Aerobatic Experiences

Flying is one of the safest forms of transport. All aircraft are maintained and controlled to current CAA legislation and all aircraft are inspected before each flight. All instructors are fully qualified pilots (many are ex RAF and/or current commercial airline pilots), who undertake regular pilot licence re-validation by authorised flight examiners and are fully rated and qualified to fly aerobatics.

Yes, you will experience G force! In aviation, acceleration is described in units of the force called 'Gs". On the ground the gravity we experience is 1 G. Even on a commercial airliner flight, you feel the G force at the moment of acceleration in a straight line to take off. It pushes you down into the seat, so it's +G. Being pushed forward (for example when you land) is -G. As your pilot executes a fine sequence of tumbles, rolls and spins, you'll be experiencing - and + G forces. And of course, the higher the number of G the more extreme your flight is!

No, standard planes are not built for loops and rolls! Aerobatic aircraft are specially engineered with things like header tanks and flop tubes to make sure fuel can get to the engine when in inverted flight. Of course, all the aeroplanes offered on these experiences are designed and built for aerobatics. The fleet operating these aerobatic experience flights includes the Pitts Special, Extra, Firefly, Decathlon, Stampe and Chipmunk.

Without doubt the Extra 300. It might look like a fairly sweet and innocent little low-wing monoplane, but once you're strapped in and airborne, you'll realise that this machine is the boss. This is the plane for competition aerobatics and air races. When being flown solo this aircraft's maximum g-force is +10/-10 G and with a passenger onboard it's +8/-8 G. It has a climb rate of 3300ft per minute, which means it is almost vertical. This agile, fast and manoeuvrable plane can do any aerobatic move you can think of!

Oh yes. They undertake specific training to be able to perform aerial stunts and tricks. If you want to fly at public air displays you need an Unlimited Displays Authorisation and many of the pilots who fly these experiences have this. Some of them are even ex Red Arrows pilots and many are working commercial airline pilots too, so they are pretty experienced at this flying lark.

If you love roller coasters, you will absolutely love an aerobatics flight. Your flight will be tailored to you, so it'll be as extreme as you like, up to going for a full aerobatic sequence, where you link manoeuvres just like at an air display show. And if you're in the Extra, expect gyroscopic moves like the Ruade when you climb at 45 degrees, tip to the side and then tumble over the nose, to take aerobatic experiences to the absolute extreme!

Your pilot instructor will only perform aerobatics if you are feeling OK and you want to do it. The pilots will give you some tips for coping with G forces, such as lifting your feet off the floor of the plane, holding onto the shoulder straps and looking out of the cockpit to the horizon. And rest assured, if you don't like it, as soon as you say the word, your pilot will return to straight and level flight and head back to land.

Restrictions will vary from one aircraft to another, but in general there's a maximum height of between 6ft 1" and 6ft 4", with maximum weight between 15 and 17 stone. Please make sure you check each individual aerobatics experience page to see the restrictions for each type of plane/flight.

Friends and family are more than welcome to spectate and witness your first foray into the wild world of aerobatic flying! Many of our locations offer a club house or even an outside terrace area where guests can watch start up, taxi and take off, before gazing in total admiration at the aerial stunts being performed!

In many cases yes. It is subject to conditions on the day and your instructor being in agreement. In general, once you've reached straight and level flight, you might well be allowed to fly the aircraft yourself and even try a few moves maybe.