Sign up for this half day aircrew experience & try out the Tornado flight simulator too! Immerse yourself in the world of RAF fighter jets with this utterly fascinating visit to the unique Tornado Heritage Centre near Chester. The Panavia Tornado was a German-Anglo-Italian collaboration & although production of these twin-engine combat aircraft ceased in 1998 there are still dozens in active service in air forces around the world including our Royal Air Force. The ' Tonka' as it's affectionately known in the UK is pretty much a living legend & this experience will see you meeting an ex-RAF Tornado & it's dedicated custodians. The Tornado Heritage Centre team has completely renovated & rebuilt their Panavia F3 Tornado. ZE966 serial code VT was demobbed in 2007 having first flown in 1990. This particular RAF Tornado saw active service flying missions during the Gulf War. If you care to Google Tornado ZE966 you'll see some wonderful air-to-air photos of the very aircraft you'll be sitting in today which is pretty cool by all accounts! So yes this is a proper Panavia Tornado. & to make your visit as authentic as possible the heritage centre facility has been set up just like a typical RAF squadron building. What's more you'll be wearing genuine RAF flying 'suits' (ever wondered what fighter pilots & navigators wear & why?) & you'll be hearing all about the history of the Tornado as you see the flight briefing & planning rooms. As well looking around the Heritage Centre facility you'll also get plenty of time with the star of the show. A cockpit visit of this ex-RAF Tornado is included - & it's amazing to have the opportunity to sit in the cockpit of this iconic aircraft. As if all that wasn't enough you'll also get time on the Tornado flight simulator. These were used to practice SOPS (that's Standard Operating Procedures in aviator speak) & simulate conditions inside the Tornado cockpit. Once again it's properly hands-on & totally engaging. It's not every day you get the chance to step up to the task of being in a Tornado Procedures Trainer simulator - especially when it's the only working example of an F3 simulator in existence. Nor is it a regular thing for non-RAF types to be sitting in the cockpit of an actual Panavia RAF Tornado like ZE966. No wonder these Tornado experiences are so popular - & they operate on a limited number of days during the year too so make sure you get booked up early! ...
Book a slot on the F-35 simulator & try your hand at stealth multi-role fighter flying! This is your chance to fly the incredible Lockheed Martin Lightning - without leaving the ground. We are offering 60 & 90-minute sessions in the simulator giving you plenty of time to get your combat fighter wings. This F-35 sim experience is hosted by a specialist simulator company based in Mildenhall the Suffolk town that's synonymous with military having been an RAF base for years & home to the USAF until 2024. Everyone involved in the running of these state-of-the-art simulators is an expert in flight & flight control with many years' experience in the RAF. They are amazing machines that offer extremely realistic experiences. Indeed you'll get a real insight into what being a F-35 pilot is like. & this simulator is actually based on the F-35B variant of the Lightning that Lockheed Martin adapted for STOVL (that's Short Take Off & Vertical Landing). That means this jet fighter can... ...