Howdy All,

Planning to book myself a flying-tour on a B71/B24 and possibly a 2-seater P51 this summer. Preferably US West Coast or across the pond back in the UK.
I know a few SimHQers have had the chance to do so, and would need your advise on which are the best organizers for this type of thrills.
Actually, anyone in the know is more than welcome to recommend.

My budget is quite decent, let's say US$4,000 for the rides, but I find it difficult to evaluate what is good or not out of Hong Kong, relying solely on Google.

Please share, don't keep for yourself ! My turn to brag hopefully.

Cheers,
Slug

My local airfield used to have a Yak-52 in PLAAF-ish markings. About $300 for an hour or so if I remember. Does that count?

I'd love to sit in a P-51 or Spitfire, doesn't even have to be flying...

I've ridden in a few warbirds (b-25, b-17 mostly) over the years and it was always an incredible experience. These days I'm pretty much out of the warbirds community but I still know the chief pilot of the B-25 "Executive Sweet". Go to http://www.aafgroup.org/rides.html if interested and check them out. If you have specific questions feel free to PM me and I can reach out to the chief pilot.

Does a T-34 Mentor count? Flown the T-34 on 2 different occasions. Once with an Air Force instructor, and later with a Marine. Probably the closest I'll ever get to a "real" warbird.

Does a DC-3 count as a Warbird? If so I had the pleasure of a flight in one of Air Atlantique's DC-3's back in the 80's.I wish I could remember it in more detail all these years later.

I got shown around one of their's when it visited Wick almost 30 years ago, I remember thinking it was quite a steep climb from the cargo door up into the cockpit

That was the one thing that I remember.I almost pulled myself forwards to my seat.I sat over the starboard engine.

Does an F4N, AH 64A, UH 60L, UH 1N, H46 count? Oh, then there was the time on the skid of an AH 1W.

Old warbirds; Flown in a B-17 and C-47.

New warbirds; several and bunch of helicopters.

If it still counts if it doesn't have guns or ordnance, I have jumped from a de Havilland Dominie that saw service in 39-45.

closest I ever came was a De Havilland Dragon Rapide at Duxford

I got to fly in a Vultee BT-15 a few years ago. While the pilot was on his lunch break we had been talking about different aircraft and flight sims. I had told him I had stick time in my dad's Bonanza and a few other light airplanes years ago. When we took off he let me take the controls at about 500 feet. I actually got to fly the plane almost the entire flight. He took the controls back about 100 feet off the runway on final. That was one of the most fun things I have ever done.

I've flown in a B-17 "Nine-O-Nine" out of Naval Air Station Wildwood. This particular B-17 didn't see action, and was subjected to nuclear tests, later became a fire bomber then restored to wartime configuration.

The Yankee Air Museum in Willow Run Airport used to offer a ride in a B-17. I'm not sure if they still do. Me and my brother talked about taking our Dad for the ride, but just haven't done it yet. Bucket list I guess.

I guess they still offer many rides. Mmmmmm....

http://yankeeairmuseum.org/book-a-flight-experience/

Old: Ju-52 and DC-3.

New: CH-53 and SA-330.

I've flown in a Harvard from the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. They asked if I was a pilot. I said no. The control column was strangely missing from the rear cockpit. :-( The flight was still fun.

http://www.warplane.com/visit-cwhm/vintage-aircraft-flights.aspx

I've flown in an SNJ Texan (I know, same plane) from Warbird Adventures in Kissimmee Florida. This was the most interactive flight with the most stick time for me. The pilot even taught me and got me to fly a wingover maneuver. I have great cockpit video of me panicking and letting go of the control stick for a moment. :-)

http://www.warbirdadventures.com/home

Most recently I flew in a T-33 jet trainer. That was pretty cool. A very different flying experience from the prop planes. I had very little stick time on this aircraft and when I did I was all over the place with it. The Texan was much more forgiving for a zero time beginner.

http://www.waterloowarbirds.com/

My post about the experience...

http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/4179658/Waterloo_Warbirds_T-33_Flight#Post4179658

Wizard

I once was within' 50 feet of a P-51D. I mean I was....."Close to it". Does that count?...lol....

I was This close....


I helped push these ones



And the pilot of this Harrier gave me a salute as he went past

I've flown in a B-24 multiple times, but the draw for me was mostly that it's the kind of plane that my father worked on in WWII, so I can't say it would be the most interesting for everyone. There is only one in combat configuration that is still flying, so that might make it more interesting for some.

I used to fly a MiG-17 in airshows




Before that a Su-26


Before that a Yak-55M


Before that a Yak-52


I now own an ex-swedish Bulldog (Sk61) and two gliders (ASG-29 and an awesome Lange Aviation Antares 20E E for electric launch)