Last edit by: KARFA
It’s back again! Simulator choice this year is 747 and 777, but no one will be forced to fly on something they don’t want though, and I would imagine the 747 is the one most want (and should try).
Previous Trip Reports for the 747-400 Simulators
- Some photos and videos from 2017 here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. And a TR by florens here.
- Some photos and videos from 2016 here, here, and here.
- Some photos and videos from 2015 here, and here.
- Jagboi’s TR http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...l#post25536244
- My TR from the 2014 outing here.
- GodAtum has tried them and did a report here.
Cost
Each simulator holds 4 people and one instructor. The total cost of a 4 hour session in one simulator would be £1,700 (this is cheaper than BA offer to the public), and this would give around 55-60 minutes of time per person on the controls – although we would rotate during the session so this would be split in to a number of smaller time chunks. Please note that the prices on the BAFT website are quoted as £1,700 excluding VAT per simulator, but we have been offered them for a price of £1,700, including VAT.
As we are charged per simulator generally a group in multiples of 4 would be ideal, with cost per person being £425. If we only had three people for example we would still have to pay £1,700 so the cost per person increases to £567 per person, although we would each get a bit more time at the controls. If we end up with 5 though it may well make sense to go to 1 simulator to reduce the cost and have say 45/50 minutes each per simulator.
Basically once we confirm numbers we can make a choice if we don't have a multiple of 4, although a multiple of 4 would be ideal.
Payment
Once the date is confirmed and booked each person would pay their share directly to BAFT, this is likely to be around September or early October when payment is due. It would be non-refundable so if you don't show you would unfortunately not get your money back, but this stops those that do show all of a sudden having to cover any no-show's share. If you do commit and pay and find in a few months you can't make it one option may be to see if a friend, work colleague, or other FT'er can come and take your place and they can pay you directly for your share which you have already paid to BAFT.
I will ensure that we are absolutely not going to be in a situation on the day where I am asking those that have come along to dip in to their pockets to cover any additional cost. Sorry this seems a bit harsh, but I don't think anyone wants to turn up finding instead of £3,400 divided by 8 it is suddenly only divided by 6.
Dates & Times
Unfortunately weekends are not possible for a group booking, so the options are weekdays. My own preference would be a Friday and probably 1900-2300 as (coming from the regions) I would only need to take half a day off work and wouldn't have to worry about getting back for working the next day. For those in London or around the South East you could come in the evening and there would be no need for any holiday being used.
If we booked for a date more than 3 months in advance we can hopefully get our choice of date & time. I have already confirmed with BA that the dates offered below are available.
The dates being offered are:
- Friday 26 October 1900-2300
- Friday 2 November 1900-2300
Location
The simulators are all now at the new Engineering Base at Heathrow near Hatton Cross tube station - they used to be at Cranebank which is where we went in 2014, but they were moved last year and our 2015-2017 visits were at the new facility. More details here.
As this is part of a secure area you would need a passport or other photo ID to enter.
Threads from previous years:
October 2014 -> FT Flight Simulator Outing to BAFT Cranebank and Trip Report here
October 2015 -> FT 747-400 Flight Simulator Outing to BAFT Heathrow
October 2016 -> FT BA Flight Simulator Outing to Heathrow
October 2017 -> FT BA Flight Simulator Outing to Heathrow
FT BA Flight Simulator Outing to Heathrow [UK] – 26 October & 2 November 2018
#1
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FT BA Flight Simulator Outing to Heathrow [UK] – 26 October & 2 November 2018
Back again, FT outing to the BA simulators later this year. This will be a repeat of the outings I have previously organised in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017.
A bit of background on my own experience so far. I am very enthusiastic/geeky about flying, and I know a few others on here enjoy what happens in the cockpit as well as just being sat in the back enjoying the champagne.
I have one hour in a Cessna 172 which I did in 2013, and which you can read about here, and since then a few hours in various PA28 aircraft. I do plan to go for a PPL at some stage, but money and time needed mean it won’t be for at least a year or two yet.
I have also been for a couple of Emirates sim sessions at their Aviation Experience near the O2 arena in London. This is very much at the more fun end of simulators. The only things that work on the cockpit are the throttle (inc. reversers), yoke/side stick, rudders, foot brakes, and gear. The primary and navigation displays work but you can't adjust anything on them. They have recently upgraded them so the speedbrake lever and a flaps lever work as well. All the buttons shown are just graphics, there are no working buttons. So basically it does feel like a very sophisticated home simulator, kind of FSX but sat in a simplified cockpit. It is not equivalent to a full simulator, and there is no motion. However, if you accept these limitations it is actually very enjoyable.
I also went to Virtual Aerospace near Northampton in February 2014 on their 737 simulator. This is basically a fully workable fixed base cockpit with fsx graphics projected in front. More absorbing and real than the Emirates experience, but still not a full motion or fully wrap-around graphics. I have also previously gone to the 737 iPILOT simulator near Edgware Road in London.
Finally over the last few years I have been going fairly regularly to a fixed base 737-800 simulator near Rochdale. The simulator is this one Flightdeck Experience. As well as the cockpit the guy who owns it has built a cabin as well with 12 seats. You can see photos on the website. You actually get a simulated view from the windows as well. It makes it good for group outings and you can sit in the cabin for the time you are not flying in the cockpit.
I realise we have a wide spectrum of experience on these things, but hopefully it would work. You should certainly not feel you need any experience to come, and in previous years people with no experience have come and enjoyed it.
Please only express an interest if you can make at least one of the dates and are prepared to meet your share of the cost. I realise this is not a cheap activity, but having done it twice now I can say that it is very much worth it.
Rather than doing this as a poll, please just post any date preferences in the thread. I expect we will settle on a specific date in the next month or so, and I hope we have finalised plans by early May. Please say whether you could make 26 October or 2 November or both (don’t worry you are not committing to both dates). Also please let me know whether you have a preference for a 777 or a 747 or don’t mind either.
A bit of background on my own experience so far. I am very enthusiastic/geeky about flying, and I know a few others on here enjoy what happens in the cockpit as well as just being sat in the back enjoying the champagne.
I have one hour in a Cessna 172 which I did in 2013, and which you can read about here, and since then a few hours in various PA28 aircraft. I do plan to go for a PPL at some stage, but money and time needed mean it won’t be for at least a year or two yet.
I have also been for a couple of Emirates sim sessions at their Aviation Experience near the O2 arena in London. This is very much at the more fun end of simulators. The only things that work on the cockpit are the throttle (inc. reversers), yoke/side stick, rudders, foot brakes, and gear. The primary and navigation displays work but you can't adjust anything on them. They have recently upgraded them so the speedbrake lever and a flaps lever work as well. All the buttons shown are just graphics, there are no working buttons. So basically it does feel like a very sophisticated home simulator, kind of FSX but sat in a simplified cockpit. It is not equivalent to a full simulator, and there is no motion. However, if you accept these limitations it is actually very enjoyable.
I also went to Virtual Aerospace near Northampton in February 2014 on their 737 simulator. This is basically a fully workable fixed base cockpit with fsx graphics projected in front. More absorbing and real than the Emirates experience, but still not a full motion or fully wrap-around graphics. I have also previously gone to the 737 iPILOT simulator near Edgware Road in London.
Finally over the last few years I have been going fairly regularly to a fixed base 737-800 simulator near Rochdale. The simulator is this one Flightdeck Experience. As well as the cockpit the guy who owns it has built a cabin as well with 12 seats. You can see photos on the website. You actually get a simulated view from the windows as well. It makes it good for group outings and you can sit in the cabin for the time you are not flying in the cockpit.
I realise we have a wide spectrum of experience on these things, but hopefully it would work. You should certainly not feel you need any experience to come, and in previous years people with no experience have come and enjoyed it.
Please only express an interest if you can make at least one of the dates and are prepared to meet your share of the cost. I realise this is not a cheap activity, but having done it twice now I can say that it is very much worth it.
Rather than doing this as a poll, please just post any date preferences in the thread. I expect we will settle on a specific date in the next month or so, and I hope we have finalised plans by early May. Please say whether you could make 26 October or 2 November or both (don’t worry you are not committing to both dates). Also please let me know whether you have a preference for a 777 or a 747 or don’t mind either.
#4
Join Date: Aug 2006
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KARFA
I'd be interested in attending this year please, the 2nd of November is the only date that works for me and I'd like a go in the 747-400 simulator please before they retire from the field.
Thanks
DMF
I'd be interested in attending this year please, the 2nd of November is the only date that works for me and I'd like a go in the 747-400 simulator please before they retire from the field.
Thanks
DMF
Last edited by DeadManFlying; Apr 14, 2018 at 9:09 am Reason: Missing word
#6
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Essex
Posts: 131
I’d like to come again this year please with 2 guests (3 people in total) in a group of 4 on 777. We can only do 2nd November.
I’ve also asked a couple of other friends to try and make up our own group of 4, I will keep you posted on this.Thanks
Last edited by GeorgeAmbler89; Apr 14, 2018 at 5:32 pm
#10
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#11
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KARFA - Assume A320, A380 or the B787 are not available?
Our price is certainly cheaper than the price for the public on the website. Based on 4 in the simulator we are paying £425 per person, the website price is £449. Also we usually get shown around the cabin safety training section on the way to or from the sims (you may have seen photos of that in previous years). And I think that you have the added advantage of being in a group and being in the sim for nearly 4 hours rather than just being in an out in 1 hour - obviously in either case the amount of time you would have flying yourself would be the same.
#12
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Essex
Posts: 131
Thanks all. I have noted dates and preferences. 777 isn't guaranteed unfortunately as they are being heavily used atm so I can't promise we will get one. However, if we do I will do my best to ensure everyone gets their preference. At the end of the day the 747 is a fantastic aircraft to fly too.
Thanks @KARFA - I’ll let you know if I manage to get a fourth person ASAP. No worries about the 777, the 747 was also great last year!
Thanks
#14
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#15
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I would like to come, I have a definite (but not absolute) preference for the 747, and I can do either date.
I would also like to bring along a work colleague, not an FT person but an aircraft enthusiast none the less. He's reliable in the matters of payment and attendance.
I would also like to bring along a work colleague, not an FT person but an aircraft enthusiast none the less. He's reliable in the matters of payment and attendance.