Brits can experience flying in an iconic RAF Supermarine Spitfire as part of a luxury getaway package — but the once-in-a-lifetime experience comes with a hefty price tag
A new experience allows Brits to fly an iconic Spitfire, but it comes with a hefty price tag.
The Michelin Star Spitfire Experience at The Club Hotel & Spa allows guests to experience a once-in-a-lifetime 30-minute flight with one of the world’s leading Spitfire aviators, in a Spitfire, over Jersey. Whilst in the air, guests will pass landmarks such as St. Ouen’s Bay, St. Helier Marina, Grosnez Castle, and La Corbière lighthouse.
However, the one-of-a-kind experience comes with a hefty price tag — it costs from £4,948 for two people. Operated by The Spitfire Academy at The Jersey Aero Club, flights are available on May 8–10 and July 17–19.
After the flight, guests can return to The Club Hotel & Spa and enjoy a Michelin-starred dining at Bohemia. Guests will have the tasting menu which is paired with a selection of wines. Over four days, visitors can also unwind at The Club Spa, have a daily Jersey breakfast, and explore the island’s picturesque coastline and nearby nature reserves with a scenic walk.
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For the ultimate experience, the May dates coincide with Jersey’s Liberation Weekend (May 9–12), whereby guests will have a unique vantage point for the island’s historic celebrations marking 80 years since the island’s liberation from Nazi rule. There are multiple venues across the UK that allow people to fly in a Spitfire. However, the experience does usually cost a lot. For example, with flyaspitfire.com, Spitfire experiences start from £3,250.
The Supermarine Spitfire was a British, single-seat fighter aircraft, crucial in the Battle of Britain during World War II, known for its speed, manoeuvrability, and iconic design. The prototype first flew on March 5, 1936 and in total, over 20,000 Spitfires were built between 1937 and 1947.
According to flyaspitfire.com, around 240 are left today and of these, around 60 are airworthy, around 70 are used for static displays and around 110 across the world are either held in storage or are being actively restored. The UK is home to 50 per cent of those still flightworthy.
In addition, when production of the Spitfire was underway, it would cost around £12,604 per aircraft, which equates to around £800,000 today, which would make it more expensive than the RAF’s other high performance fighter — the Hurricane.
For those who would rather not pay the hefty price tag to fly in a Spitfire, they could stay on the ground and watch one fly at one of the UK’s many air shows. The next air show with a Spitfire flying will be the Military Air Show 2025, where a range of military vehicles and aircraft will be on display.
Tickets cost £42 per adult, and across the day there will be a number of flybys and performances from aircraft used over the decades.