FAQ / Terms & Conditions - Individual Flights |
|
We hope that the above answers all your questions. A full list can be found below. Please free to contact us if you still have a question.
|
FAQ / Terms & Conditions - Full Listing |
|
|
We can fly anyone aged 12 and over, as long as they fulfill the medical, height and weight criteria. You will be required to complete a Medical Self-Certification Form before flying with us - if you have any doubts or answer any questions with a "yes" you should contact your GP (your GP may charge you for this). If you are aged 61 or over, as a formality, we will require a letter from your doctor confirming your suitability to fly with us. There is no upper age limit to fly with us. NB if you are already a pilot with a current medical, the above does not apply.
Extra300 Aircraft Limits: Weight limit* is 15 stone 7 lbs. Minimum height 5ft. Maximum height 6ft 4".
Bulldog Aircraft Limits: Weight limit* is 17 stone. Minimum height 5ft. Maximum height 6ft 5".
* Weight limits are based on participant weight fully clothed and wearing shoes. |
|
|
Kemble Airport is approx 70 miles west of London, about 15 miles NW of Swindon, just to the SW of Cirencester (Glos), and is right on the edge of the Cotswolds. Kemble is the former home of the Red Arrows and is a typically impressive former military airfield. Hunters, Gnats and Jet Provost fast jets are still flown regularly from Kemble.
Please refer to our map as Sat Nav directions to our postcode are not reliable and may try to take you through fields! In particular, please note that the airfield is ONLY accessible from the A433 Cirencester-Tetbury Road and NOT from the A429 Malmesbury-Cirencester road. More information can be found on our "contact us" page.
There are excellent fast train links (approx 1¼ hours) from London Paddington direct to Kemble.
Should you require a taxi from the station, you will need to phone for one - tel A2B Taxis on 01285 655651.
If you are flying into Bristol Airport, it takes at least 1¼ hours to get to Kemble (either by hire car, or by shuttle bus to Bristol Temple Meads station and then the train to Kemble). |
|
|
The Thameshead Inn is the closest accommodation to the airfield. The staff are very friendly and the pub serves good food www.thamesheadinn.co.uk tel 01285 770 259.
We also recommend West Crudwell Farm, Crudwell which has a beautiful setting and is very comfortable and reasonably priced. Telephone: Zandra on 01666 577205, website www.westcrudwellholidaycottages.com.
Also in Crudwell village, The Rectory Hotel is an attractive and newly refurbished country hotel - tel 01666 577194 www.therectoryhotel.com.
There are some lovely hotels in Tetbury: If you require an excellent but good value "business" hotel with broadband access, we recommend the Priory Inn (tel 01666 502251 www.theprioryinn.co.uk). The Ormond www.theormond.co.uk is a beautifully restored coaching inn with individually designed rooms. Tel 01666 505690. The Close Hotel (4 poster beds etc) also comes highly recommended www.theclose-hotel.com tel 01666 502272.
The nearest Travel Lodge is in Cirencester. Also in Cirencester, for a comfortable B&B, try The Leauses - www.theleauses.co.uk. Tel 01285 653643.
The Four Pillars Hotel at South Cerney Cotswold Water Park www.cotswoldwaterparkhotel.co.uk tel 01285 864000 is a superb large contemporary hotel with all facilities (spa, leisure facilities etc).
For a list of more expensive hotels in the Cotswold please check out our corporate list at www.ultimatehigh.co.uk/accommodation_corporate.html
|
|
|
It is essential that you wear light flat shoes with good grips - trainers are ideal. We shall kit you out in genuine military flying suits - please wear comfortable casual clothes to go underneath - ie trousers/shorts, T shirt, and sweater. Ladies should not wear skirts/ dresses. It is a good idea to bring a light jacket as it can be exposed on the airfield. Please note that changing facilities are limited.
Loose objects (including cameras) are not allowed in the aircraft cockpit. Before entering the aircraft, you will be asked to empty your pockets of keys, change etc, and remove any jewellery (other than watches and stud earrings). Valuables can either be safekept in our crew room or left in your car. |
|
|
Any number of family/friends can come to the airfield itself, HOWEVER, due to space constraints, only 1 guest per flying participant can be accommodated in our crew room during the flying brief. We also recommend that you do not bring young children as there is little to entertain them at the airfield.
There is a superb restaurant (AV8) close to our Crew Room and the airfield activities can be watched from here on the balcony outside. Please note that our flights do not take place over the airfield, but in the local area - your family/friends will therefore be able to see you take-off and land, but will not be able to see your sortie from the airfield.
For safety and insurance reasons family/friends are not allowed airside. |
|
|
LOTS!!!! All our flights teach you how to fly our aeroplanes and you are encouraged to do as much (or as little) of the flying as you like. As you will be participating in a trial lesson, your flight with us will count towards a private pilot's licence and you will be able to fly the aircraft in all regimes of flight apart from close formation, take off and landing.
You will be offered the chance to carry out aerobatic manoeuvres yourself, even if you have never flown in a light aircraft before, all under the close guidance of your instructor who will show you the way. |
|
|
Second only to safety is our pledge to you to enjoy yourself. It is an experience you will never forget. Many people enjoy it so much they come back again and again. Just look at our testimonials!
We tailor all flights to the individual, and can provide anything from a gentle flying lesson around the area to extreme aerobatics and everything in between, depending on your nerves or your g-tolerance. This will all be discussed as part of the initial briefing session, and will be continually monitored during the flight by our experienced instructors.
Although some of our students expect to feel ill, less than 1% actually are, partly because students actually fly a large proportion of the flights themselves, and if they feel uncomfortable, can relax or return to base at any time. |
|
|
Yes! We fly with all kinds of people including very experienced pilots.
Regarding the Top Gun/Ultimate Top Gun experience we do try to match the pairs into similar ability/ background. For many pilots, the opportunity to fly in close formation with another aeroplane (when you are usually trying to keep well away from other aircraft!) and to chase another aeroplane around the skies is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Guests can do lots of the flying themselves, including the tailchasing and aerobatics, so existing pilots do learn something as well!
Regarding our aerobatic experiences, we say all pilots should fly the amazing Extra300 once, just to find out what an incredible machine it is. Our "Fly with a Fighter Pilot" and "Fly a Spitfire Trainer" hands-on flights in the Bulldog or Chipmunk are an excellent introduction to aerobatics. |
|
|
As our briefings are very thorough and include multimedia presentations, students are usually briefed in groups of typically 4-6 people, and then flown sequentially. This means that there may be a gap of up to 2 hours between briefing finishing and your flying starting; on busy days you may be with us for up to 4 hours.
There are many things that can cause delays, which include weather, queues for refuelling, minor technical hitches etc. We will try to keep you informed of the time that you are likely to be in the aircraft. If you are under time pressure, please make sure that you let us know in advance and we will endeavour to fly with you first.
Quoted flight times are defined as "airborne time + 10 minutes"; the 10 minutes on the ground is an average time and can vary considerably depending on how busy the airfield is and other factors. A 35-minute flight will therefore consist of 25 minutes in the air and around 10 minutes on the ground, with the "loggable" time in the pilot's logbook being 35 minutes (in line with the aviation industry standard which measures flight times from the time the aeroplane starts to move up to the point where it finishes moving). The airborne time may occasionally vary from the time quoted (it may be more or less) for a number of reasons including busy aircraft circuit traffic on returning to the airfield, passenger airsickness etc.
Flight time is entirely at the instructor pilot's discretion; the instructor's prime concern is safety. We do not charge if your flight time overruns the stated time and likewise are unable to offer refunds if your flight time is less than the time stated, whatever the reason. |
|
|
We provide a personalised flight certificate signed by your instructor.
All our aircraft are video equipped and we can provide a DVD (price £49) which will normally be sent to you within 4 weeks of your flight. If, for whatever reason, the video is not available on the day, and you choose to reschedule your trip, our usual cancellation charges will apply.
Although the installations have been specifically designed for our aeroplanes (to withstand accelerations of +10g/-10g), they generally have good reliability but can very occasionally be temperamental. Should guests have requested a video that subsequently does not record perfectly in some way, then Ultimate High will fully refund the price of the video, but not any associated flying costs.
We have the following merchandise available for sale:
- Signed Squadron Print/Poster
- Baseball Cap
- Fleece (red or black)
- Cloth Patch (Ultimate High roundel) |
|
|
If you wish to change your chosen flight date, you must give at least 14 days' notice. For changes made within 14 days of the scheduled date a rearrangement fee of £75 will be made for Top Gun flights and £25 for Aerobatic flights. As Top Gun flights consist of two guests in two separate aeroplanes, if one cancels at short notice we will still have to fly the other guest with your scheduled seat being empty. If you cancel a Top Gun flight with less than 48 hours' notice, and fail to provide an alternative guest, you will forfeit your voucher entirely.
Please aim to arrive at least 30 minutes early. If you arrive late and we are unable to fit you into the schedule, you may forfeit your voucher entirely. |
|
|
To allow for unforeseen changes in personal circumstances, Flight Vouchers are fully transferable allowing the nomination of alternative guests.
For cancellations made within 14 days of the date of voucher purchase, a full refund will be granted, less an administration charge of £20. The voucher must be returned to us by post. After this period, the administrative and financial costs incurred in maintaining the operation and setting up flights are such that 75% of the voucher cost will be refunded, as long as the voucher is less than 6 months old. Unfortunately, we are unable to refund any vouchers that are older than this.
Although we are sympathetic to customers who are cancelled/rescheduled due to weather, we are unable to grant refunds outside the terms above. With this in mind, we may occasionally offer free voucher extensions to customers who have been rescheduled 3 times or more. |
|
|
We can extend your voucher for 6 months for a £30 fee, as long as post it to us whilst it is still valid. You will need to send your voucher in to us first, along with this form.
Unfortunately, we cannot fly you if your voucher has expired (without being extended). We are unable to extend expired vouchers - they must be posted to us prior to expiry.
We have some sympathy for customers who are rescheduled due to weather 3 times or more, and may occasionally offer to extend vouchers for no charge if we consider it appropriate. |
|
|
All flying is subject to weather, aircraft serviceability, pilot rosters and airfield availability. It is ESSENTIAL THAT YOU CALL US TO CHECK IN ON 01285 771200, any time from 3.30pm the previous afternoon. This is not only to check the weather but also to check that the flying is going ahead as planned and that there have been no last minute changes.
The presence of low unbroken cloud or haze (in the summer) and/or high winds may mean that we will have to reschedule flying. During the winter months (November-February), there is a greater than 50% chance that you may not be able to fly due to weather. This decreases to around 10-20% during the peak summer months.
WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU FIRST BOOK YOUR FLIGHT AS EARLY AS YOU CAN IN THE MAIN FLYING SEASON (March-October), and certainly within 6 months of the purchase of the voucher, so that there will be time to reschedule it if necessary. If you first book your flight from autumn onwards, there is a chance that you may not fly before the end of the year, in which case your voucher will need to be extended (for a £30 charge). We have some sympathy for customers who are rescheduled due to weather 3 times or more, and may occasionally extend vouchers for no charge if we consider it appropriate.
We will try and ensure you do not have a wasted journey if at all possible, so please call us in advance! We accept no liability for any costs incurred (eg transport or accommodation) when flying has to be cancelled. We try very hard not to rearrange trips as we have an extremely high level of bookings and it can be difficult to reschedule cancelled trips. |
|
|
Call us on 01285 771200 (before you set out) to check that all is going ahead as planned. It is ESSENTIAL THAT YOU CALL US TO CHECK IN any time from 3.30pm the previous afternoon. This is not only to check the weather but also to check that the flying is going ahead as planned and that there have been no last minute changes. As the weather varies considerably around the country, please still call even if it is sunny where you are!
Please aim to arrive at least half an hour early, as you may miss your flight if you arrive after your scheduled start time. If you do arrive late, you may forfeit your voucher.
Please bring your voucher with you as we may not be able to fly you without it.
Read our rearrangement fees / cancellation charges, if you are looking to reschedule at short notice.
For more information, please click here. |
|
|
Call us on 01285 771200 to book in your flight. Guideline availability can be found here.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU FIRST BOOK YOUR FLIGHT AS EARLY AS YOU CAN IN THE MAIN FLYING SEASON (March-October), and certainly within 6 months of the purchase date of the voucher (at least 3 months prior to its expiry), so that there will be time to reschedule it if necessary. If you first book your flight close to its expiry, particularly if this is in autumn, there is a reasonable chance that you may not fly before the end of the year, in which case your voucher will need to be extended (for a £30 charge). More information on voucher extensions can be found here. |
|
|
We have two Extra300 aircraft, four Bulldog aircraft and one Chipmunk. The aircraft are meticulously maintained to the highest possible standards, in strict accordance with CAA regulations. From time to time minor technical faults may arise which may preclude flying either temporarily or for the day. If this situation occurs, we will endeavour to fix the problem or "borrow" another aircraft wherever possible, but this cannot always be guaranteed and, as a last resort we may have to reschedule you to another day at late notice.
Airfield availability is not normally an issue, but there are occasions where the airfield may not be available to us; examples include aircraft unserviceabilities that close the runway, events (air shows etc), chemical/oil spillages and resurfacing work. Occasionally, airfields will be closed at short notice (including for royal flights) and we may not always receive sufficient notice to cancel scheduled flying in time. |
|
|
There is a huge emphasis on safety, as the military ethos insists that every eventuality is prepared for, no matter how unlikely. The care of our guests is paramount and we employ the same safety standards used by the RAF to ensure that everybody enjoys a great time without taking risks. The aircraft are maintained in strict accordance with CAA regulations and our instructor pilots have supreme credentials. Although aerobatic and formation flying may 'look' dangerous, the flying is done within strict rules around procedures, minimum altitudes and distances between the aircraft. The instructors have many thousands of hours of military and civilian experience which helps ensure that they are perfectly prepared for flying with you.
We specialise in teaching and promoting safety courses to existing pilots. Insurance companies recognise the value of our training and offer discounts to pilots who have done safety training with us.
We are fully insured at Lloyds for personal and third party risks up to £10 million (Extra300 aircraft) and £5 million (Bulldog), and your own personal policies are normally unaffected by the activity (although you should check this in advance with your provider). If you booked through an experience agency, you may also automatically receive additional cover. Copies of our insurance cover are available on request. Please note that personal effects are not covered by our policies, but again your normal insurance arrangements usually remain valid. |
|
|
Our Gift Vouchers are valid for 12 months and come in an unmarked envelope which contains plenty of information to prepare you for flying with us.
If you would like to purchase a gift voucher, please go to our gift vouchers page to buy online, or alternatively call us on 01285 771200.
Usually the voucher will be posted within 1-2 days of your request. Please let us know if the voucher is required urgently (additional charge of £5.00 for next day delivery). Alternatively, we can email the voucher to you.
All Bookings and Gift Vouchers are subject to our Terms & Conditions. In particular, please check that the participant is within the stated aircraft weight limits. |
|
|
