The Spitfire Experience

The Spitfire Experience

Sussex attraction recreates the drama of cherished aircraft

In a small quiet corner of Sussex, the golden age of British aviation is being kept alive and accessible for all. During World War II, the Supermarine Spitfire played a key role in defending Britain. Produced in huge numbers, it was a regular sight over the South East for two decades; accompanied by the distinctive roar of its engines it became the stuff of legend. Many examples of this fighter aircraft survive in working condition, but you can still experience its thrills without having to leave the ground.

‍

Brian Smith, who served with the RAF and worked as a pilot with British Airways, has constructed a unique flight simulator next to his home in Wisborough Green. “When I retired, I didn't know what to do with myself,” he tells me. Inspired by seeing a basic model of the cockpit at The Air Transport Auxiliary Museum in Maidenhead, he discovered nobody had built a Spitfire simulator at that point. He and his team spent a year building an ultra-realistic replica of the iconic Mk XIV’s cockpit, complete with authentic controls and displays, supported by the latest computer technology and a large-scale sound system. Three huge screens surround the pilot, giving the impression of being above a real landscape. 

‍

Smith has had his own experiences with real life Spitfires. One would be a regular sight over his village, owned by a local who stored it at Goodwood. “In the summertime, he'd go to various air shows, and on the way back from the air show, he'd ‘beat up’ that village, flying across the cricket pitch. Which is totally illegal…” Enquiries in the local pub revealed the pilot’s name, and after a phone call, Smith was able to blag a ride and was soon also swooping low over his neighbours.  

‍

Learning to fly at White Waltham airfield during 1962, Smith obtained a commercial pilot’s licence and joined British United Airlines to work on Bristol Freighters. From there he moved to BOAC flying B707s and 737s. Becoming a flight instructor and examiner, he coached pilots from all over the world, before retiring with a hefty 25,000 flying hours.

‍

He’s keen to support his extended flight family, with all profits from The Spitfire Experience going to The RAF Benevolent Fund – who support ex-servicemen and their families. “It’s a really good charity.  I thought I’d see if they'd be interested. So, I phoned their headquarters in Oxford. That was it, the deal was done. In the last 11 years, we've raised over £122,000 for them.” 

‍

So, how do you go about putting together something this complex, especially when its success is so reliant on accuracy? “The short answer is slowly and carefully…” Assisted by a group of craftsmen, he also found a chap who lived up north who was something of a Spitfire fanatic. He’d made some full-scale replicas of the aircraft, and still had the plans. “I paid him for those, and we started putting it all together. The actual building of the cockpit was straightforward carpentry.” Putting the technological side of things in place was a lot more complex.

‍

It's an immersive experience.  You can fly over an airfield, pull up and do a victory roll, and you feel as though the whole thing's moving. “We had one chap who joined us when he was 16 (he’s now 27 and still with us) who’s a whiz kid and has done a fabulous job of setting it all up.” They started off basing the graphical element on Microsoft Flight Simulator, which threw up a few reliability issues. Now they’ve deployed a version of Prepar3D, which has created an astonishing representation of flying. 

‍

”It’s a fabulous program. Every time we fly it around, I see something which I haven't seen before. When people come back, as they often do, we take them somewhere different.” The default environment for the simulation is the west coast of America, which offers lots of interesting islands to buzz over and bridges to fly under. Although pilots can visit any location on the planet, including flying out of Goodwood and Shoreham.

‍

‍

No previous flying experience is needed for this award-winning attraction. A team of six volunteers, all retired aviators, staff it – talking participants through any manoeuvres. “I think around 90% of our customers are not pilots. We also found the ladies better than the men, as they’ve got a lighter touch. This is very sensitive to fly.” Participants can enjoy 45 mins flight time, which includes two take offs and two landings, and even a few aerobatics for the daring. To get you in the mood, there’s also a faithful replica of a WWII crew room to transport you back in time.

‍

With a flight in the real thing often costing thousands of pounds, the Spitfire Experience seems to be a genuine alternative for those willing to get close to Britain's most iconic aircraft. “Some of the people we get say it's just like the real thing. It is pretty good.”  After the simulation ends, Smith says you can often see emotion etched on people’s faces. “When we shut down the engine, there's total silence. I've had grown men cry. It's such an evocative aeroplane.”

‍

There’s around 70 Spitfires flying across the world, which is incredible considering the first was constructed in 1963. The plane holds a special place in the public’s imagination, particularly because of its crucial role in the Battle of Britain, and other cities around the world. 

‍

The Hawker Hurricane, the Spitfire’s sister fighter plane, is often overlooked regarding its impact on the war. Smith suggests this could be because of its more clumsy-looking design aesthetic. “It doesn't look as sleek as the Spitfire. The hurricane was a really good aeroplane, and anyone who has flown it knows it was a really good gun platform. But it is a bit chunky… like a biplane that somebody’s just taken the top wing off. A lot of these legends built up because they made that film about The Battle of Britain, which itself was pretty iconic.”

‍

Martin Davidson and James Taylor’s book, Spitfire Aces, perfectly sums up the aircraft’s appeal, saying: “In an age that has become jaded, even cynical, about historical myths, uneasy about the sentimentalities they play on, the Spitfire legend is impressively resilient.” There remains something utterly compelling about this 90-year-old plane, which goes beyond its looks or exploits, drilling deep into our nation’s psyche. Perhaps the greatest artefact from recent history, it’s as potent a symbol as Big Ben or heraldic lions. “There is something about the Spitfire. You know when there's one in the sky, because you can hear that Merlin engine. It's just so evocative.”

‍

The Spitfire Experience is situated at Wheelers Farm, Wisborough Green, in West Sussex. For more information and to book sessions, visit: www.thespitfireexperience.com 

‍