To celebrate reaching 50 yrs my family got me a flight experience. Here are some pics and youtube link to the full video clip of my 30 minute flight
in an old WW2 training plane called the Harvard, with a very loud 600 HP radial engine. We flew from Compton Abbas airfield, near Salisbury, over
Poole Harbour, did a 1.5 G turn round Old Harry Rocks at 15 mins. On the way back to Compton Abbas at 21 mins we did some maneuvers; wing overs and
aileron rolls. See my reaction when we went upside down!
I did feel a bit queasy when he did the "run and break" turn 1 minute after taking off and at Old Harry. The best way to avoid feeling sick
is to keep looking out of the cockpit. Absolutely brilliant experience!
Youtube Linker
Harvard Plane 1
Harvard Plane 2
Harvard Plane 3
looks like you enjoyed that
That must have been fun. In South Africa they were using them for training until phasing them out in 1991 and I can well remember the distinctive
sound of them flying overhead. They were then 50 years old.
http://www.theharvard.co.za/the-harvard-club-of-south-africa
This Canadian pilot has been learning to fly one for a historical flying association: it's clearly a BIG step up from normal private aircraft.
During WW2 it was what you flew just before moving on to a Hurricane or Spitfire... he reckons that it's not an easy aircraft to fly.
[Edited on 7/7/19 by David Jenkins]
Yep it's an old plane, this one was 75 yrs old. As it has full dual controls they made sure I did not accidentally touch the pedals, stick or
knock the throttle when doing the aerobatics, by getting me to hook my thumbs into shoulder harness straps. It's pretty basic inside, but seemed
very well looked after.
I've always wanted to get a flight in an old WW2 plane. I did look into a passenger ride in a spitfire but cost was 2,750 !! This was less than
1/5th of that price, still expensive but well worth it for one of my bucket list. Maybe tandem freefall parachute next.......
That's not too far from Me Mate, and as it happens I know Gordon, the pilot really well 
I think he does a lot of experience stuff up there, as well as teaching. He's been helping James May a lot recently.
Bit of a character isn't he 