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Wageslave
30th Mar 2012, 22:11
I've been asked where to send a (non-flying) adrenaline- junkie friend for a long-dreamed of aerobatic flight for his birthday and as a commercial pilot I'm expected to know these things - but I'm not up to date on availability of club aircraft these days.

He won't want or need an Extra/Sukhoi or anything extreme - just a competent 20 - 30 min aerobatic experience. ie not a C150...

His home is Windsor - anywhere within an hour or so from there would be fine.

Ideas please?

EGTE
30th Mar 2012, 22:45
Try The London Aerobatic Company at White Waltham.
You can google their website.
Very nice Cap 10b.

Zulu Alpha
30th Mar 2012, 23:03
Try this, based at Panshangar I believe. They also do videos.

Aerobatic Experience Flights and Trial Lessons | Adastral Flying (http://www.adastralflying.com/joyrides.html)

Human Factor
31st Mar 2012, 08:04
Without a doubt, get in touch with West London Aero Club at White Waltham (google). The aerobatic side is run by Alan Cassidy who trains the national team and operates their Pitts S-2. :ok:

foxmoth
31st Mar 2012, 08:20
Ultimate High | Ultimate High (http://www.ultimatehigh.co.uk/)

You can choose the Bulldog or Extra, and if he really enjoys Adrenalin then try a Top Gun trip!:ok:

cyberkryten
17th Apr 2012, 08:51
A 40min aero experience in the Extra at Ultimate High last summer is one reason I'm now doing my PPL :)

Ph1l
17th Apr 2012, 10:57
Another vote for Ultimate High, had a flight with them in their Extra 300 last summer, now I just need to work a bit harder so I can get one!

rob.davis87
17th Apr 2012, 12:22
Stapleford Flight Centre Private Flying Lessons, Gift Experiences, Private Pilot Courses, PPL, Stapleford Flight Centre, London, UK (http://www.flysfc.com/aerobatic-lessons-private.php) have a T67 Firefly that they use for aerobatic experience flights. Nice restaurant there as well for lunch afterwards.

Spit161
17th Apr 2012, 15:58
Try this, based at Panshangar I believe. They also do videos.

Aerobatic Experience Flights and Trial Lessons | Adastral Flying


Agreed - Adrian is very accommodating - well worth it!

18greens
17th Apr 2012, 20:35
Hmmm, Windsor, got to be the Pitts s2 at White Waltham followed by a bacon sandwich in the nostalgic club bar. No brainer.

Hope he has fun.

FlyingFinancier
17th Apr 2012, 22:12
I know this is heresy, and this is completely a matter of personal taste, but I would say that in 15 years of flying aeros (at a 'just for my own fun' level from Fireflys through Zlins and Caps to Extra 300s) the only flight I really didn't like was the front seat of a Pitts S2. Maybe it's my build but I felt like I was stuffed into a coffin, horrid visibility / difficult to orientate, very twitchy, stench of hydrocarbon. Might be the mutt's nuts from the rear seat, and I know it's great value relative to other options but my first experience deterred me from finding out....

Zulu Alpha
17th Apr 2012, 22:56
FF, I would agree. Its much nicer in the front of an Extra 200 (or 300) than a Pitts S2A.

stiknruda
18th Apr 2012, 05:49
And as a Pitts owner for a decade and a half - I would entirely agree with FF and ZA!

The front seat of an Eagle or a B are much nicer than the A. Notwithstanding that, I can't imagine that even a mega lottery win would cause me to trade mine!!

Stik

The500man
18th Apr 2012, 06:47
stench of hydrocarbonYeah that smell you get in the front is not pleasant. I think the 2C is worse than the 2A presumably since it has a bigger engine. After a couple of sorties that smell is not pleasant in the front particularly if you're already starting to feel a bit off, though I find it is barely noticeable in the back but that may just be down to concentration.

I'd like to try an Extra 300 but £410 ph is a lot! The 200 looks like the better priced option at £260.

v1rotate1
18th Apr 2012, 12:51
If he lives in Windsor and wants to see somewhere a little local with good atmosphere then White Waltham. Pitts S2 flights are a good option. See here - Aerobatic Flights with Alan Cassidy, Pitts Flights, Extra 300 Flights (http://freestyleaviation.co.uk/Freestyle/Flights/flights.htm)

Another option, if you want to go radical in an S Bach at White Waltham:ok: - Xtreme Aerobatics - Booking (http://xtremeaerobatics.co.uk/booking.html)

V1

Fournierf5
18th Apr 2012, 23:34
Nothing too extreme, I believe, was the original request! There's a nice chap with a CAP10 here:

The Tiger Club Trial Flights (http://www.tigerclub.co.uk/trials.html#Aerobatic)

OK it may be 90mins from Windsor, but my similarly 'gung ho' son was suitably stirred but not shaken after his first ride last year. Nice and easy does it!:D:D