M
any aircraft enthusiasts dream
of ying a Spit re or being at
the controls of their favourite
commercial airliner – for most
though, this aspiration will remain unful lled.However, there is a way to get closer to
the reality thanks to the growing number
of aviation simulators. Both full-motion
and xed-base, these fascinating devices
are becoming increasingly accessible tothose outside the aviation industry, allowing
members of the public to step into the
cockpit and let their dreams take ight while
remaining safely on the ground immersed in
a virtual world.MOTION SIMULATORS
Company: British Airways Flight Training
Locations: Technical Block A, British Airways Global
Learning Academy, Vanguard Way, Hounslow,
Middlesex TW6 2FH
Aircraft: Boeing 747-400, Boeing 777-200
Price: 1hr - £449
Website: http://www.britishairways.com/en-fr/baft/ y-a-
simulator/ y-a-simulator-public/ y-a-simulator-public
Telephone: +44 (0) 208 562 3044
About: Using the same simulators as British Airways’
long-haul pilots, would-be captains and rst officers
needn’t worry about prior experience. They are given a
half-hour pre- ight brie ng before being handed control
of either a Boeing 777-200 or 747-400 with guidance
provided by a Pilot Instructor.Company: Cardiff Aviation Training
Location: The Norman Hangar, Southside Cardiff
Airport, Rhoose Road, Rhoose, Vale of Glamorgan
CF62 3EQ
Aircraft Type: Boeing 747-400
Price: 1hr - £299
Website: http://www.cardiffaviationtraining.co.uk/simulator-
experience/
Telephone: +44 (0) 1446 712 850
About: Cardiff Aviation Training has made available one
of its two 747 full- ight simulators to those who want to
sample ying one of the world’s largest airliners. Based
just outside the Welsh capital, brie ngs are given by
one of the company’s experienced airline captains.Company: Flight Simulators Midlands
Location: Coventry Aeroplane Club, Rowley Road,
Baginton, Coventry CV3 4FR
Aircraft Types: Airbus A320 (pitch motion only), Boeing
737NG, Boeing 747 ( xed-base)
Price: 1hr - £125
Website: http://www. yfsm.co.uk/
Telephone: +44 (0) 800 999 7370
About: Flight Simulators Midlands has three ight
devices; two of which are motion simulators. The
A320 version started life as British Airways A320-
100 G-BUSF, whilst the 747-400 simulator has been
updated with the addition of a glass cockpit, having
previously been used by Aer Lingus as a 747-200
trainer. The A320 simulator can be con gured to offer
the ‘Sully Experience’, putting you in the hotseat with a
computerised recreation of events during ‘The Miracle
on the Hudson’.Company: Real Simulation
Location: The Smithy, Haggs Farm Business Park,
Haggs Road, Follifoot, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
HG3 1EQ
Aircraft Types: Boeing 737-200, McDonnell Douglas F-4
Phantom II
Price: 1hr - £269
Website: http://www.realsimulation.co.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 1423 202129
About: Built for the RAF by Ferranti Systems, Real
Simulation’s F-4 Phantom started life as an operational
aircraft. Heightening the experience is the opportunityto wear an RAF issue ying suit, life jacket and
‘bone dome’. Their 737 Classic simulator is equipped
with headsets, oxygen masks, checklists and even
lifejackets for ying over water.Company: Virtual Aerospace
Locations:
Victoria Gardens, Burgess Hill, West Sussex
RH15 9NB
Aircraft Types: Boeing 737-800, Airbus A320
Price: 1hr - £499
Website: http://www.virtual-aerospace.com/
Telephone Number: +44 (0) 1604 211 336
About: The UK’s largest ight simulation experience
company, Virtual Aerospace has four facilities across
the country. Its full-motion 737-800 and A320 devices,
located at Burgess Hill are available for experiences
of up to three hours. Virtual Aerospace has xed base
simulators at its other locations, see elsewhere in this
listing.Company: Virtual Jet Centre
Location: Units 1 & 2, Xpressway Business Park,
Chudleigh, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ13 0FJ
Aircraft: Boeing 737-800
Price: 1hr - £150
Website: http://www.virtualjetcentre.co.uk/
Telephone: +44 (0) 1626 852119
About: Founded by a former Thomson Airways captain,
Virtual Jet Centre offers training for 737 pilots as well
as simulator experiences.FLIGHT SIMULATOR
GUIDE
44 Aviation News incorporating Jets December 2018
FLIGHT SIMULATOR
GUIDEGUIDE
Our guide to getting airborne without leaving the ground, details
publicly accessible simulators in the UK and the types you can ‘fl y’.