HELLO EVERYBODY,
A PREVIEW OF AN EXCITING EVENT COMBINING CLASSIC TRANSPORT ON THE WING, AND ON THE RAILS! ~Full report to follow~
Starting this Thursday, & continuing until Sunday 15th April, Classic Flight, Europe’s premier operator of airworthy vintage and classic airliners, offer a fantastic chance to enjoy a panoramic view of Bridgnorth and the scenic Severn Valley from the Air. Flights are available in the de Havilland Dragon Rapide biplane, a fully enclosed eight seater aircraft. The Dragon Rapide was designed in 1935, and carries the eight passengers in great comfort, the pre-war equivalent of a private jet! Enjoy an experience enjoyed by only a privileged few in their thirties heyday, the panoramic window seats put modern airliners to shame!
Tickets cost just £60 per person, and depart on an unforgettable aerial tour from Wolverhampton’s Halfpenny Green airport. From the airport, your classic aircraft will fly west to Bridgnorth, offering stunning views of high town, the church, castle ruins and the funicular cliff railway. Spectacular views of the river, the Severn Valley Railway and Victoria Bridge are included as the aircraft returns to the airfield. The pilot will ensure that alongside the beautiful scenery, passengers will be able to see the steam trains making their majestic progress along the riverside! Watching a steam hauled train through the wires of a vintage biplane, it is easy to believe you have boarded a time machine!
Flights depart from the control tower & café, near to the public car park at Halfpenny Green. Seats can be booked on the day, with the airport tower offering great views of this historic aircraft taking off and landing. Other good vantage points to see the flights include Severn Valley Railway stations, and the Severn Valley Country Park, near Alveley. Why not visit the airport to watch the crew in action, Classic Flight merchandise will be available on the day, with gifts for aviation fans of all ages.
The flights highlight a renewed enthusiasm at the historic aerodrome for light and general aviation, hopefully pointing toward the style of nostalgic flying that will enhance the appeal of the site to a wider public audience. Other projects visible from the air, during the flight, include progress on the exciting new ‘engine house’ museum adjacent to the Severn Valley Railway station at Highley.
MORE INFO HERE:
http://forum.svra.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=371
By: ThreeM - 6th April 2018 at 14:05
And sometimes you can wash the camouflage off!
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By: Robert Whitton - 6th April 2018 at 10:40
A couple from Madrid 2017 and one from East Fortune 1970’s. Silver looks good but so does camouflage.
By: Arabella-Cox - 5th April 2018 at 19:25
Yes, Robert. September 2001, just after it had been positioned.
I recall the following week after setting it up on the podium, it was a Saturday and the concierge of the hotel coming out to tell us the Twin Towers in NY were under attack. One of those moments where you remember where you were when earth-shattering news was breaking or being made.
Anon.
By: Robert Whitton - 5th April 2018 at 15:25
That one certainly looks like the Liverpool replica date perhaps about 2000.
This one is Strathallan 1978
By: ThreeM - 5th April 2018 at 13:50
The Rapide is a beautiful aircraft. It is especially nice in silver with some Railway Air Services markings applied.
Certainly agree with that observation. Looks quite good in white and red too!
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By: jack windsor - 5th April 2018 at 13:33
I have a vague memory of reading a article in either Flight, Air Pictorial or Aircraft Illustrated in the late 60’s early 70’s that mentioned that the British Railways still at that time had the franchise for the air service. Although nowadays a lot of things are vague…
regards,
jack…
By: scotavia - 5th April 2018 at 12:26
would that be the replica which used to be in front of the old terminal hotel Liverpool?
By: avion ancien - 5th April 2018 at 11:06
Just in case some might not have noticed, the original and the succeeding ten posts are eleven years old. Only the last three date from 2018, rather than 2007.
By: Stan Smith - 4th April 2018 at 23:06
Trust you have sucess with this venture. Until recently I was operating a Part 135 charter operation involving the following fleet. Dragon, Fox Moth, Tiger Moth, Moth Minor, Proctor V, Auster, L4 Cub, and soon to have the addition of a Messenger, Gemini and Moth Major. We have had to shut down this somewhat unique collection to the general public as the annual participation and audit fees from the C.A.A. were much greater than any possible (or actual) profit margin, and that was before figureing in maintenance, fuel and insurance.
OK petulant rant over.
By: Arabella-Cox - 4th April 2018 at 18:48
The Rapide is a beautiful aircraft. It is especially nice in silver with some Railway Air Services markings applied!
Anon.
By: Marius Titulesc - 4th April 2018 at 07:19
Ahh, man. These photos brig back memories.
I used to fly one back in the day.
Good times…
____________________________________
Marius
Cargolution rates
By: Will J - 14th April 2007 at 22:36
A few pictures:cool:
Just got back from a busy, and rather warm (after the mist lifted) day at Wolverhampton Halfpenny Green with Dragon Rapide ‘AGTM. Many flights were flown, and lots of trains were hotly pursued, the passengers seemed highly appreciative ….
Star of the show #1
Venturing out over the Severn Valley.
‘TM basking in the welcome sunshine.
Star of the show #2
Historic Bridgnorth, showing the Castle remains, Church, Railway Station and Depot.
Calm at the end of the day.
Old and New at the ‘Green….
We are back again for more tomorrow, Sunday the 15th April, and again in June!
PS.. ‘RRW… glad you enjoyed it:)
By: RedRedWine - 14th April 2007 at 20:49
I feel like the bloke in Life on Mars – have I travelled back in time, am I mad or just on the Classic Flight Rapide from Halfpenny Green? A fantastic afternoon – the low sunlight over the Shropshire countryside, a steam train making its way along the Severn Valley Line, the Gypsy Queens throbbing smoothly away with a low note and the inside of the Rapide furnished to give a real 1950’s feel. Everybody was smiling; the pilot, the AA people on the ground, and not least the passengers. Oh, and an airport where you just arrive and walk over to the plane, get checked and you’re off. Yes, this really was back to the 1950’s.
Thanks to all at Air Atlantique Classic Flight.
By: Will J - 11th April 2007 at 21:35
Who’s that? 😉
PS.. Sunday is booking up well, remaining seats will be before 11, and after 2ish. If anybody wants to book a seat in advance, send me a PM and I will pencil you in….
‘MN… PM sent, give me a call if you would like to reserve some seats!
I’m just printing out a map reminding the pilots exactly where to go on the day…
By: alanl - 11th April 2007 at 17:17
I don’t know how he does it, he’s always got three or four things in the air at the same time, doesn’t get stressed and nothing fazes him.
As you say ,a big asset to the flight.
Top man.!;)
Alan
By: Lindy's Lad - 11th April 2007 at 17:09
The things Will J is doing for classic flight! AACF must go from strength to strength with Will doing his thing… A good artist too > see the cartoons in Flypast!
Now then Will, about my bill for singing your praises…..
By: TMN - 11th April 2007 at 12:15
The flight in the Rapide last June was superb, I highly recommend it,and I’m glad the event is being repeated.
I’ve got friends coming from South Wales this weekend and we will definately be turning up.
See you Sunday Will.
Mark
By: richb - 11th April 2007 at 10:41
Hi Will – Hope you have a great weekend – sounds a wonderful experience!- wish I could be there – but its a bit of a commute from Aussie land!!
I would recommend a flight in the Rapide to everyone 🙂
By: cessna152towser - 11th April 2007 at 00:48
Great idea and I hope you get lots of customers. The Severn Valley Railway is one of my favourites and though I’ve travelled on their trains a few times I’ve only flown over the route once on a Carlisle-Goodwood trip in a Pa-28R, routing via Wallasey, Llandecla, Shrewsbury, Worcester, Brize Norton, and to the west of Farnborough to avoid the congested and controlled airspace around Liverpool/Manchester, Birmingham and London.
By: Moggy C - 10th April 2007 at 22:24
Hmmmm.
I used to take school aircraft from Wellesbourne to Halfpenny Green for servicing. (Pre-GPS Days)
If the weather was iffy I’d just fly due west until I came across the Severn (You really can’t miss it) then wind my way up the river until the ADF showed The Green / Bobbington off my Starboard wing.
A couple of times I had to climb to circuit height.
I’d hate to meet the Rapide coming the other way 😮
It sounds a great trip guys. Good luck with it.
Moggy
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April 10, 2007 at 10:00 pm