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A 'Sit in a Spitfire' Experience at Biggin Hill

Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar, Kent

104 Reviews

What's Included

  • Sit in the cockpit of a fully functioning and airworthy Spitfire
  • The aircraft you’ll sit in will usually be Mk IV Spitfire TA805 ‘Spirit of Kent’ or Mk XVI Spitfire TE356
  • Access to the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar which is usually closed to the public
  • Learn about the Spitfire’s history and construction
  • Climb into the aircraft and spend 10 minutes immersing yourself in the cockpit environment
  • Learn about the flying controls, flight instruments, engine gauges and the controls for the propeller, fuel and magnetos
  • Place your hands on the famous central ‘Spade’ grip with gun trigger and your feet on the rudder pedals
  • Bring your phone or camera and your guide will be happy to take a picture of you in the cockpit and in front of the aircraft
  • Afterwards you’ll be taken on a 30 minute tour of our restoration facility
  • See the restoration projects and other WW2 aircraft
  • You’ll be part of a small group with just 6 ‘Sit in a Spitfire’ guests taking part
  • Allow approximately 1.5 hours onsite for this experience

What Can I Expect

Exclusive to Into The Blue - your chance to 'Sit in a Spitfire'! We are the only experience gift voucher company in the UK offering you the chance to visit our friends at the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar and sit in the cockpit of a genuine Spitfire fighter plane.

Taking place at one of the country's most famous former RAF airfields, this is a real must for classic aviation fans both the young and not so young and a great opportunity to get some cracking photographs.

Since 2011, the Heritage Hangar at Biggin Hill Airport has been home to several airworthy Spitfires and other fine vintage warbirds. This exclusive experience gives you the chance to get up close to these simply wonderful machines and actually sit in one too.

The Spitfire, which was nearly called the Shrew, was designed by RJ Mitchell, who sadly only lived long enough to see the prototype fly. We think if he could join you on this experience he'd be immensely proud of the place his Spitfires hold in the nation's heart and the emotive reactions they provoke in people.

You will also get privileged access to see the restoration works going on, without the restrictions of flight-line barriers. You are welcome to take pictures and ask questions, so whether you've always wanted to know why the wings are elliptical, or where you find spare parts for those glorious Merlin engines, you can pose all your queries to the skillful technicians.

The highlight of your visit is the moment you will realise your dream of sitting in the cockpit of the Spitfire, usually the Mk9 Supermarine ‘Spirit of Kent’ Spitfire TA805. This plane is well-known above the skies of Kent and beyond and it's a thrill for any aircraft fan to be able to experience what it's really like in the 'hot seat' of a Spitfire. 

When Is It Available

  • Events run on selected weekdays and Saturdays throughout the year
  • Sessions generally start at 11:00 or 13:00
  • Spaces are limited so please book in advance

Location

  • Biggin Hill Airport, Kent

Suitable For

  • Minimum age 18
  • To access the cockpit you must be physically agile enough to climb via a step onto the wing and then into the cockpit
  • Dimensions of the cockpit are limited, it's 55 cm wide and the access door is 46 cm wide
  • A maximum of 17 Stone / 108KG applies
  • Access to the aircraft will be one at a time
  • Staff will be on hand at all times to assist guests in and out of the aircraft
  • Leather soled shoes are not suitable as they may slip on the wing, trainers or rubber soled shoes are ideal
  • Regular 'Hangar Tour' cannot be combined with a Sit in a Spitfire activities as these are run at different times and the tour content and duration is different

Spectators

  • All visitors to the hangar must be voucher holders and additional guests are not permitted

Anything Else

  • The supplier reserves the right to reduce the overall event duration should guest numbers be low
  • Tea, coffee and snack are available to purchase
  • Please note that the type of aircraft housed in the hangar can change and aircraft are subject to maintenance and display commitments
  • At no point do you fly in or with the Spitfire
A Sit in a Spitfire Experience at Biggin Hill
A 'Sit in a Spitfire' Experience at Biggin Hill Get this Experience

Reviews

4 out of 5 stars

Average Rating: 4
Total Reviews: 104

Find out what other customers think of the experience

 

Reviews

  based on 99 reviews

Rating: 4 stars
Melanie ribbands
Absolutely brilliant the experience was amazing. Thank you to all that put the time in to restore t...
Rating: 4 stars
Hanno Tritschler
Splendid! No aviation amateur should miss it. And the place is very well run, too. Friendly and ent...
Rating: 4 stars
Les Bromley
We enjoyed our experience highly the tutor was excellent and answered all our questions. we appreci...
Rating: 4 stars
Ian Phillpot
Booking the event was nice and smooth. The tour guide was very good. I'm a big fan of the spit and ...
Rating: 4 stars
Phil oliver
Fantastic experience
Rating: 4 stars
Debbie Scammell
Being a huge fan of planes, I bought my husband a spitfire experience from into the blue. The whole...
Rating: 4 stars
david harrison
fantastic well worth it spitfire guide was a star explained everything and took amazing pictures,or...
Rating: 4 stars
iain roz
Excellent! The directions to and the facilities themselves were all first class. All staff were wel...
Rating: 4 stars
keith eastwood
Sitting in the Spitfire was an interesting experience but the organisation around it could be impro...
Rating: 4 stars
John
Once in a life time experience.
Rating: 4 stars
Steve Wickenden
I went to the museum last when it was in a different hanger it was more intermediate and we had a g...
Rating: 4 stars
Rita Barton
A wonderful experience, no time limit imposed, the guide was very patient and very knowledgeable, I...
Rating: 4 stars
Jeff Roberts
A very interesting and informative visit/experience. The young lad that spoke with me while I sat ...
Rating: 4 stars
Dean Russell
This was a dream come true.. Now got to start saving for a flight in a Spitfire..
Rating: 4 stars
Tom
What an amazing experience. To be able to walk amongst and touch the spitfires was something never ...
Rating: 4 stars
Lorraine cox
Really great day for my dad to sit in a spitfire. Once in a lifetime. Guide was very informative an...
Rating: 4 stars
Carmen
Awesome to be so close to these amazing machines and get to sit inside one. They are so beautiful a...
Rating: 4 stars
KEN PAYNE
ONLY PROBLEM WAS FINDING THE ACTUAL HANGER AT BIGGIN HIL. OTHERWISE A VERY MEMORABLE COUPLE OF HOUR...
Rating: 4 stars
George Ford
To be able, not only to be close and touching these magnificent aeroplanes, but to sit in the cockp...
Rating: 4 stars
A Keeping
I purchased the gift experience for a family member. I understand they had an enjoyable day which ...
Rating: 4 stars
Ellen Brown
What a once in a lifetime experience! Shame they wouldn't let me test drive it!! The guys were so e...
Rating: 4 stars
G. Warren
Had a great time, seeing the spitfire's close up made my day. All the staff were very helpful, l wo...
Rating: 4 stars
Julie Thomas
This was a gift for my Husband, who thoroughly enjoyed this.
Rating: 4 stars
Mark
Superb visit. Staff helpful plus a real working hangar with a few extra treats in for their service!
Rating: 4 stars
Jennifer Dawson
It was an amazing experience to be able to be so ' Up close and personal' , with the Spitfires. I l...
Rating: 4 stars
Gavin Petrie
Fantastic day, though I just wish my wife who got me this could have come to see me and take more p...
Rating: 4 stars
jon howard
very good experience, Paul very knowledgeable and answered all questions with enthusiasm - fantasti...
Rating: 4 stars
s McMillan
Brilliant
Rating: 4 stars
Steven mcmillan
Absolutely brilliant .
Rating: 4 stars
Steve Draper
Really enjoyed the experience of sitting in a Spitfire. Thought that the photo oppurtunities were l...
Rating: 4 stars
Richard and Karen
A very enjoyable day for a spitfire enthusiast like myself . My wife also accompanied me as she lov...
Rating: 4 stars
Sharon Goff
Really enjoyed the experience only one comment I feel they could more to encourage people to spend,...
Rating: 4 stars
Allan stone
Great experience
Rating: 4 stars
Robert harrison
Sitting in the spitfire is amazing and the information given by the man who is with you is great bu...
Rating: 4 stars
Paul
A great experience, enjoyed by myself and my Dad. The folk are really friendly and their knowledge ...
Rating: 4 stars
rikki kirton
it was a brilliant experience and i would recommend it to anyone with the love for the spitfire tha...
Rating: 4 stars
Pawel Starzewski
Interesting tour, very relaxed, very informative. Enjoyed the experience as it is of interest to me.
Rating: 4 stars
Alan Russell
My father really enjoyed his 'Sit in a Spit' experience. Many thanks.
Rating: 4 stars
Bernie Helm
Great tour, Paul was very friendly, knowledgeable and informative and the sitting in the spitfire w...
Rating: 4 stars
Ashley
Enjoyed sitting in the Spitfire - the man who spoke to me while I was in the cockpit was highly inf...
Rating: 4 stars
Robert Wood
Fantastic experience
Rating: 4 stars
Diane king
I bought it as a 50th present for my partner , he thoroughly enjoyed the experience & was in no hur...
Rating: 4 stars
Paul Horrex
fantastic experience, good value for money, staff very helpful & friendly. a childhood dream come t...
Rating: 4 stars
Clive Roberts
What a Brilliant present, so interesting to visit a working Hanger and to talk to Enthusiast / Work...
Rating: 4 stars
David Hughes
I obviously enjoyed the actual sitting in the Mark 9 Spit, with a very helpful young guide. BUT the...
Rating: 4 stars
Jon Savage
A truly fantastic experience. Meeting Rodney Scrase (spitfire pilot) was a real honour. The flyby ...
Rating: 4 stars
David Levy
I had thought we might be hurried along and unable to enjoy the experience but in fact I spent near...
Rating: 4 stars
Mr Keith Pentland
I had a thoroughly enjoyable day, i loved being able to sit in such a beautiful aircraft, the gentl...
Rating: 4 stars
David Martin
Thank you , For a wonderful experience ,brilliant day, Hope to visit again next year, Thankyou . Da...
Rating: 4 stars
Debbie Mitchell
Went with my husband and both enjoyed the experience of being up close and sitting in a Spitfire an...
Rating: 4 stars
Bernice Foxworthy
One of my Mum's wishes have come true, sitting in a spit, she loved every minute there, even got an...
Rating: 4 stars
bob thatcher
This is an experience for enthusiasts. As such, the opportunity to get up close and personal with s...
Rating: 4 stars
Claire Hatherall
Really great day out. Interesting, knowledgeable people. No rush to the day so had plenty of time...
Rating: 4 stars
Roger Ellesley
Overall I was impressed but disappointed that when I actually sat in the "spit" a man behind me in ...
Rating: 4 stars
Carl Hammond
This was a truly awesome day and I was very impressed by everything I got to see and do. My brothe...
Rating: 4 stars
Amanda Nadin
An excellent experience. Getting to touch, let along stand on and sit in a Spitfire was an amazing...
Rating: 4 stars
Ken Chappell
A truly memorable experience. Suitably "low key" and relaxing whilst there. The guy who spoke to me...
Rating: 4 stars
mike
very informative guide whilst in cockpit
Rating: 4 stars
John Bowers
Very enjoyable experience with plenty of Spitfires to satisfy the lust. It was especially good to ...
Rating: 4 stars
Paul
A very interesting day and the sit in a Spit was great,however it would be a lot more interesting i...
Rating: 4 stars
Sandie
I bought this for my husband for xmas, the sit in the spit was amazing he said and was very happy a...
Rating: 4 stars
Andrew Hone
A truly great couple of hours in the Heritage Hangar! Not only to see the amazing collection aeropl...
Rating: 4 stars
Mark Sandum
Brilliant experience! From the first whiff of that unique mixture of avgas and lubricants that you ...
Rating: 4 stars
Jim
Sitting in the spit was amazing and Clive was brilliant. Running out of coffee, not being able to ...
Rating: 4 stars
Liam Hogan
My six year old son's Christmas Present was a 'sit in a spitfire' morning at Biggin Hill. We went t...
Rating: 4 stars
Paul Golding
From the age of 2 when I was given my first bed quilt cover of a Spitfire cockpit, having flown 'ma...
Rating: 4 stars
Pete
I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the planes and talking to the staff. I loved sitting in the Spitfire, a...
Rating: 4 stars
roger cole
It was a privalage to be able to get close and touch such iconic aircraft. The experiance was wor...
Rating: 4 stars
Angela brown
Booked for my husbands 50th .... He went with a group of friends ,they all enjoyed the day immens...
Rating: 4 stars
Peter Janes
Fantastic have recommend and will carry on recommending to all friends and relations. The staff whe...
Rating: 4 stars
porter family
you made our dream come true we had a wonderfull day
Rating: 4 stars
Nigel Osborne-Walker
Brilliant day, thanks to the helpful and enthusiastic staff who made the whole experience so enjoya...
Rating: 4 stars
Sharron Probert
This was a gift for my Fathers 80th Birthday - he and my Mother throughly enjoyed it - the staff we...
Rating: 4 stars
Barbara Capon
Very nice day, staff were very well informed and helpful. It was also lovely to be able to speak t...
Rating: 4 stars
Liam McGuinness
Excellent day. Was brilliantly organised and throughly enjoyable. It was purchased as a gift for my...
Rating: 4 stars
Tony Jessup
Brilliant ! Staff were informative and friendly especially the owners sons ! Perhaps some informati...
Rating: 4 stars
terry rice
Very good experience. A good day out very helpful enjoyed it a lot would recommend it to all who l...
Rating: 4 stars
mrs bennett
My father in law said was a excellent day ,and thoughly enjoyed it , the only thing they did say wa...
Rating: 4 stars
Tony Bayne
Informative and plenty of people available to answer questions including the owner's two sons who w...
Rating: 4 stars
J Palmer
It as a very enjoyable few hours spent in the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar. Photographing the Spitfi...
Rating: 4 stars
Gary Bradshaw
Hello, I fully rate this experience as fantastic but I do have a suggestion. It would have been be...
Rating: 4 stars
Peter Lawrence
What an experience! I have completed part of my life long ambition to climb up inside a Spitfire, ...
Rating: 4 stars
William Rottenburg
A really fantastic experience. The staff were all very friendly and happy to answer questions. It...
Rating: 4 stars
Philip Woodgate
My uncle,of 94, re-lived his RAF days in 3 hours! The pilot and management were so informative, and...
Rating: 4 stars
Paul Nichols
A fantastic few hours in the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar. 2x Mk9 spitfires were made available whic...
Rating: 4 stars
Graham Berry
what can I say, this was a boyhood dream come true.The staff were friendly and patient and spent as...
Rating: 4 stars
mark.handley
absolutely the best day.100% professional.we were gobsmacked as to how much time and information wa...
Rating: 4 stars
Gerald Hernaman
The knowledge shown by those who were conducting the "sit in a Spit" was first class, and everyone ...
Rating: 4 stars
Mick
Having been fascinated by the Spitfire since childhood, I was on a mission to experience one on my ...
Rating: 4 stars
Peter Burton
Just to say how grateful we were to join the "Sit in a Spit" event. It was amazing to see the work ...
Rating: 4 stars
Colin Grimsley b
Hi. I wanted to say a big thank you to all concerned for the "Sit in Spit" experience day on Saturd...
Rating: 4 stars
Geoff
Really enjoyed this, the guide was great and it did not feel rushed at all (nor did I have to wait ...
Rating: 4 stars
Jonathan P
A great experience for anyone with an interest in vintage aircraft and engineering. Knowledgeable s...
Rating: 4 stars
Gary Featherstone
The "sitting in the spitfire" experience was very good. The guide was knowledgable and friendly. I ...
Rating: 4 stars
Gary Stallings
A most enjoyable event hosted by a very enthusiastic team, thank you,
Rating: 4 stars
Stan Stannett
The staff at Biggin Hill were excellent patiently answering any questions and there was no time lim...
Rating: 4 stars
Brendan
A fabulous experience, seeing these wonderful historic machines was truly memorable. Very friendly ...
Rating: 4 stars
phil
Really enjoyed the experience but felt there were too many people in the group.
Rating: 4 stars
K M
Excellent experience; thoroughly enjoyed meeting others and talking about our shared passion- the S...