Grand Aviation UK Tour

2012 offers aviation enthusiasts a unique opportunity.... for the first & last time 4 of the UK's largest airshows will be held within an 8 day period.

19 Days from $7390

Product Code: 950057

2012 offers aviation enthusiasts a unique opportunity.... for the first & last time 4 of the UK's largest airshows will be held within an 8 day period. This tour will have you experiencing them all plus some free time and other highlights of the UK.

• June 27 - July 15, 2012

Why not extend your trip and see bit more of Europe..... It's probably the right thing to do since you've just dragged your wife through the UK chasing planes.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Royal International Air Tattoo - Fairford
• Farnsborough 2012 INternation Airshow
• 'Flying Legends' Airshow - Duxford
• Shuttleworth Collection's Military Pageant Airshow
• Grand Tour of English Aviation Museums and Collections
• 2 nights in No 617 (Dam Busters) Squadron Officers' Mess
• Optional Lancaster Taxiing Rides
• And much, much more!

GRAND AVIATION UK TOUR INCLUSIONS:

• Return economy class flights to/from London ex BNE, SYD or MEL – other ports available on application
• 15 nights hotel accommodation sharing a twin-bedded room with private facilities
•  Daily Continental or Full English Breakfast
• Coach transportation throughout the itinerary as indicated
• Admission to all aviation museums and collections as stated in the itinerary
• Admission to the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) Airshow
• Admission to the 2012 Farnborough International Airshow
• Admission to the 2012 ―Flying Legends Airshow‖
• Admission to the Shuttleworth Collection‘s Military Pageant Air Show
• Services of an Ian Allan Aviation Tour Manager throughout the tour from London (not on flights to/from England)
• Gratuity for the coach driver

TOUR DOES NOT INCLUDE:

• Airline Taxes and Surcharges (approx. $AUD120.00 per person
• Transfers to from RIAT Airshow, RAF Fairford
• Meals (except as stated above)
• Travel insurance
• Visa to enter the United Kingdom - if necessary
• Personal expenditure, for example, telephone calls, laundry, drinks, etc.
• Optional excursions or pleasure flights
• Tips and gratuities (except for the coach driver)
• Porterage

PRICES PER PERSON (AUD)

• Twin share basis $7,390.00
• Single Supplement $1,850.00

ITINERARY

Day 1 Wednesday 27th June 2012
Today we depart travelling to London, England.

Day 2 Thursday 28th June 2012
Arrive mid-afternoon at London‘s Heathrow Airport, where youwill be met by your Ian Allan Aviation Tour Manager, fromwhere we proceed by chartered coach to our hotel for tonight,ideally located in the centre of London.

Day 3 Friday 29th June 2012
This morning we have our very own coach tour of the capitalaccompanied by an official London Guide.Early afternoon we drive north, to Sandy in Bedfordshire for aprivileged-access visit to Skysport Engineering, prolific restorersof many aircraft over the years, including the beautiful HawkerDemon K8203.A few miles away is Cambridge where stay 3 nights at theRoyal Cambridge Hotel. One of the oldest hotels in the town, itis situated on the edge of the city centre yet within a short, easywalking distance from the famous colleges such as King‘s,Queen‘s, Corpus Christi and Magdalene. The narrow windinglanes in the centre of town are brimming with quaint boutiques,antique and bookshops, bars and street cafes, whilst the main‗boulevards‘ are lined with larger stores.

Day 4 Saturday 30th June 2012
At 08:30 we make the short trip to Duxford airfield, and afabulous day at the classic ―Flying Legends Airshow‖ – arguablythe best warbird airshow of them all.The finale ‗Bolero‘ tail-chase is a truly unforgettable sightinvolving as many aircraft as possible. At 18.00 we return toour hotel.

Day 5 Sunday 1st July 2012
This morning we drive the few miles to little Old WardenAerodrome, nestling in the quiet Bedfordshire countryside, andhome of the one and only Shuttleworth Aircraft Collectionfeaturing fabulously rare and classic aeroplanes from a bygoneage. In this idyllic setting they will be holding their major airshowof the year – the Military Pageant! The flying display will includeaeroplanes dating from the 1920 to the 1950s, possiblyincluding the Comet racer(pictured), plus one or two moremodern ‗heavy metal‘ types.

Day 6 Monday 2nd July 2012
This morning you are free to explore the beautiful city ofCambridge: walk around the famous streets with their shops,pop into some of the university colleges, like Kings, take a stroll– or even a punt! - along the River Cam.Early afternoon we return to a more peaceful RAF Duxford asthe airfield returns to normal after the huge crowds attendingthe airshow; time to enjoy looking around the various museums:IWM Duxford, 8th US Air Force Museum, the Land WarfareMuseum(tanks AFVs etc), Airborne Museum, the various civil airlinersbelonging to the Duxford Aviation Society, and warbird restoration hangars, etc. Alternatively you may enjoy the wholeday in Cambridge. At 17:00 we depart for Stratford-upon-Avon,birthplace of the great Bard himself Sir William Shakespeare,staying the night at The Falcon Hotel which is ideally located inthe centre of the town.

Day 7 Tuesday 3rd July 2012
The morning is free to wander the ancient streets, the park andalong the riverbank. At 13:00 we drive to Warwick, 10 milesaway. This beautiful and historic city dates back to medievaltimes, and Warwick Castle, one of the most intact examples ofits kind, can trace its history back to 914 AD and the daughterof Alfred The Great! Among the events held during the summer,in and around the castle, are pitched battles between knightsand peasants, jousting tournaments with knights on horseback,archery, musketry and falconry! Late afternoon we set off forShropshire, staying the night at Holiday Inn Telford Ironbridge;nearby is the first iron bridge ever constructed.

Day 8 Wednesday 4th July 2012
The morning is spent at the RAF‘s ‗other‘ museum: the RAFCosford Collection. A couple of years ago a landmark newNational Cold War Exhibition building was added. Lunch, atown expense, can be taken in the museum‘s restaurant. Wethen drive to Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire, staying the next 2nights in a very historic building: originally built as the home ofan Edwardian baroness, this country house (pictured left) wasrequisitioned by the RAF in the Second World War for use asthe Officer‘s Mess for No 617 Squadron – the Dam Busters!Now the Petwood Hotel, the Squadron Bar, with its many itemsof memorabilia, is dedicated to this group of men and women,and their achievements. One evening we will be given a talk byJim Shortland, 617 Squadron‘s historian.

Day 9 Thursday 5th July 2012
We begin today at the RAF‘s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight(BBMF) at RAF Coningsby; at 10:30 we start our tour of theBBMF‘s hangar with its Spitfires, Hurricane, DC-3 and AvroLancaster — one of only two still flying in the world. Next stop isEast Kirkby, home of the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre(LAHC). The LAHC is the only airfield museum in the UKrecreated to its original design sited on an original WW2 airfield.Here you get the atmosphere of what it would have been like.Based here is a Avro Lancaster Bomber NX611 ―Just Jane‖(pictured), which frequently performs four-engined taxi runsalong the runway (the only place in the world you can see thisperformed on an original Lancaster airfield). This is unique tothe LAHC. Each ride costs £205.00 per person (2011 price),based on a full ―crew‖ of 10; please annotate your booking formif you are interested.

Day 10 Friday 6th July 2012
Today we drive down the old Roman road (the Great NorthRoad) to Huntingdon, to RAF Wyton: it was from here that thefirst offensive sortie of the Second World War was flown (by aBlenheim bomber). Later Wyton became the headquarters of,and home to some of the squadrons, of the famous ―PathFinder Force (PFF)‖. We visit the PFF Museum which proudlydisplays one of the largest unpublished collections of PathFinder Force photographs in existence, together with manyitems of memorabilia associated with these elite airmen. In addition, many aviation items are on display, not onlyequipment but also items recovered from the crash sites ofmany World War II aircraft. Where possible, these are displayedtogether with photographs of the crew concerned and details ofthe aircraft loss.Following in the footsteps of Air Vice Marshal Sir Don Bennett,an Australian, we take lunch in the Officer‘s Mess.Continuing south to London Colney we arrive at Salisbury Hall,now the home of the de Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centreincorporating the Mosquito Museum. Among the manyfascinating aircraft on display is the world famous ―jack of alltrades – and master of them all!‖ — W4050, the D.H.98Mosquito I prototype, built here in total secrecy during WW 2.The museum have kindly agreed to open up specially for us.Early evening we arrive at the Holiday Inn Express located inthe centre of Swindon for a stay of 2 nights.

Day 11 Saturday 7th July 2012
A full day at the Royal International Air Tattoo on RAF Fairford;with up to 400 aircraft attending this is the largest militaryairshow anywhere in the world, and has the reputation forattracting very special aircraft from unusual countries. You aresure of a seeing a tremendous show!Transfers to/from the show are by the dedicated RIAT shuttlecoach which operates from bus station, a few minutes walk fromour hotel; a huge fleet of coaches use a special ‗shuttlecoaches only‘ road system to drop off and pick-up on theairfield, and operate from 07.00 until 19.00, so you are free togo and come at a time of your choosing. Note: cars and chartercoaches are not allowed to park on RAF Fairford, so this is thequickest and easiest way to attend the show. Cost of transfersnot included.

Day 12 Sunday 8th July 2012
This morning we drive to Somerset, and in the afternoon, visitthe Fleet Air Arm Museum, whose excellent collection includesa Concorde as well as a comprehensive collection of Britishnaval aviation aircraft. Aircraft in the Restoration Workshopscan be seen through the glass wall.Lunch or snacks can be taken at the appropriately namedSwordfish Restaurant (at your own expense). Pictured right is avery rare ‗bird‘, a Fairey Albacore. After the museum closes wedrive the few miles to the small country town of Yeovil where westay the night at The Manor Hotel. This historical building wasbuilt in 1735 by local glover and merchant banker John Daniel.

Day 13 Monday 9th July 2012
Mid-day we arrive in Farnborough where, in 1909, Mr Codymade the first powered flight in the UK. We visit the excellentFarnborough Air Sciences Trust (FAST) which has a smallcollection of aircraft; the building was originally the home ofLord Trenchard, founder of the Royal Air Force, and we takelunch (sandwiches) in his sitting room/office! We later take ashort walking tour of part of the historic Royal AircraftEstablishment (now consigned to history) site including the famous wind-tunnel buildings (view from outside only). Then toBrooklands, location of the world‘s first purpose-built motorracing circuit, constructed at Weybridge in 1907. More than agreat sporting arena, Brooklands was the birthplace of Britishmotorsport and one of the UK‘s earliest aviation centres, homeof Concorde and the site of many engineering and technologicalachievements throughout eight decades of the 20th Century.Pictured left is a Vickers Viking. As well as military aircraft thereare famous British civil airliners like the Viscount, BAC One-Eleven, VC10, and a Concorde: the latter gives virtual ―flights‖!This evening we check-in at the Premier Inn London WembleyStadium for a stay of 4 nights. Its facilities include on-siterestaurant and bar, with others in the local area. The nearestUnderground station is only 20-yards away: the central ofLondon is just a 12-minutes ride.

Day 14 Tuesday 10th July 2012
Departing the hotel at 07:30 we drive to the famous and historicairfield of Farnborough for a full day at the 2012 InternationalAviation Exhibition and Airshow. Today is a Trade Day with afull flying programme.

Day 15 Wednesday 11th July 2012
A free day in London to enjoy as you wish: the London Eye,Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, The Strand, Houses ofParliament, Big Ben, cruise down the Thames to the Tower ofLondon, St Pauls — where do you start?

Day 16 Thursday 12th July 2012
We start today at RAF Uxbridge for a unique visit: FighterCommand‘s Operations Room for Southern England, includingLondon. It was from here, during World War 2, that the Battle ofBritain was controlled. Uxbridge was the RAF station whereThomas Edward Lawrence — Lawrence of Arabia! — served.Then to another historic airfield of early British aviation: Hendon(venue of the equally famous ―Hendon Pageants‖). Sadly mostof the site has now been redeveloped for housing, however, it isthe home of the RAF Museum, one of the largest and greatestcollections of aircraft in the world. We spend 4 hours at leisurein the museum. Lunch may be taken in the museum‘srestaurant (at your own expense).

Day 17 Friday 13th July 2012
This afternoon we are transferred the few miles to London‘s HeathrowAirport for our flight home.

Day 18
CROSS INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE AND LOSE A DAY

Day 19 Saturday 15th July 2012
Welcome home – on arrival clear customs and immigration and aftera truly memorable trip of a lifetime!