Thunder City advice
 

Hi all,

I am visting Cape Town in December for a wedding, whilst I am there I intend to go for a flght in one of Thunder City´s fast jets.

I have the price list, natrually I would love to fly in the Lightning but can´t really justify spending that much....but it would be a once in a lifetime experience. The Bucaneer is not much cheaper, however the Hunter is around half the price.

I would be intrested to hear from any ppruners who have flown at TC, which aircraft provides the most ´bang fo the buck´?....is a Bucaneer flight twice as exciting as a Hunter flight?....and any comments or advice in general will be appreciated.

Thank you!
KDY

Be aware the Buck is not dual control, so it'll be a ride only with no chance of 'hands on' in that.

Dont know if TC offer 'hands on' or not if there are two sets of flying controls - but I'd have thought so!

I flew in a Hunter at the Sultan of Omans Private Flying Club, (know also as SOAF), got hands on as ground crew, good for me, but think it was borring for the jockey

Think there were a couple of threads on the Mil Forum re TC.

I went through the same thoughts when I went into Thunder City while in SA. Just as 'experience of a lifetime' was beginning to move slowly but surely into the lead, I discovered it needed to be booked a few months ahead so the decision was made for me. I consoled myself by sitting in one of the single-seaters!

I didn't fly at Thunder City, but happened to fly in a Hunter just a few days ago with Delta Jets at Kemble. I'm only a PPL, have only flown two other military jets (under supervision obviously), and never in a Lightning or Buccaneer, so I'm not in a position to give you informed comparisons but, FWIW:

Lightning
Pro - It's a Lightning.
Vertical climb to 50,000 feet, supersonic.
Con - Very high cost, and only +/- 35 mins total for fuel reasons.
(The low level and aerobatics option is longer, +/- 50 mins, but that's not why most people want to fly in a Lightning and, for me, wouldn't be worth the money.)
Buccaneer
Pro - High speed low level experience. If aeros, it has a fantastic roll rate, I think possibly second only to the Gnat in that generation, very agile aircraft. (Never cleared for loops by the RAF - but done unofficially by some experienced pilots.)
Con - As you say, it's not much cheaper than the Lightning, and IMHO not worth twice the price of a Hunter flight.
Hunter
Pro
- Enormous thrill, as I suspect it would be for most non-mil pilots.
- Forgiving aircraft, not difficult to fly. (NB: I mean 'having a go under supervision' flying. Big difference between that and flying it well.)
- Very light, superbly harmonised controls (in my amateur opinion). Harmonised enough for me (after a few steep turns getting used to the aircraft) to do some wing-overs, barrell rolls and loops without things going wrong, and a landing which didn't break anything. (Landing talked through, obviously.)
- 'Fast jet' experience. Although the Hunter isn't a high performance jet by modern (or Lightning) standards - we climbed at 6000 fpm/about 370 kts, entry speed for practice display about 420 kts - when you're low doing 420 kts, the ground passes very quickly, more than enough to experience high speed low level flight! We only did that over the airfield, but there's ample unpopulated and unrestricted airspace in which to play near Cape Town.
- Exciting ride for a passenger. As a novice, I'd used entry speeds of 300-350 kts and did gentle aeros between 6000-12000 feet but, just as thrilling in a different way, was experiencing the pilot doing a practice display routine over the airfield at the end of the sortie. High speed run in, tight, perfectly controlled aeros pulling up to 5 g - enough to give me, and probably most non-mil pilots, a taste of a performance aicraft and high g!! A joy to experience a master in action - Andy Cubin (Chief Pilot of DeltaJets) used to be the RAF Jaguar display pilot and then led the synchro pair while in the Red Arrows.
Con - It's not a Lightning. (But nor is the cost.)

FWIW, although a Lightning flight would indeed be an experience of a lifetime, taking cost into account I think the Hunter would give you the most bang for your bucks - and it's such a classic aeroplane - but, whichever you chose, you're bound to enjoy it.

I've assumed you're a pilot. If you are, I'd be very surprised if the TC pilot didn't let you fly at some point. I've always found professional pilots to be very generous in that respect.

Hope that's of some help to you.
Look forward to reading your report in January! :)


FL

Great advice Flying Lawyer and others, I am leaning towards the Hunter now... :ok:

Please could one of the Mods move this thread to the Private Flying forum...

You will have a ball in the Hunter.

I am very jealous. Aeros are such amazing fun.

Lord Flash kindly took me in his Yak-52 for a spin last year and it was truly unforgetable.

KiloDeltaYankee, may I bring to your attention an opportunity not to be missed?

Ultimate High, the advanced flight training academy at Kemble are agents for Thunder City. If you book your trip through these guys, not only will you get the mother of all fast jet trips for the same price, but Ultimate High will also include a Hi G acclimatisation sortie in one of their Extra 300`s for no additional money.

In terms of prep for the TC trip, and coupled with the experience of Ultimate High, a trip in the Extra must surely be a no brainer!!

Give Mark a call on 01243 576137 or [email protected]

More deets also at www.ultimatehigh.co.uk

Cheers, Trevelyan

:ok:

I did the Lightning - there really is no choice (cost aside) - if you want to fly a Hunter you can do that anywhere - you can only fly the Lightning at TC. Also, think about the future - Hunters will be around the world for many years - I hope it won't come true but I doubt the Lightnings will be around in a few years' time, be it either for regulatory or maintenance reasons.

Whilst I was at TC another (non-pilot) Brit was there - her husband had bought her a flight in the Hunter, Buccaneer & Lightning as a birthday present (I almost would've married him myself). Even after flying the Hunter and Buc, she said the flight in the Lightning was simply so much more incredible and totally incomparable. I'll never know though, but am very happy with my decision!

I always regretted never having a go on Concorde - at least now I've been supersonic a few times (once accidentally at 500' along the coast!) - the marginal cost really isn't that much if you're going to do it anyway!

What is the cost of a flight in the Lightning. Don't want to bother TC with an enquiry but would like to know the approx cost.

IIRC, £6-8k.

An additional point is that my flying history has been limited to light pistons and gliders. I might not be able to absorb and enjoy the Lightning experience as I would be to busy trying to survive the trip without embarrasing myself. I am sure the Hunter will be sublime experience for me...:)

Vedeneyev Cost aside, I agree with you.
But cost and comparative cost will, unfortunately, be factors most of us have to take into account.

That said, I know my own weaknesses (most of them anyway) and if there'd been a Lightning available, I would probably have ended up going for it. I'd have started off being 'sensible' and deciding I couldn't justify the cost, and then been so pleased with myself for being so sensible that, half an hour later, I'd have rewarded myself with a flight of a lifetime. :)

I still think that, 'bang for buck' (KDY's question), the Hunter is the best option but, if cost isn't a consideration, then the Lightning.


KDY If you haven't done any aeros either as pilot or passenger, you'll enjoy your fast jet flight more if you do some in a piston-engine aircraft first. It won't give you the sustained high g of a fast jet, but will give you useful experience of what to expect.

Ultimate High at Kemble (mentioned by Trevelyan) would be a good choice. They are specialists in performance flying and the instructors are mainly ex RAF fast jet. I've not flown there myself, but they are the most consistently recommended on PPRuNe and all reports I've had direct from friends who've flown there are glowing with praise.

Hope we get some input from mil/ex mil pilots. It would be good to get their advice on which option you should choose.


FL

Interesting to hear about Ultimate High, Trevelyan and Flying Lawyer. Although I am UK based I am currently away on a project and won´t be returning before my trip to SA. I think going for a preparatory flight in an Extra would be an excellent idea....and a great deal of fun.

I have pretty much made up my mind to fly in the Hunter thanks to this thread.

As an aside....has anyone flown in a MIG-29?....and what was the total cost of the trip...including flights there and hotels? Just for curiosity sake....;)

Hunter flight booked for December! :ok: