Fancy a ride in an Aerobatic plane
Fancy a ride in an Aerobatic plane
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Discussion

J4CKO

Original Poster:

44,663 posts

216 months

As per the title, mentioned it to my wife that I would like a ride in one, so she said she will get it me for my birthday.

Any suggestions, experiences ?

I am ok with rollercoasters and stuff so expect it’s much more extreme version, just looks so amazing.


lancslad58

1,414 posts

24 months

Not Aerobatic but one of these might be of interest....wing walking ....tiger moth...


https://www.redletterdays.co.uk/flying

FlyVintage

196 posts

7 months

I’ll do a shout out for the club I belong to; The Tiger Club

Tiger Moth flights (including aerobatics)
Pure aerobatic flights in the CAP 10
Instruction, if (when) you get hooked smile

https://www.tigerclub.co.uk/

Panamax

6,652 posts

50 months

J4CKO said:
Any suggestions, experiences ?
Take a sick bag - you'll need it.

J4CKO

Original Poster:

44,663 posts

216 months

Panamax said:
J4CKO said:
Any suggestions, experiences ?
Take a sick bag - you'll need it.
I am fairly good at not puking or being remotely bothered by being flung about, but never been in an aerobatic plane so will see what happens.


lufbramatt

5,497 posts

150 months

Invicta flying club at Rochester do rides in their pitts special.

Got one as a 40th birthday present. Flight booked in for early September. Will report back biggrin

Simpo Two

89,407 posts

281 months

I'm reminded of this splendid story smile

https://dickmartin.wordpress.com/pilot-jokes-archi...

Panamax

6,652 posts

50 months

^^^ Nice one!

Riley Blue

22,466 posts

242 months

J4CKO said:
Panamax said:
J4CKO said:
Any suggestions, experiences ?
Take a sick bag - you'll need it.
I am fairly good at not puking or being remotely bothered by being flung about, but never been in an aerobatic plane so will see what happens.
A few years back on a visit to Duxford my O/H bought me a flight in a Tiger Moth. As we were completing the paperwork 'Billy Big bks' swaggered in with his two mates to book a fully aerobatic jaunt in a Harvard.

I little after I landed so did he, the first thing his mates did was take him over the hangar to hose him down.

Have fun!

eharding

14,552 posts

300 months

J4CKO said:
Panamax said:
J4CKO said:
Any suggestions, experiences ?
Take a sick bag - you'll need it.
I am fairly good at not puking or being remotely bothered by being flung about, but never been in an aerobatic plane so will see what happens.
Contrary to what you might think, I'd advise having a fat boy breakfast before flying aeros. Nothing worse than having an empty stomach, which if you're nervous just results in a load of acid swilling around, and more likely to make you chunder.

Your location is listed as Cheshire - proximity of operation for these sort of flights is always a benefit because there is always the chance of an unexpected weather or tech cancellation at the last minute, which will be a ball-ache if you've travelled hours to get to the airfield. I note North West Aerobatics have an Extra 300 which will give you all of the aerobatics you want. If on the other hand you find the South East convenient, give Mike at Ultimate Aerobatics at White Waltham a call. It pays to book direct with the organisation rather than buying a generic 'experience' voucher.

Also, read the small print regarding weight limits on the aircraft you're planning on flying in - again, talking to the operating company direct will help here as they will know these details. Needing to strip down to your underwear to fit under the weight limit is always embarrassing....but regardless of where you go or what you fly, have fun!


sospan

2,696 posts

238 months

I had a flight in a Bulldog out of Old Sarum a few years ago. Present from my wife. She thought I would choose a golfing trip.....
The instructor was brilluant. Got me to taxi to the runway. When airborne he let me take control for level flight, climb and descend slowly, simple turns. First time I was given control.Then the fun!
Loop, wing- overs, tight turns, with him in control. Then he let me have a go. Repeated loop, turns, wing-overs etc. He then did more complex stuff with spins etc. Loved every second. I flew back and lined up on the runway, him taking over close to landing.
I looked at getting a PPL but cost, plane access etc meant a choice between cars/planes. Cars won .
I did a couple more flights in a Cessna out of Pembrey and Swansea though. Even flew a helicopter from Swansea. More intense than a plane! Very sensitive controls but great fun.
So.....give it a go.
My mate had a Spitfire flight from Swansea a couple of months ago. NOT cheap but a present from his wife.

J4CKO

Original Poster:

44,663 posts

216 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
eharding said:
J4CKO said:
Panamax said:
J4CKO said:
Any suggestions, experiences ?
Take a sick bag - you'll need it.
I am fairly good at not puking or being remotely bothered by being flung about, but never been in an aerobatic plane so will see what happens.
Contrary to what you might think, I'd advise having a fat boy breakfast before flying aeros. Nothing worse than having an empty stomach, which if you're nervous just results in a load of acid swilling around, and more likely to make you chunder.

Your location is listed as Cheshire - proximity of operation for these sort of flights is always a benefit because there is always the chance of an unexpected weather or tech cancellation at the last minute, which will be a ball-ache if you've travelled hours to get to the airfield. I note North West Aerobatics have an Extra 300 which will give you all of the aerobatics you want. If on the other hand you find the South East convenient, give Mike at Ultimate Aerobatics at White Waltham a call. It pays to book direct with the organisation rather than buying a generic 'experience' voucher.

Also, read the small print regarding weight limits on the aircraft you're planning on flying in - again, talking to the operating company direct will help here as they will know these details. Needing to strip down to your underwear to fit under the weight limit is always embarrassing....but regardless of where you go or what you fly, have fun!
203.6 pounds as of this morning and should be about 185/190 by the time I do it, most quote the weight limit as between 217 and 238 pounds so should be well within and not need to fly by the literal seat of my pants biggrin Part of my reason for dropping a bit of timber was thinking of doing this and didnt want to be at the limit or anywhere near.

I think I will indeed book direct rather than buy a voucher, why involve a third party if you dont need to.

J4CKO

Original Poster:

44,663 posts

216 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
I'm reminded of this splendid story smile

https://dickmartin.wordpress.com/pilot-jokes-archi...
That made me smile ! Cheers.

48k

15,358 posts

164 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
J4CKO said:
As per the title, mentioned it to my wife that I would like a ride in one, so she said she will get it me for my birthday.

Any suggestions, experiences ?

I am ok with rollercoasters and stuff so expect it’s much more extreme version, just looks so amazing.
Ultimate High come highly recommended as the "go to" for this sort of thing.

https://www.ultimatehigh.co.uk/

GliderRider

2,747 posts

97 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Our club had a visit from Guy Westgate with his MDM-1 Fox aerobatic glider.
Having done most of the 'tame' stuff (loops, chandelles, stall turns and spins) in our club gliders, this was an opportunity to be a bit more adventurous. As the aerotows were to 5000ft, we had enough height to try several manoeuvres, so I went for:

Outside loop
Inverted flight
Inverted spin
Tailslide
Immelmann (half loop with a half roll off the top)
Eight point hesitation roll
Axial roll (forbidden in most gliders because of their long wings and torsional forces involved)
Barrel roll

I'm sure Guy threw in a few others, but I can't remember them. We also rolled inverted on the aerotow at 300ft, and did a fair chunk of it like that.

The lack of an engine, once released from the tug, requires careful flying as it is vital to conserve as much energy as possible from one manoueuvre to the next.



Edited by GliderRider on Tuesday 26th August 11:37

Biggles Flies Undone

387 posts

17 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Panamax said:
J4CKO said:
Any suggestions, experiences ?
Take a sick bag - you'll need it.
As an aerobatic instructor, that is simply not true. I've only ever had one person throw up and that was after we landed and they were out of the aircraft. They had refused all instructions to have something to eat beforehand and it turned out afterwards they were hungover as well...

Where are you based Jacko? I can point you in the right direction for a decent aeros experience.

J4CKO

Original Poster:

44,663 posts

216 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Biggles Flies Undone said:
Panamax said:
J4CKO said:
Any suggestions, experiences ?
Take a sick bag - you'll need it.
As an aerobatic instructor, that is simply not true. I've only ever had one person throw up and that was after we landed and they were out of the aircraft. They had refused all instructions to have something to eat beforehand and it turned out afterwards they were hungover as well...

Where are you based Jacko? I can point you in the right direction for a decent aeros experience.
Hi Biggles, am in Cheshire, near Manchester Airport, though their flight experiences are subpar by and large....

Biggles Flies Undone

387 posts

17 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
J4CKO said:
Biggles Flies Undone said:
Panamax said:
J4CKO said:
Any suggestions, experiences ?
Take a sick bag - you'll need it.
As an aerobatic instructor, that is simply not true. I've only ever had one person throw up and that was after we landed and they were out of the aircraft. They had refused all instructions to have something to eat beforehand and it turned out afterwards they were hungover as well...

Where are you based Jacko? I can point you in the right direction for a decent aeros experience.
Hi Biggles, am in Cheshire, near Manchester Airport, though their flight experiences are subpar by and large....
Great, I have just seen that Mr Harding has also suggested a couple of places and I would thoroughly recommend Mike at Ultimate Aeros as well. A bit closer to home for you, would be North-West Aerobatics at Barton. You'll definitely get what you need there and Rob and Tony are great guys too. They have an Extra 200, a Christen Eagle and a Citabria as well, which can be used depending on how wild you want to go.

If you are new to this, the Extra is a proper piece of kit, I'm more used to the 300 rather than the 200 (though it has been years since I flew either), but it's a lovely machine to fly. The Eagle is also fabulous, quite different and much draggier, but for someone new to aerobatics, then more than enough!

Definitely book direct, rather than through a voucher company.

Condi

18,992 posts

187 months

Yesterday (22:47)
quotequote all
48k said:
Ultimate High come highly recommended as the "go to" for this sort of thing.

https://www.ultimatehigh.co.uk/
And you get fly, rather than just be a passenger.