateful for any recommendations.

Cheers
Penny

:)

mr_tony

6,351 posts

299 months

Monday 3rd October 2005
quotequote all
did tiger moth red letter day I ot for my 30th bday down at redhill this weekend.

Very good - flight v short (20 mins).

You get to control the plane (dual controls like in a car) - no rudders just stick. I flew in control for about 10 of the 20 minutes and was allowed to do a few basic manouvres (left, right, climb, dive).

HAve to say the moth is awesome, but v lgiht and in a 25 knot wind bloody 'exciting'! Moth flying very weather dependent though, flights stop most places at end of october as conditions tend to be unfavourable...

PM me for more info

Company to contact direct is www.deltaaviation.co.uk




>> Edited by mr_tony on Monday 3rd October 15:44

r988

7,496 posts

259 months

Monday 3rd October 2005
quotequote all
I was looking at doing one of these in the next few months myself

http://tinyurl.com/cjena

A lot of the tiger moths and other vintage aricraft are put in storage during the winter months though, something to keep in mind, IIRC some of the ones on the above site go all year around.

Check out the aerobatics ones on that same site, if she thinks she is nuts enough to go wing walking she's probably like that

Smart roadster

769 posts

256 months

Monday 3rd October 2005
quotequote all
Don't waste money using events companies or the ones flogged in a certain big newsagent.
Depends on your location but most flying schools do site seeing flights at around the £110 - £150 per hour mark.
Not sure if they do pleasure flights but the Utterly butterly people are based near Cierencester. The name of the field escapes me at the moment but if she wants to wing walk they are the people to talk to.
If you say where you are then I might be able to give you the name of a school.

timmy30

9,325 posts

257 months

Monday 3rd October 2005
quotequote all
[quote=Smart roadster]
Depends on your location but most flying schools do site seeing flights at around the £110 - £150 per hour mark.
quote]



The flying school in High Wycombe did me a 1hr introductory lesson for £90.00, great fun got to do all of the usual things, dive, turn, etc drove the plane over my house, mates houses etc. Great stuff.

turbobloke

117,232 posts

290 months

Monday 3rd October 2005
quotequote all
Smart roadster said:
Not sure if they do pleasure flights but the Utterly butterly people are based near Cierencester. The name of the field escapes me at the moment.
South Cerney?

Eric Mc

125,701 posts

295 months

Monday 3rd October 2005
quotequote all
Most flying schools will provide you with an initial air experience flight - usually of about 30 minutes. However, you will probably be in fairly standard American light aircraft such as a Piper Cherokee, Cessna 150/152 or perhaps an AA-5. If you are lucky you might get a ride in something slightly more exotic like s Slingsby 67 Firefly.

However, you won't get a ride in a vintage bi-plane.

chim666

2,337 posts

295 months

Monday 3rd October 2005
quotequote all
turbobloke said:

Smart roadster said:
Not sure if they do pleasure flights but the Utterly butterly people are based near Cierencester. The name of the field escapes me at the moment.

South Cerney?
Rendcomb
www.aerosuperbatics.com/

They have quite a selection of planes in WW1 - type hangars. I know they do (or did) bi-plane experiences and some basic aerobatic experiences.

Mrs BlueCerbera

Original Poster:

2,208 posts

270 months

Monday 3rd October 2005
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies chaps.

Extra 300 Driver

5,282 posts

276 months

Monday 3rd October 2005
quotequote all
Deal with the local clubs, or where ever.

When you buy a gift, other than direct, you will pay way OTT.

For a 60 min trial lesson n a 4 seater, so you can take some friends up, would be about £100.

White Walthem do Tiger Moth trips, also see about a flight in a YAK52. They are great aeroplanes.

shadytree

8,291 posts

279 months

Monday 3rd October 2005
quotequote all


MIG-29 over Moscow

>> Edited by shadytree on Monday 3rd October 16:08

zippee

14,131 posts

264 months

Monday 3rd October 2005
quotequote all
When I was learning microlights I got talking to my instructor about these gift companies. My flying school accepted the RLD etc certificates that sold for about £80-100, he said that exactly the same flight/experience booked direct with the school would have been £50 - they could even have done a fancy gift cert as well.

UKBob

16,277 posts

295 months

Monday 3rd October 2005
quotequote all
I flew to the isle of wight on Saturday, landed for lunch and then flew back to shoreham. Not sure that Shoreham would be the closest airfield for you though, just ring your local airfield who may have several businesses operating from the same area.

Its fantastic! I had the controls 97% of the time, and we flew just under gorgeous great big fluffy clouds, dark menacing rain clouds, we saw showers from the sky (spectacular to watch) and floated home amidst a stunning golden sunset of colour and light Worth every penny, Id recommend a trial flight to everyone who'se not yet had one

Extra 300 Driver

5,282 posts

276 months

Monday 3rd October 2005
quotequote all
Hey, come flying with me! You will never complain about easyJet landings again!

zippee

14,131 posts

264 months

Monday 3rd October 2005
quotequote all
Extra 300 Driver said:
Hey, come flying with me! You will never complain about easyJet landings again!

Is that an open invite to all then Nick? Nudge, Hint etc!!!!

Mrs BlueCerbera

Original Poster:

2,208 posts

270 months

Monday 3rd October 2005
quotequote all
zippee said:

Extra 300 Driver said:
Hey, come flying with me! You will never complain about easyJet landings again!


Is that an open invite to all then Nick? Nudge, Hint etc!!!!


Where do we queue up ?!

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

285 months

Monday 3rd October 2005
quotequote all
Mrs BlueCerbera said:

It's my mum's 70th next month.....she said she wanted to go 'wing walking'......



Did you inherit any of your mum's insanity, Mrs BC..?

Mrs BlueCerbera

Original Poster:

2,208 posts

270 months

Monday 3rd October 2005
quotequote all
mybrainhurts said:

Mrs BlueCerbera said:

It's my mum's 70th next month.....she said she wanted to go 'wing walking'......




Did you inherit any of your mum's insanity, Mrs BC..?


I hope I'm as nutty as her when I grow up

Extra 300 Driver

5,282 posts

276 months

Monday 3rd October 2005
quotequote all
Yeah you lot cam come up if ya like. Will have to take the C210 though, as the Extra has :sniffsniff: gone!

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

285 months

Monday 3rd October 2005
quotequote all
It's gone very quiet, innit....?