EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE FLYING WITH ULTIMATE HIGH AT GOODWOOD

FLYING EXPERIENCE FAQS

Are there any Medical, Age or Weight restrictions?

We can fly anyone aged 12 and over, as long as they fulfill the medical, height and weight criteria.  You must also be  physically capable of getting into and out of the aircraft without assistance**.

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).  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 (98kg).  Minimum height 5ft (1.52m).  Maximum height 6ft 4″ (1.93m).
T67 Firefly Aircraft Limits:  Weight limit* is 17 stone (108kg).  Minimum height 5ft (1.52m).  Maximum height 6ft 5″. (1.95m)

* Weight limits are based on participant weight fully clothed and wearing shoes.
**As well as needing to be physically capable of getting into and out of the aircraft without assistance, you should also be physically capable of operating a parachute in the event of an emergency (as you will normally be wearing a parachute during your flight).  We recommend that you contact aeroBILITY (formerly the British Disabled Flying Association or BDFA) if you have a disability and would like to fly.

How do I get to Goodwood Aerodrome?

Ultimate High is based at Goodwood Aerodrome & Motor Circuit, Chichester, PO18 0PH (just north-east of Chichester, only 60 miles from London, and 30 miles from Brighton and Southampton). The Goodwood Motor Circuit is also located at the Aerodrome.   The entrance to the Aerodrome is on Claypit Lane (on the eastern side of the airfield).  Our location is accurate on Google Maps.

As we are not signposted at the Aerodrome, please follow the directions below:

  • Once at the Aerodrome, pass through the tunnel and follow the road round to the left (signposted Goodwood Aerodrome). 
  • Continue all the way to the end of the tree-lined road (you will see “Goodwood Aerodrome” in large letters on the side of a white building straight ahead of you, next to a statue of Douglas Bader) and bear left again and park.
  • We are in a small building on your right as you look south at the skidpan.

Travelling by Train from London

  • The nearest train station is Chichester, which has direct connections to London Victoria; the train takes around 1.5 hours.
  • Chichester railway station is about a 10-15 minute taxi ride from the Aerodrome.

Travelling from Abroad / Flying Into the UK

  • Southampton Airport is 35 miles away and should take around 40 minutes by car, although if you are travelling in the rush hour, congestion on the M27 can cause it to take much longer than this. 
  • London Gatwick is 47 miles away (approx 1 hour by car and less affected by rush hour traffic).
  • Both Southampton and Gatwick have train connections to Chichester.
Can you recommend any local accommodation?

There is a wide range of places to stay in Chichester and the surrounding area, including country pubs, hotels in town or B&Bs near the coast.  We only recommend the Goodwood Hotel which is about 1.5 miles away, as there is so much choice and places often get booked up.  Please refer to www.booking.com or www.tripadvisor.com for more suggestions. 

What should I wear?

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.  Sunglasses are also recommended.  

Loose objects (including cameras, go-pros and phones) 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), hairgrips etc.  Valuables can either be safekept in our crew room or left in your car.

Should I eat before I fly?

It is difficult to offer advice on this one as everyone is different.  We normally suggest that you eat a light breakfast/snack 1-2 hours before you fly as flying aerobatics on an empty stomach (which causes low blood sugar) can increase the propensity for airsickness. 

A heavy meal just before your flight is not recommended, and neither is strong tasting food and drink (coffee in particular can cause nausea), and alcohol MUST be avoided.

There is a cafe at the Aerodrome which serves a range of food and beverages should you and/or your family require refreshments during the day.

Can I bring my friends/family with me and can they watch me fly? Are dogs allowed?

Any number of family/friends can come to the airfield itself, HOWEVER, due to space constraints, only 1-2 guests per flying participant can be accommodated in our crew room during the flying brief.

As Goodwood is a busy airfield, our flights do not take place over the airfield itself, but in many locations throughout the local area – your family/friends will therefore only be able to see you get into the aircraft, take-off and land, and will not see you doing aerobatics.

We recommend that you do not bring young children as there is little to entertain them at the airfield.

Dogs are allowed at the Aerodrome, but must be kept on a lead at all times and not cross any fences/barriers (ie cannot go airside).  Dogs are not allowed in our crew room/offices but there is grass space outside our building where you can sit with them or leave them unattended (on a lead).

There is a lovely cafe next to our crew room and picnic tables outside our building, which you are welcome to use.

For safety and insurance reasons family/friends are not allowed airside.

How much of the flying can I do myself?

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.

How extreme is the flying? Will I feel sick? Will I have fun?

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.

Are your flight experiences suitable for Pilots as well as Non-Pilots?

Yes!  We fly with all kinds of people including very experienced pilots.

Regarding the 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.  Participants 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” hands-on flight in the T67 Firefly is an excellent introduction to aerobatics.

How long does the experience last?

Group briefings normally take place promptly at 10.30am or 1.00pm (we ask that you arrive at least 15 minutes early to check in and do paperwork etc).  Students are usually briefed in groups of typically 4-6 people, and then flown sequentially in pairs or sometimes threes.  The briefing is very thorough, and is followed by changing into flying kit, so the first flying “wave” starts around an hour after your briefing start time.  We aim that you spend no longer than 3 hours with us from start to finish, but occasionally you may be with us for longer than this if we are delayed (see below).  If all runs smoothly, you should be with us for 2 – 2.5 hours.

It is difficult to give very accurate times of when you will be flying as 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.

Additional flying time to your quoted flight time may be requested.  This is charged at £5 per minute in the T67 Firefly and £8 per minute in the Extra 300 aircraft.

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.

Videos/Photos - How can I record the day?

We provide a personalised flight certificate signed by your instructor.

We automatically video all flights, and it is up to you if you wish to purchase your video after the flight (price £59).  This is a HD video provided on a USB memory stick and can be taken with you on the day.  

The installations have been specifically designed for our aeroplanes (to withstand accelerations of +10g/-10g), and are approved by the CAA.  They generally have good reliability but can occasionally be temperamental.  Should a video not record perfectly in some way, then Ultimate High will not refund any associated flying costs or offer repeat flights for free.

We do not allow participants to wear or use GoPros or cameras in the cockpit. It is not possible to accurately assess the strength or durability of any individual camera harness or mount for appropriateness in a high G environment, and any camera that works loose is a potential missile that might cause injury or damage the cockpit. Camera harnesses are also potential snag points for emergency parachute deployment.

Cancellations / Change of Flight Date / Late Shows

If you wish to cancel your flight and change your chosen flight date, you must give at least 14 days’ notice.  For changes made within 7 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 participants in two separate aeroplanes, if one cancels at short notice we will still have to fly the other participant 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 participant, 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.

Refunds

To allow for unforeseen changes in personal circumstances, Flight Vouchers are fully transferable allowing the nomination of alternative participants.

For cancellations made within 14 days of the date of voucher purchase, a full refund will be granted, less an administration charge of £30.  After this period, the administrative and financial costs incurred in maintaining the operation and setting up flights are such that only 50% of the voucher cost will be refunded, as long as the voucher is less than 6 months old.  We are unable to refund any vouchers that are older than this. Please note that these refund terms generally exceed those offered by the big experience agencies or other experience providers.

For vouchers purchased through an agency such as Buyagift or Virgin Experience Days the refund rate will be based on the rate paid by the agency to Ultimate High (ie less agency commission) and NOT on the agency price paid or our list prices.  You should contact the agency directly if you wish to receive a refund from them or to exchange your flight for a different experience.  

Although we are sympathetic to customers who are cancelled/rescheduled due to weather or for other reasons beyond our control, we are unable to grant refunds outside the terms above.  We accept no liability for any costs incurred (eg transport, accommodation, insurance, days taken off work etc) when flying has to be cancelled.  With this in mind however, we may occasionally offer free voucher extensions and/or free weekend upgrades in exceptional circumstances (eg if customers are rescheduled 3 times or more).

Force Majeure: Should other circumstances outside of our control, which could not have been prevented despite all efforts and precautions on our side – for example Acts of God, riots, civil unrest etc – put a stop to your flight experience, refunds will not be given. All booked participants will be rescheduled to future dates when the event will be held as normal, after the disruption has passed.

Can I extend my gift voucher beyond its expiry date?

We can extend your voucher for 6 months for a £30 fee, or £50 for 12 months, as long as you contact us whilst it is still valid. Unfortunately, we cannot fly you if your voucher has expired (without being extended).

What about the weather?

All flying is subject to weather, aircraft serviceability, pilot rosters and airfield availability.  It is ESSENTIAL THAT YOU CALL US TO CHECK IN ON 01243 913916, 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.  DO NOT SET OUT WITHOUT CALLING US, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE BOOKED ACCOMMODATION.

The presence of low unbroken cloud or haze (in the summer) and/or high winds may mean that we will have to reschedule flying. The simplest weather guideline is that we need to have bits of blue sky (ie gaps in the clouds) or a high cloud base (of more than 3000 feet).  Rain is fine as long as there are “gaps” between the showers.  Low cloud/drizzle without any breaks will generally mean that we can’t fly.  The wind does not usually affect us flying the T67 aircraft as the aircraft has high crosswind limits, but it may affect us flying the Extra 300 aircraft.

During the winter months (November-February), there is a greater than 60% 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.

What do I need to do before my flight?

All flying is subject to weather, aircraft serviceability, pilot rosters and airfield availability.  It is ESSENTIAL THAT YOU CALL US TO CHECK IN ON 01243 913916, 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.  DO NOT SET OUT WITHOUT CALLING US, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE BOOKED ACCOMMODATION.

The presence of low unbroken cloud or haze (in the summer) and/or high winds may mean that we will have to reschedule flying. The simplest weather guideline is that we need to have bits of blue sky (ie gaps in the clouds) or a high cloud base (of more than 3000 feet).  Rain is fine as long as there are “gaps” between the showers.  Low cloud/drizzle without any breaks will generally mean that we can’t fly.  The wind does not usually affect us flying the T67 aircraft as the aircraft has high crosswind limits, but it may affect us flying the Extra 300 aircraft.

During the winter months (November-February), there is a greater than 60% 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.

What should I do when I receive a gift voucher?

Call us on 01243 913 916 to book in your flight or alternatively you can email us.  Guideline availability can be found in our calendar.

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).   

Instructor Pilot Availability

All of our instructors are current or former military fast jet pilots, many of whom have fought and flown operationally in The Gulf War or Bosnia.  They include former Red Arrows pilots, test pilots, Jaguar and Harrier pilots, as well as current Spitfire display pilots.  Additionally, some of them display with our aerobatic display team and compete in advanced and unlimited Aerobatics Championships.  Please see about us for more details.

All of our instructors fly for us part-time, and have full time jobs, mostly either flying for commercial airlines or still in active service.  They come and fly for us because they enjoy it!

Occasionally, last minute changes to instructors’ work commitments may mean that they are called out, in which case we will make every effort to secure a substitute instructor.  Also, from time to time we may unfortunately have to cancel flights if the scheduled pilot is not well and we are unable to secure a replacement.  It may therefore sometimes be necessary to reschedule your flight at short notice due to instructor availability.

Aircraft Serviceability & Airfield Closure

Our 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 whole 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, except during the winter months when the grass runways can be prone to waterlogging which means that it is not safe to operate aircraft, so the airfield may be closed.  Other occasions when the airfield may not be available to us include aircraft unserviceabilities that close the runway, events (air shows etc), runways unuseable (eg due to flooding, 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.

Is it safe? Am I insured?

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, 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.

CORPORATE EVENT FAQS

Medical, Height & Weight Restrictions

All participants will be required to complete a Medical Self-Certification Form before flying with us. We normally recommend that this is sent out to guests in advance so that there are no surprises on the day. 

T67 Firefly aircraft limits: weight limit is 17 stone (108 kg), maximum height 6 ft 5″ (196 cm).
Extra 300 aircraft limits: weight limit is 15 stone 7 lbs (98.4 kg), height between 5 foot and 6 ft 3″ (152 cm – 190.5cm).

All guests will be required to join our Flying Club (indemnity details available on request).

Ultimate High reserves the right not to fly a guest if they are outside the limits above or are exhibiting problematic behaviour or are unable to follow instructions.

What to wear / bring

Guests should wear light flat shoes with good grips – trainers are ideal. We shall kit everyone out in genuine military flying suits – comfortable casual clothes to go underneath are recommended – 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.  Sunglasses are also recommended.

Loose objects (including cameras) are not allowed in the aircraft cockpit.  Before entering the aircraft, guests will be asked to empty their pockets of keys, change etc, and remove any jewellery (other than watches and stud earrings), hairgrips etc.

How many guests can you fly?

We can fly up to 200 guests in a day in a combination of our own aircraft and others (for example including helicopters).  Additional options are available on request.  Many clients choose to fly two different flight profiles and/or aircraft in a day.

Eating / Drinking before flying

It is difficult to offer advice on this one as everyone is different.  We normally recommend that you eat just as you normally would; otherwise we suggest perhaps a light breakfast or snack 1-2 hours before you fly in the morning or a light lunch before flying in the afternoon.  We suggest that flying on a completely empty stomach should be avoided as this may lead to low blood sugar, and avoid flying after a very large meal. 

It is best to avoid fizzy drinks and strong tasting food/drink (eg coffee) directly before flying and alcohol is absolutely prohibited.

Location

Goodwood Aerodrome PO18 0PH is located just outside Chichester, only 60 miles from London, and 30 miles from Brighton and Southampton.  The Goodwood Motor Circuit is also located at the Aerodrome.

Directions can be found here.  We can recommend local accommodation, if required.

Please note that coaches will not fit through the tunnel at the Aerodrome.  The maximum height for vehicles is 10ft 6″ (3.2m), maximum width 10ft (3m).  Vehicles larger than this should turn left on arrival at the Aerodrome/Motor Circuit and park by the Old Control Tower Cafe.  Guests should then walk through the foot tunnel (not the vehicle tunnel), turn left the other side and continue walking left until they reach the skid pan/slip and slide.  Our building is on the right hand side as you look at the skid pan.

Safety

Ultimate High is proud to operate a 100% safety record.

Guests will receive an in depth briefing on all aspects of flying with us, with a strong focus on safety.

We employ the same safety standards used by the RAF to ensure that everybody enjoys a great time safely, which means 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. 

All aerobatic and formation flying is done within strict rules around procedures, minimum altitudes and distances between the aircraft.  The aircraft are maintained in strict accordance with CAA regulations and our instructors have supreme credentials with many thousands of hours of military experience. 

Insurance

We are fully insured at Lloyds for personal and third party risks of £10 million, and your own personal policies are normally unaffected by the activity.  Copies of our insurance cover are available on request.

Videos of your flights

All our aircraft are video equipped and we can provide a video which you can take with you on the day (price £59).

Although the installations have been specifically designed for our aeroplanes (to withstand accelerations of +10g/-10g), they generally have good reliability but can 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.

Can guests fly the aircraft themselves?

Very much so!

All our flights teach guests how to fly our aeroplanes and they are encouraged to do as much (or as little) of the flying as they like.  Guests will be offered the chance to carry out aerobatic manoeuvres themselves, even if they have never flown in a light aircraft before, all under the close guidance of their instructor who will show them the way.

As they will be participating in a trial lesson, their flight with us will count towards a private pilot’s licence and they will be able to fly the aircraft in all regimes of flight apart from close formation, take off and landing.

What aircraft do you fly?

T67 Firefly

The T67 Firefly is a former military training aircraft that has been used by many Air Forces around the world.  It was used by the RAF to train pilots before moving onto fast jets.  Prince Harry did his first solo in a T67 Firefly! It offers comfortable side by side seating, has mid level aerobatics capability (+6g/-3g with a student) and is a joy to fly.

The T67 Firefly has a tricycle undercarriage with one wheel on the nose and two behind on the wings.

The aircraft is easily capable of more than enough aerobatics for most guests, but is particularly recommended for slightly more cautious flyers (as it has side by side seating) or those who have never flown in a light aircraft.

Extra300

The Extra300 aircraft is a state of the art high performance aerobatics machine and the flying equivalent to a Formula 1 racing car.  It was built solely for the world of unlimited competition aerobatics and air displays, representing the peak of aerobatic design (+8g/-8g with a student).  The Extra300 is a taildragger, with 2 wheels at the front and 1 on the tail.

Our aircraft is the two-seat version of those flown in the Red Bull Air Races.  The passenger sits in the front seat with their flying instructor in the back.  This aircraft was designed for FUN.   It is recommended for adrenaline junkies, those for whom nothing but the best will do, or guests who have some flying experience  and want to try something more extreme.

In addition to the above, we can also offer flights in other aircraft.

"Tea and Medals"

All participants receive individual certificates at the end of the day. 

We also present some prizes for special awards  such as Best Pilot of the Day, Most Improved Pilot, Highest amount of G pulled, Best Situational Awareness etc, and may present “less serious” awards such as “Loudest Screamer”. 

Please enquire if you would like further details.

Event Cancellation due to Weather

It is extremely unlikely that we will have to cancel an event due to weather, but it should be noted that all flying is subject to weather, aircraft serviceability, pilot rosters and airfield availability.  The main weather that may stop us flying is fog or low unbroken cloud, however, we try very hard to get the flying completed for corporate days, and it is extremely unusual for us to have to cancel a full day. 

Participants or their representative(s) must call 01243 913916 on the day before to check the weather is suitable for flying.  If, for any reason, we are unable to fly on the day, the event will either be rescheduled or participants will be issued with open-ended vouchers whereby they can return another day (either together or separately) to fly with us.  If you do not wish to rearrange your event, our policy is to refund 80% of the full costs of the event due to the costs incurred setting up the event, staff and pilot fees etc.  If you are concerned about this we recommend that you take out insurance.

Payment terms

For events of 12 Flights or fewer:

  • Payments by BACS are preferred.  
  • £1000 deposit upon booking (to reserve the date)
  • 50% of invoice amount due 2 months prior to the event
  • balance due within 2 weeks post event

Full Event Cancellation by Client:

  • < 1 month – 20% of total contract sum or costs incurred if greater
  • < 3 days – 50% of total contract sum or costs incurred if greater

Change in no. Guests for the Event:

  • Charges will be based on the number of guests given by the client two calendar weeks prior to the event.
  • The client will be charged for the higher of the number of flights booked, or the number of flights taken.  UH Flight Vouchers will be issued for guest “no shows” at the agreed rate.

For events of 13 Flights or more:

  • Payments by BACS are preferred.  
  • £1000 deposit upon booking (to reserve the date)
  • 70% of invoice amount due 3 months prior to event
  • balance due within 2 weeks post event

Full Event Cancellation by Client:

  • < 3 months – 20% of total contract sum or costs incurred if greater
  • < 1 month – 30% of total contract sum or costs incurred if greater

Change in No. Guests for the Event:

  • Charges will be based on the number of guests given by the client two calendar weeks prior to the event.
  • The client will be charged for the higher of the number of flights booked, or the number of flights taken.  UH Flight Vouchers will be issued for guest “no shows” at the agreed rate.

Partial Event Cancellation by Client (ie one or more days cancelled for multi-day events):

  • < 6 weeks’ notice for each day cancelled – 20% of the day’s contract sum (or costs incurred if greater) will be charged.
  • < 2 weeks’ notice for each day cancelled – 40% or the day’s contract sum (or costs incurred if greater) will be charged.

FLIGHT TRAINING FAQS

Pre-Course information and Study

Before your course starts you will be asked to complete our pre-course student background information, and send us copies of your licence, medical and passport.  You will normally receive some recommended pre-course study.

This cannot be recommended enough.  Many students have realised that their flying experience would definitely have been enhanced by more pre-course study, rather than trying to cram in all the information during the course itself.

Specific course related reading can be found below:

Aerobatic Rating

  • “Aerobatics Principles & Practice” by David Robson (Air Pilot Publishing)
  • “Better Aerobatics” by Alan Cassidy – excellent, but quite technical and therefore recommended for more experienced pilots
  • “Basic Aerobatics”  – RD Campbell and B Tempest – ISBN 1 85310108 7 – Pages 9-48  Technical Subjects
  • CAA Safety Sense Leaflet 19 Aerobatics

Formation Course

  • Formation SOPs – these will be emailed to you separately, and should be committed to memory before your course starts
What is included in the price?

Our prices are all-inclusive (see below).  Unlike other flying schools, we do not work to tight timeslots and you will benefit from considerable briefing time with your instructor on the ground in order to make best use of your time in the air.  Students return to fly with us again and again when they realise the high quality instruction and value for money they receive.

The following are included in the price at no additional cost:

  • Instructor fees, including substantial ground instruction (as specified)
  • VAT
  • Club membership
  • Landing fees (“touch and goes” are additional)
  • Loan of Ultimate High military flying suits, parachutes and high quality headsets
  • Aircraft Aide Memoire/Checklists/FRCs
  • Copies of your sortie write-ups (if required)
  • Certificate of Completion

A fuel surcharge may occasionally be applied at times of fluctuating fuel rates.

During April – September inclusive, we are unable to offer one-off (ie non-course based) flights at the weekend.

Flying time / operating hours / No. trips per day

Flying hours specified are calculated as airborne plus 10 minutes to allow for variable taxi times.

Ultimate High operates under the Goodwood Aerodrome airport licensed hours.  Customers should generally plan to arrive by 0900 unless other arrangements have been made.  Course students will be expected to be with us from 9.00am – 5.00pm each day, and should normally expect to fly 2-3 trips a day, weather, aircraft serviceability and instructor availability permitting.

Occasionally, factors conspire to delay or prevent the successful completion of your course.  The English weather can take a fair amount of blame for this, so please be prepared to either stay a day or so late or to re-schedule to finish at a later date.  It is fine to “take a break to consolidate” and it is quite acceptable to book further training – from a few days to a few months later.

In order to maximise the benefit of your training time, and to ensure that you are refreshed, we recommend at least a couple of hours between flights.  On courses, there can sometimes be up to 4 hours between flights as instructors may fly other students in between.

What to wear / bring with you
  • Please bring your licence, medical, logbook and passport on the first day of your course.
  • We recommend that you wear trainers to fly in.  Please do NOT wear flying boots – trainers/shoes with thin flexible soles are best for flying aerobatic aircraft.
  • We provide flying suits, but you are welcome to bring your own if you have one.
  • We provide headsets but you are welcome to bring your own.
Student competency and course success

Course and test results are based on student aptitude and are not guaranteed within the times stated.  Successful students will be highly motivated and prepared to work hard with us to reach a high standard.

Particularly with aerobatics courses, the physiological impacts (tiredness, potential airsickness) should not be underestimated.  All students are different, but some students can only physically cope with 1 trip on the first couple of days (but by the end of the course most are able to do 2-3 trips a day).

Some courses require students to demonstrate that they have met the required standard by being “safe and competent” at manoeuvres, in order to complete the course.  The AOPA Aerobatics courses all have a test at the end of the course, usually at additional cost.

If we feel a course may be inappropriate for a student, we reserve the right to ask for an initial flying assessment (charged at our normal rates). Very occasionally, if a student is not progressing at a suitable pace, we may recommend that he/she does not continue with the course or considers alternative training.

Course availability

Most courses start on a Monday, and continue through the week, according to course duration and weather.    Occasionally during the winter months we may be able to start courses on a different day, depending on how busy we are.

We are closed on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

During our busiest months (April – September inclusive), we are unable to offer one-off (ie non-course based) flights at the weekend.

Very occasionally, we may need to reschedule or delay some of your course flying for a corporate event.  We will do our best to let you know in advance.

Payment terms

Flying by the hour is payable on the day itself, according to time flown.

A deposit of £200 is required in order to reserve course dates.  This deposit must be received at least 1 month in advance.

The full balance must be paid on the FIRST DAY of the course.  If, for any reason, you are unable to complete the course at a later date, the flying time not flown will be refunded based on the time flown at our standard (ie not discounted) hourly rate.

Instructor Continuity & Availability

We encourage students to fly with different instructors in order to benefit from a range of teaching styles;  as our instructors are military trained, the methods of teaching are consistent.  Comprehensive notes are written up for each sortie, in order to ensure that there is continuity of instruction.  Students have access to these notes which can be copied for you.

As our instructors work for us on a part-time basis, we are unable to guarantee a specific instructor or the same instructor each day.  He/she will also normally be teaching other students during the day and we are therefore unable to guarantee you a dedicated instructor all day.  We reserve the right to charge an additional £40 per training session on top of our normal hourly rates if you will only fly with a specific instructor.

Weather guidelines

The Operations Manager or Staff Instructor will make a final weather decision.  Please phone us the working day before your course begins to check on the forecast weather, any last-minute changes etc.

Weather guidelines refer to the T67 Firefly only.  Limits are different for the Extra300.

Please note that, if you receive full ground briefing for the day but are unable to fly due to weather, we charge a fee of £75 for instructor time.  This will be added to your course cost.

Circuits:  Cloudbase 1200′, crosswind max 20 kts, max gusts 10 kts (Extra x-wind 10 kts, max gust 5kts), Viz>3km
Stalling, UPs, Aeros  Minimum:   cloudbase 4000′ – can generally be lower if suitable gaps up to 4000′ available, Viz>3km
Formation:  Minimum cloudbase 2500′ (3500′ for tailchasing), Viz>4km
Spinning:  Minimum cloudbase 8000′ – can generally be lower if suitable gaps up to 8000′ available, Viz>5km

Personal fitness

Nobody has to be a fitness freak to fly our aircraft, but because of the aircraft’s design there are no doors into the cockpit; access is gained by climbing on the wing root and entering through the sliding canopy.  During aerobatics and spin training, you will be flying the aircraft under more difficult physical conditions than most PPL holders are used to – ‘g’ forces require some effort to combat the physiological impact, and lookout tends to be far more active and thorough, so a reasonable level of personal fitness can assist your performance.

Eating & Drinking

You will hear different viewpoints on what is best to eat and drink before (and after) flying.  Our general advice to you is to “continue as normal” bearing in mind we recommend that you take water before you fly due to the de-hydrating atmosphere in the cockpit. There is an excellent Cafe at the Aerodrome.

All our Instructor Pilots observe very specific rules about drinking and flying and they ask you to join them!  Strictly NO consumption of alcohol at least 12 hours before flying, and only moderate amounts prior to that.  Should you wish to deviate from these rules, you will not fly until you are back within them.

Ground instruction

Flying prices include around 45 minutes of briefing pre-flight, and 30 minutes of debriefing post-flight (and often more).  If you would like additional briefing time, this may be chargeable.  Please let us know in advance if you would like more briefing time so that we can plan it into the schedule.

If you receive full ground briefing for the day but are unable to fly due to weather/runway conditions, we charge a fee of £50 per instructor per half day.  This will be added to your course cost.

Pre-flight and post-flight briefings are comprehensive and are tailored to the student.  Pre-flight briefings are often in the form of multimedia presentations.

Accommodation / Ground Transport

For places to stay we recommend that you refer to airbnb.co.uk, tripadvisor.co.uk or booking.com as there is a wide range of accommodation available in the local area.  Chichester is the nearest town, postcode area PO18.

Please note that local accommodation can get very booked up, especially in the summer months, and that unfortunately none of the accommodation is within safe walking distance of the airfield due to the narrow country roads (without pavements) in the vicinity of the Aerodrome.  We respectfully request that you organise your own ground transport (hire car, taxi or bicycle) in advance.

Flying in to Goodwood

As Goodwood is a PPR Airport, you will need to contact Air Traffic in advance to let them know you are coming.  It is helpful to also let us know if you are flying in.  If you are flying in from overseas, we respectfully request that you complete GENDEC forms etc yourself.

If you are flying in and staying overnight, you will need to make your own ground transport arrangements as there is no accommodation within walking distance.

We regret that we are unable to offer you a lift to your accommodation or to arrange taxis.

Overseas students

If you are coming from overseas, please carefully read through all of the above.

We understand that if you are only with us for 5-6 days doing an Aerobatics Course, there may be considerable time pressure for you to complete the course in this timeframe.  We will try our hardest to work around the weather, other flying programmed, instructor and aircraft availability etc, in order to help you gain your Aerobatics qualification.  Ideally we aim for a minimum of 2 trips a day (3 if possible) and as we do not operate to fixed time slots you are expected to be available to fly at any point throughout the day (9:00-17:00).

However, please note that all students are different; some people can only cope with 1 aerobatics flight a day early on, until G-tolerance increases. This will obviously affect how you progress through the course.  The AOPA Basic Aerobatic Course/ Aerobatic rating is (for example) a minimum of 8 hours of flying before you are eligible to take the Test, and it can often take longer than this for students to reach the required standard.

Solo flying

For those of you who wish to convert onto the T67 Firefly and go solo, a high standard of flying and airmanship is required.

Aerobatics course students do not need to know the aircraft to this level, as they will not normally fly solo, but a knowledge of aerobatic manoeuvre entry and limiting speeds is essential, as well as a knowledge of spin recovery actions and techniques.  Don’t worry – part of OUR job is to teach you these so they become second nature!

Ultimate High has been a leading professional provider of hands-on aerobatic flight experiences since 2001, offering unforgettable "once in a  lifetime" flights for corporate groups and individuals.

We are one of Europe's top UPRT, flight safety and aerobatics training schools, and are a CAA Approved Training Organisation GBR.ATO-0494.

Our "Top Gun” Air Combat experience is unique in Europe and has been voted the UK's Top Adventure Experience by the Gadget Show.

We specialise in high adrenaline hands-on flying experiences and we pride ourselves on our experience and professionalism.

Get ready for the ultimate adrenaline rush with Ultimate High! You won't just be a passenger, you'll be the pilot, feeling the raw power of the aircraft as you take on the G-Force and experience the thrill of a lifetime.

With prices starting at just £395, you can experience the UK's number one adrenaline experience for yourself. Our expert pilots are some of the best in the world, with experience flying for the Red Arrows or as RAF military instructors. They'll ensure that your flying day is nothing short of unforgettable, pushing you to your limits and beyond.

At Ultimate High, we don't just offer ordinary flight experiences. We offer unique, once-in-a-lifetime aerobatic flight days for individuals, groups, and corporate events. You'll feel the excitement building as you climb into the cockpit, ready to take on the challenge.

As one of Europe's top flight safety and aerobatics training schools, we take pride in our professionalism and expertise. You can trust that you are always in safe hands with us. So why wait? Book your unique, once-in-a-lifetime aerobatic flight day now and get ready to take your breath away!