Want to learn some fancy aerobatics in Essex? Yearning to do a loop the loop in a plane? Well these aerobatics experiences out of Stapleford Aerodrome will get you off to a flying start as you make your foray into the world of aerial free styling using one of the best trainer aircraft designed for the job. The Slingsby Firefly is actually a British-built aeroplane & a specially modified military version served as the basic aerobatics trainer in the RAF from 1995 to 2010 before it was replaced by the Grob. This little low-wing high performance plane has seen some serious action including a certain member of the Royal Family who earned his spinning wings in one
- but we couldn't possibly divulge who it was… And although you'll be treated like a VIP for your session there are no airs & graces here as it's all very down to earth & friendly here in Stapleford with their Firefly. The team is highly experienced with a CV in flying & aerobatics that's as long as your arm. All that means your accompanying pilot instructor is an expert when it comes to handling the Slingsby & will be only too pleased to show you the ropes. It's worth noting that the Slingsby you'll be flying in is the T67M. This 160hp 'M' version is considered by aficionados as the best version of the Firefly there is as it is the modified military model. In aeronautical techno-geek speak that means it has a constant-speed propeller & an inverted fuel & oil system which for us mere mortals means that it can fly for quite a long time upside down! So now you've got the right aeroplane for the job & a fully qualified instructor it's time to get ready for some aerobatics above the Essex skies. Step out onto the apron & after a walk around this very pretty little Firefly it's time to climb aboard the cockpit (admittedly a little snug!) get the harness on & get ready to fly Once airborne & cruising happily you will be asked if you'd like to take control. They tell us the Slingsby is a 'real stick & rudder plane' that requires skill & precise gentle handling to get the best out of it so we'll soon see if you've got what it takes. & of course your flight

Includes:: a spectacular run of aerobatics over Essex that's bound to include a loop the loop & if you're brave enough maybe a few slow stylish spins that the Slingsby is famous for.


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Take your first drive in Essex with this fantastic junior car handling session! Under the expert tuition of the driving team you'll combine four-wheeled frolics with learning all there is to know about practical road-going skills. It's a fun safe introduction to learning to drive. The two hour course starts with a short safety briefing for participants & parents after which you'll move out onto the airfield site to take your first drive in one of the Essex school's VW Golfs. You'll be sharing the vehicle with two other drivers with each of you spending around 40 minutes at the wheel practising a variety of simulated situations. Every session starts with an introductory period spent working out the controls of the car to ensure everyone's on an equal footing in terms of those essential driving skills. After mastering the basics of safely pulling away changing gear & stopping in a straight line you'll start to develop your cornering prowess. Reversing & parking procedures are then introduced giving you the chance to practice some tricky manoeuvres without the fear of causing damage to your own or other vehicles. Finally as your abilities & confidence increase you'll get to have a go at the ultimate challenge that has got to be a first for any young driver
- negotiating the specially coned-out slalom course here in Essex. The professional instructors are always on hand to give you guidance & advice to talk you through each car task & to ensure your safety & enjoyment of the activity at all times. They've got tons of experience teaching young people how to drive for the first time & the Essex centre has many years' collective teaching time under its belt. At the end of your drive you'll receive an assessment of your overall performance & a personalised certificate to recognise your motoring achievements. With each course suitable for drivers aged as young as 12
- & reaching the required 4'10" for correct pedal control
- this is an ideal experience for enthusiastic juniors looking to try driving for the very first time. If you know a little car-crazy kid desperate for the chance to jump in the driving seat this first drive at Essex's popular Epping venue is a wonderfully white-knuckle introduction to the world of motoring. Intothe Blue also offers a great selection of alternative gift experiences; please visit our main gift page here.


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Baby karting sessions for 6 & 7 year olds at the Bill Sisley Kart School at Seven Sisters racing proper 120cc karts. ...

Indulge your epicurean tendencies with this delectable tasting menu for two from the divine Fishmore Hall! Located just outside Ludlow the unofficial capital of food culture this beautiful hotel offers a sublime range of mouth-watering treats to enjoy as part of their taster menu experience. Set in a beautifully renovated Georgian mansion overlooking miles of picturesque Shropshire countryside this range of delightful dishes will certainly live up to all its expectations & beyond. Thanks to Fishmore Hall's innovative tasting menu for two you foodies will be indulged to the max & you can treat a loved one or treasured friend to a dining sensation that's sure to hit the spot with a blend of delicate flavours & aromas to be savoured with each mouthful. Your tasting menu for two will see you trying some of Shropshire's finest produce from wood pigeon & venison to a decadent dessert finale. In total you'll both enjoy taste bud-tingling courses from the extensive menu including... ...

Commercial jet-style simulator at Stapleford Airfield's leading flight training centre ...

Book your flight simulator slot in Essex! Located within the flight training school at Earls Colne airfield this simulator is ready & waiting to give you that flying feeling without ever leaving the ground. We are offering a 60-minute session in the sim. You'll be accompanied by one of the school's instructor pilots who will show you how everything works. & although the simulator is fixed base all the controls are just as you'd find in an actual light aircraft. The set-up is based on a Robin HR200. This low-wing two-seater is the plane of choice at this airfield & there are a fair few of them in the fleet used for actual flight training so it makes total sense to have one as a simulator too. It's usually used to assist pilots who want to pass their night flying & IMC (Instrument meteorological conditions) ratings as the simulator is an excellent means of practicing the skills needed. For you it's all about getting your first taste of flying solo. It's you who will be sitting in the captain's seat whilst your instructor will be alongside you. The idea is that you are in control all the time from taxiing to the runway & take off to nailing that tricky landing. It's not as easy as it looks so prepare yourself for maximum concentration as you try & get those wheels down! As for where you'll be going on your simulator flight in Essex it's up to you! In an hour you can fly a full sector quite easily. One of the most popular options is a low-level flight over London taking in the sights as you follow the Thames. You can also add in extra little challenges like a spot of bad weather a notoriously hairy approach or even an aircraft malfunction. So if you fancy honing your piloting skills in a flight simulator this Essex school offers a neat little set up with a full cockpit mock-up. What's more it's based at a busy general aviation airfield where there's always a lot going on making it ideal for aviation fans. & you can invite up to two friends or family to join you on the day & watch your progress in the sim. ...

OK headset on pre-flight checks done you're cleared for take off & chocks away…wait a minute we've not even left the ground yet we're flying? & that's because you're on a flight simulator experience in Perth Scotland!

This flight simulator is at Perth Airport the main base for one of Scotland's leading flight training organisations. The one they have at this Scottish centre is generic so they can be adapted to be representative of single engine aircraft multi-engine planes & even small jets. Your flight simulator experience means that you can choose from a Beech 200 a Piper Seneca or the Citation II Jet
- all of which are thrilling planes to fly especially when it's your first time!

Being based at Perth Airport these flight simulators are regularly used by student pilots in particular those who are wanting to clock up training hours for what they call rating conversions. That's plane speak for training to get a licence to be able to fly different types of planes in different conditions.

The most popular form of training is IR (instrument rating) for flying at night. Pilots can practice practice practice on the flight simulator to get experience before heading out into the skies above Scotland to do the same exercise for real. & the hours spent in the sim count as the machine is CAA flight training approved as a FNPT II (Flight & Navigation Procedure Trainer) so it's the 'real deal' without even moving!

So what is it like? Well the self-contained set up has a cut up cockpit-type construction with large screens covering the three sides. Behind the pilot & co-pilots seats is the instructor station where the operator can keep an eye on the action & simulate different flying conditions say a hail storm over Scotland or an engine stall & recovery scenario.

Throughout the experience you will be in the pilot's seat of the flight simulator. Scotland's finest CAA registered flight instructors will be sitting beside you to show you the ropes so you can really make the most of your flight time. We think a 30 40 or 60 minute experience in the flight simulator at Perth is a great way to discover the joys of flying where you can test out tricky conditions with no fear!

 

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Book a slot on the Ikarus C42 simulator at Popham Airfield in Hampshire! This is the world's only Comco Ikarus C42 simulator so this is a totally unique experience giving you the chance to virtually fly an Ikarus aircraft for an hour. This flight simulator is an integral part of flight training at this school in Hampshire. Based at the well-equipped & maintained Popham Airfield the simulator is ready to board seven days a week 363 days a year. It's used by student pilots as part of their training by qualified pilots for refreshers & by you the budding experience day pilot! What makes this sim stand out is that fact that it was developed by the training school with the full co-operation & endorsement of Comco the German aeronautical company that designs builds & sells the Ikarus C42. & indeed Comco has provided the flight dynamics for this pretty special Ikarus simulator. The creators have done a great job recreating the look & feel of flying. Set up in it's own training room at Popham Airfield the simulator is the complete front end of an Ikarus with fully integrated flight controls & systems. Strategically placed in front of the aircrafts nose are the triple high definition screens that project those highly realistic flight images. The graphics are all super accurate right down to the small detail of any airfield
- & even the fuselage livery matches the actual Ikarus aircraft based at the school. One of the key advantages of this Ikarus simulator is that it is full motion. That's to say the cockpit sits on hydraulic 'legs' & moves as you control the aircraft in your virtual sky making it a completely authentic experience. Add to that a very realistic soundtrack (the virtual Ikarus sounds just like the real thing) & you'll feel totally immersed in the world of ultra light aviation. & as this Ikarus simulator is at a flight training school that uses real Ikarus aircraft for lessons it's most definitely a case of blurred lines with the pilot's knowing the real thing just as well as the virtual version. Book your one hour sim session at Popham & get virtually flying in the world's only Ikarus simulator!
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You're the captain with your family in the cabin behind you! ...

Trial lessons out of bustling Norwich International Airport in two & four-seater aircraft from the dedicated Business Aviation Centre terminal. ...