Harvard and Spitfire Experience Duxford

Overview

Why buy from us?

This most evocative of vintage flying experiences will transport you back to a golden age of military aircraft - the 1940s - with a warbird flight that’ll see you in a Harvard military plane, flying in formation alongside a Spitfire WWII plane from Duxford. The home of the Imperial War Museum, Duxford is by far the best setting from which to experience flying in these legendary aircraft, as the site itself is the museum, as well as the 200 different aircraft, military vehicles, artillery and small naval vessels that are on exhibition there. Your pre-flight briefing will actually take place in the original control tower that was used during wartime, so you’ll get to take in the full scope of the runways and aprons. After this, you’ll head on over to the magnificent Harvard. Originally constructed in 1943 by Noorduyn Aviation, this Harvard - code name FE992 - has a rich and varied service record, including time with the RCAF, as well as time in Sweden, Norway and Lebanon. It was used for civil aviation - mainly air show displays - from the mid 1980s until 2001. Its livery is Canadian “training yellow” with the distinctive red cowling and black anti-glare strip, just as the ones used in advanced trainers in WWII. Even stepping into the cockpit gives a sense of what those fighter pilots must have felt, the sheer nerves and adrenaline whilst waiting for take off. Once in flight, you’ll get to take the controls on this warbird, so this experience is very much a lesson as it is a flying experience. With the Merlin engine roaring, as you crane your neck to see the iconic Spitfire zooming into view beside you. Seeing the air-to-air view as you fly side by side is something military aviation enthusiasts are unlikely to forget for a very long time. Once the formation is over, you’ll head back to base, and as you land, you’ll be able to reflect on what a special moment you’ve been part of. Your time on-site will then include your own private guided tour of the Imperial War Museum - so not only will you have flown in a vintage North American warbird, but you’ll have got up close to a British one too!

Overview

Fly in formation with a Spitfire from Duxford

You will be the passenger in a vintage Harvard

Welcome and reception in the 1940s control tower

A full ground briefing from your Harvard pilot

Itinerary

Welcome with tea and coffee in the original pilot briefing room at the 1940's control tower with views across the airfield
Pre-flight briefing from your instructor and a walk around of the Harvard T6 that you'll be flying in
A flight experience in the T6 Harvard where your pilot will demonstrate the controls and then give you the chance to take control yourself
During the flight you'll join in formation with a Mk IX Spitfire and then chase across the skies above Duxford
Listen in on the inflight radio communications between both pilots and air traffic control
Whole day access to the 300 acre IWM Duxford site with a private guided tour of the historic and rare aviation collection
Souvenir photograph alongside the Spitfire
The Harvard flight duration is 30 minutes in total during which you'll be joined by the Spitfire for approximately 15 minutes (All flight times are 'chock to chock')
Allow three hours for this experience, plus the rest of the day to view the museum
Aerobatics are subject to weather conditions on the day

Suitability

Maximum weight 18 stone
Minimum age 16, maximum age 80
You must be agile enough to step up onto the wing and climb into the cockpit
Voucher holders also get free entry to IWM Duxford with discounted entrance for accompanying friends and family
A visit to Duxford is a day out in itself so leave plenty of time to look around
You are welcome to bring friends and family along however they will need to enter the museum to view the flight
Entry to IWM Duxford is compulsory for participants and accompanying guests. Guests will enjoy half price entry to the site, children under 5 go free
There are a number of cafe's on site

Availability

Weekends and selected weekdays from ,id-March through to mid-November
All flights are weather dependent but don't worry if your flight is cancelled you can rebook for a convenient time

Our ethos is that your 'experience' should begin from the moment you first browse the site and we can deliver this because of:

A Personal Service - once you buy a voucher you are not then left to book the experience yourself. We handle your booking from A-Z, not only providing online dates but also dealing with the supplier to secure your date. Even after you have had your experience, we will ask you for a review of the event to ensure everything went ok.
Knowledge - Our core staff have been working in the industry since 2004 and have all the experience necessary to deliver the experience that is perfect for you.
Honesty - Each venue and provider has been vetted by us and reviewed by our customers meaning we can give you honest, unbiased advice about what you are ordering.
Contact - We have 3 lines of communication; phone, chat and email and our customer service centre is open 6 days a week. The average answer time for our call centre to answer is 20 seconds and we have a vast help section where you should be able to find any answer online.
Assurance - Once you have chosen a date, we will help to ensure that you get the confirmation in time for your event and if need be we will liaise with the supplier on your behalf if there is a problem.
Aftercare - After each event we invite our customers to review the venue and the provider. This valuable feedback is then used to improve our service and also made public to other customers considering the same event. As a returning customer you will be eligible for a flydays.co.uk discount code to use on your next purchase.

Harvard and Spitfire Flying Experience Duxford Near Me

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Cambridgeshire