Best Flying Experiences to Book at Damyns Hall Aerodrome

• Discover the best flying experiences at Damyns Hall Aerodrome, including vintage biplane, Tiger Moth and gyrocopter flights.
• Compare thrilling aerobatics experiences with relaxed scenic flights for a unique day out in the Essex skies.
• Find out which flying experience is best for you, from historic aircraft and aerial stunts to unforgettable gyrocopter adventures.

If you are looking for a flying experience with a little more character than your average trip into the sky, Damyns Hall Aerodrome in Upminster, Essex, is well worth a look. This unlicensed airfield has been welcoming aviation enthusiasts since 1969 and offers everything from vintage biplanes and aerobatics to gyrocopter flights. It is also just inside the M25, with Upminster rail and tube stations around five minutes away, making it surprisingly easy to get to.

But with so many ways to get airborne, which experiences are actually worth putting on your wish list? We have picked out four that offer something a little different, whether you fancy stepping back in time, throwing yourself into some serious aerial action or simply seeing Essex from a rather unusual angle.

30 Minute Vintage Biplane Flight from UK Wide Locations

There is something undeniably cool about a vintage biplane. You could take a perfectly modern aircraft, but sometimes you want the one that looks like it has just escaped from a classic aviation film.

The 30 Minute Vintage Biplane Flight offers a chance to take to the skies in a fully restored vintage aircraft, with locations across the UK including Damyns Hall Aerodrome. Depending on the aircraft, you could find yourself flying in a genuine Tiger Moth or Stampe.

Before take-off, there is a pre-flight briefing before the engine fires into life and you head up from the grass runway. During the 30-minute flight, there is also an opportunity to take the controls, giving you more than just a passenger's view of the experience.

You will even be supplied with a flying helmet and goggles, which is rather handy if you want to fully embrace the vintage pilot look. There is also the chance to pose for photographs with the aircraft afterwards.

Nationwide Aerobatics Experience

If gently cruising around the Essex countryside sounds a little too sensible, perhaps it is time to turn things upside down. Literally.

The Aerobatics Experience (Nationwide Venues) is available at Damyns Hall Aerodrome as well as other locations around the UK, offering 20 to 30 minutes of flying time depending on your chosen venue. It is designed for those who want a proper adrenaline rush, with aerobatic manoeuvres and the chance to experience some serious G force.

The aircraft can vary by venue, with options including the Decathlon, Cessna Aerobat and Slingsby Firefly. You will receive a full safety briefing from an experienced aerobatic instructor before heading skywards, with the opportunity to take the controls during the flight too.

Loops, rolls and other aerial manoeuvres are all part of the appeal. It is probably not the ideal choice for anyone who likes their tea table to remain stubbornly horizontal, but for thrill seekers it is difficult to beat.

20 Minute Tiger Moth Taster Flight in Upminster

For something with a little more vintage charm, the 20 Minute Tiger Moth Taster Flight is a brilliant way to experience one of Britain's most recognisable historic aircraft.

Operated by the legendary Tiger Club, this 20-minute flight takes place in a beautiful vintage Tiger Moth biplane. You will receive a safety briefing before climbing into the cockpit, where you will be kitted out with a helmet and goggles to complete the 1930s aviation experience.

The experienced aerobatic and sport flyer pilots may even give you the opportunity to take control. During the flight, you can also spot familiar sights including Lakeside, the QE2 bridge, Brands Hatch and the Thames Estuary.

Once you are safely back on the ground, there is even a souvenir certificate to prove that you have taken to the skies in a Tiger Moth. Not a bad thing to have tucked away in a drawer.

15 Minute Gyrocopter Flight in Essex

Fancy something that looks a little less like a conventional aeroplane? The 15 Minute Gyrocopter Flight offers a completely different way to see the area.

Departing from Damyns Hall Aerodrome, this open cockpit gyrocopter takes you over the Essex countryside at around 800 feet. You will be able to take the controls under instruction, learning some of the basics of airmanship while enjoying views across the London east area.

There is plenty to look out for from above too, including the London City skyline, M25 and River Thames. The aircraft's combination of stability and agility gives you a fascinating perspective of the landscape below.

The 15-minute experience includes a pre-flight briefing, an explanation of the controls, a flying suit and helmet, plus a personalised flight certificate. So, yes, you can spend part of your day flying an open cockpit aircraft over Essex. Quite a way to make a normal weekend look rather boring afterwards.

Which Damyns Hall Flying Experience Is Right for You?

That really depends on what you want from your day in the sky. If vintage aviation is your thing, the Tiger Moth and biplane experiences offer plenty of nostalgia and the chance to experience aircraft with real character.

For something more energetic, the aerobatics experience is the obvious choice. With aerial manoeuvres, G force and the opportunity to take the controls, it is certainly not your average sightseeing flight.

Then there is the gyrocopter, which sits somewhere wonderfully different. You get an open cockpit, views across Essex and London, and the opportunity to have a go at controlling this unusual aircraft yourself.

Whichever you choose, these experiences show just how much variety there is to enjoy around Damyns Hall. From vintage aircraft to aerobatic thrills and unusual flying machines, there is a good reason to look upwards when planning your next adventure.