Any Warbird experience flight customers?

Think only ride that have paid for over the years is the SNJ-5 at White Waltham in 2014 where paid £600 for two 30 rides. But been lucky over the years and flown 13 other Harvards, 2 Mustangs, 2 Trojans, Provost, Avenger (oh yes paid the fuel for a JP ride) for nought or for services rendered in the UK….plus loads of other types 🙂

Haha, I’ve flown in G-AMPY too, back in 1979 I think at the air tattoo! It was in Eastern markings if memory serves.
Since then I’ve spent hours in Red Arrows Hawks (transits, air tests, formation work, aerobatics) BBMF’s Dakota (just over 20 hours, a few of which were waving from the door).
I’ve also been luck enough to spend nearly 24 hours in the Lancaster, flying in all crew positions except cockpit.

I went up in a Cub at Duxford for 3 minutes, and landed due to weather! It rivals a 7 minute Hawk flight where the cold air unit failed as we began our formation take off roll in Majorca, oil vapour stinging our eyes, but on 100% oxygen.

All the above flights were very special to me and feel fortunate that I’ve been able to enjoy them, and all “money cannot buy” experiences. I’d love to go up in a warbird, but I think unless there’s a windfall of some kind, it’ll remain an ambition.

Flew in/flew MJ627 from Duxford with Classic Wings in July 2015 with Al Pinner. Great experience and still wonder if it was a dream – until I replay the video!

Back in 2006 flew in Dakota G-AMPY to mark the 50th anniversary of my first ever flight in a DC-3 from Lydd to Wick…

Classic Wings Rapide and Tiger Moth and a Chippy ( not with classic wings).

I have had one or two flights but always freebies, but that was long ago, now as Firebird said, the Hurricane would be the only one I would do…if I could ever afford/justify the fee. Just love Hurricanes!

Over the years I have flown in a few warbirds, but most have either been trainer or transports –

C-FGNI C.54 ex USAAF
CF-OVW Dc.3 ex RCAF
G-AIYR DH.89A ex RAF
G-BCSL DHC.1 ex RAF
G-VYGL A.330 ex(?) RAF
HB-HOT Ju.52 ex Swiss AF
N8LU DHC.2 ex US Army
N2899J DHC.3 ex Ghana Air Force
N9856C B.25 ex USAAF
N73544 C.121 ex USAF

But I enjoyed them all 🙂

I’ve had a couple of people on Wings Over NZ ask for photos I’ve taken in passing of their flights in NZ. This is in addition to queries from family/friends of people taking warbirds flights are Ardmore that I’ve given my Flickr details to (10.30 and 12.30 are the normal weekend slots at Ardmore so I may as well practice then if I can).

I paid for a ride in the EAA’s B-17 Aluminum Overcast out of Calgary a couple of years back. It was brilliant, from the preflight briefing, to the noise and vibration on take off, to moving around the plane when airborne – including down into bomb-aimer’s position and looking up out through the top of the fuselage. I would recommend it unreservedly! Some pics…

[ATTACH=CONFIG]262214[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]262215[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]262216[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]262217[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]262218[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]262219[/ATTACH]

Bump…
It’s been a month and only one person here has taken a flight?

Am I to infer that the hordes who are playing for Spitfire rides aren’t forum-type aviation history enthusiasts, but general population folks looking for something unique to do…and spend their £ on?

Thanks! I just scrape under but as you say, an effort to be modest will take me over… must do better in eat/drink less class and more exercise. 🙂

Some are 100kg, as I did not think they would want me flying au natural or at best ina Mankini, voila a diet! Down to 98kg now fully clothed from 106. Got another 10kg+ I’d like to lose.

I will be flying in a Spitfire soonish now I’ve got below the magic upper mass band!!

What is the back seat weight limit? I’m hoping to have a crack in the back of Spitfire fairly soon and I reckon I will need to shed a few pounds first – a good incentive!

Not a bad price for Buchon. Over the years, I’ve paid for trips in P-51D, SNJ5, Stearman, B-25, B-17, B-24. All stateside. Since being a volunteer, I’ve not paid for many other trips. Best other flights in old warbirds were thru work in Harvard and getting flying pay!! I will be flying in a Spitfire soonish now I’ve got below the magic upper mass band!!

Hispano HA-1112-M4L “Buchon” Trainer/A 35 minutes experience (25 minute actual flight)/Flight cost £ 3,000.00

http://ultimatewarbirdflights.com/aircraft-collection/hispano-ha-1112-m4l-buchon-trainer/

Brian

A mate of mine did a Spit flight out of Goodwood last year………probably as a result of me constantly telling him about my B-17 and B-25 flights in the USA with Collings Foundation.

I was on the point of booking one myself, and then saw the announcement that Hawker Restoration had brought back Peter T’s Hurri for 2 seat conversion, so I’m now holding fire in the hope of this coming to fruition as the lure of a Hurricane flight is way more appealing to me.
Of course, if Air Leasing decide to offer rides in the 2 seat Buchon, then that could be even more appealing.

One day, one day……

I worked for an outfit where flights were available in a T38 for about $10k. I don’t recall anyone taking them up on the offer, altho to be fair it wasn’t advertised. Choice was hooning about the desert or a supersonic blast down the coast.

The Spitfire ride business is booming here in the UK, enough to keep five or maybe six aeroplanes engaged. Goodwood, Biggin and Duxford seem to be the main hubs, with flights going on somewhere on the UK pretty much every day, so the short answer must ‘a lot’ . I think on a busy day they might do 6 or 7 trips, but maybe it is more sometimes.

Unlike the States, there are no bomber rides or indeed much else, though Yak 3 trips are just coming, and of course Harvard or Stearman have long been available.

The Two Seat Spit page on facebook has much info on the whole scene.

https://www.facebook.com/TheTwoSeatSpitfirePage/