We have a range of special event tours coming up, focusing in detail on specific topics around Spitfires, Hurricanes, Messerschmitts, Biggin Hill, and the Battle of Britain Memorial. Numbers are strictly limited and the tour will be led by an expert guide.
Observe and photograph the inner workings of Spitfire construction and photograph a collection of WWII aircraft. This special photographic event takes place in the unique settin of the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar where you’ll be surrounded by Spitfires and other historic aircraft.
You’ll enjoy an exclusive tour of the facility led by one of our tour guides pausing at each of the restorations and airworthy aircraft to allow photographic access ‘behind the barriers’.
We’ll then move outside (weather permitting) to photograph one of our Spitfires in natural light against the backdrop of historic Biggin Hill Airport. You’ll have plenty of time to move around the aircraft and position for the perfect shot.
The finale of the event will be a Spitfire engine start where you can capture the drama of a Merlin engine in action.
If the weather is poor we’ll provide an alternative option of accessing a Spitfire Cockpit to take interior photographs or spend more time revisiting the engineering hangar.
Itinerary :
16:00 Arrival, Tea and Coffee
16:15 – Guided Tour of the aircraft and projects at the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar
17:15 – Outside Spitfire photography opportunity or Cockpit photography
18:00 – Spitfire Engine start
18:30 – Depart
What’s included:
Tea and Coffee
Guided Tour of the Restoration facility to view and photograph Spitfire projects
External ramp Spitfire photoshoot or Sit in a Spitfire/cockpit photography
Engine Startup (subject to weather)
Get close to four different Two Seat Spitfires at the largest centre of Spitfire activity in the world – The Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar.
Under the guidance of our experts you’ll learn about the history of the Two Seat Spitfire, the engineering involved in producing these iconic aircraft and how they compare with the single seat versions.
You’ll see the very first prototype 2 seat Spitfire MT818 alongside MJ627 and MJ772 which were both converted for the Irish Air Corps in the 1950’s. Finally you’ll see TE308 currently undergoing restoration.
You’ll also view our engineering facility where you can see engineers working on Spitfire and Hurricane restoration projects from all over the world. As a finale to the event you’ll also witness a Spitfire engine start up (* subject to weather conditions)
This behind the scenes event gives you the chance to learn what’s involved in the creation, maintenance and operation of the rare Two Seat Spitfire training aircraft.
Itinerary :
10.00 – Arrival, Tea and Coffee
10.15 – Introduction and welcome by Greg Davis author of ‘The Two-Seat Spitfires’ and founder of Facebook’s ‘The Two-Seat Spitfire Page’
10.30 – Guided Tour of the Two Seat Spitfires based at the Hangar: MkVIII MT818, T9 MJ627, T9 MJ772 and T9 TE308 explaining the history and engineering of these unique aircraft
11.30 – Sit in a two-seat Spitfire, a photographer will take photos
12.15 – Spitfire Start up
12.30 – Tea, Coffee, Q+A
What’s included:
Tea and Coffee
Expert Guides
Tour of the Two Seat Spitfires
Sit in a Two Seat Spitfire
Photo of you in the cockpit (digital copy emailed after the event)
Engineering workshop viewing
Observe a Two seat Spitfire start up (subject to weather)
An event that gets you close up to the legendary Messerschmitt Bf109. A unique Battle of Britain veteran with an incredible story of its own.
Learn about ‘White 14’ W.Nr3579 and pilots that flew in it. Compare the 109 and Spitfire and learn the strengths and weaknesses of each aircraft. The finale of the event will be a Spitfire engine start where you can capture the drama of a Merlin engine in action.
Itinerary :
16:00 Arrival, Tea and Coffee
16:15 – Tour of the Messerschmitt 109
17:15 – Tour of the other aircraft at the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar
18:00 – Spitfire Engine start
18:30 – Depart
What’s included:
Tea and Coffee
Tour and presentation on the Messerschmitt 109 ‘White 14’
Tour of the restoration facility to view Spitfire projects
Spitfire Engine Startup (subject to weather)
See the ‘unsung hero’ and workhorse of the Battle of Britain in all its glory. We can bet it’s larger than you think.
Learn how the Hurricane compares to the Spitfire and how this determined the combat roles that they undertook.
Itinerary :
10:00 Arrival, Tea and Coffee
10:15 – Tour of the Hurricane x AE977
11:15 – Tour of the other aircraft at the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar
12:00 – Spitfire Engine start
12:30 – Depart
What’s included:
Tea and Coffee
Tour and presentation focusing on the Hurricane
Tour of the restoration facility to view other aircraft projects
Spitfire Engine Startup (subject to weather)
Enjoy a special presentation from professional aviation photographer Richard Paver . Learn about the art of capturing aircraft in flight and the challenges this presents. Richard will be sharing the stories and technical details behind his favourite photographs and the aircraft featured in them. Afterwards you’ll be taken on a tour of the Spitfire hangars pausing at each of the restorations and airworthy aircraft to allow photographic access ‘behind the barriers’.
We’ll then move outside (weather permitting) to photograph one of our Spitfires in natural light against the backdrop of historic Biggin Hill Airport. The finale of the event will be a Spitfire engine start where you can capture the drama of a Merlin engine in action.
If the weather is poor we’ll provide an alternative option of accessing a Spitfire Cockpit to take interior photographs or spend more time revisiting the engineering hangar.
Itinerary :
16:00 -Arrival, Tea and Coffee
16:15 – Guest speaker Richard Paver professional aircraft photographer
17:00 – Tour of the other aircraft at the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar
18:00 – Spitfire Engine start
18:30 – Depart
What’s included:
Tea and Coffee
Talk by professionl aircraft photographer Richard Paver
Tour of the restoration facility to view Spitfire projects
Spitfire Engine Startup (subject to weather)
Learn about The Battle of Britain, the airmen who took part and the London Monument that was created in their honour. This event will take place in the unique setting of the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar where you’ll be surrounded by Spitfires and other historic WWII era aircraft.
Your guest speaker is Aviation Historian Edward McManus. Instrumental in the creation of the Iconic Battle of Britain London Monument Ted has a fascinating collection of stories surrounding the quest to name and document the 2500+ airmen who flew in the Battle of Britain. Following the presentation you’ll tour the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar and see engineers working on Spitfire restoration projects from all over the world and learn what’s involved in getting a Spitfire back into the skies.
Itinerary :
10:00 Arrival, Tea and Coffee
10:15 – Presentation on the history of the Battle of Britain and the London Monument Project
11:00 – Guided Tour of the aircraft and projects based at the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar
11:30 – Sit in a Spitfire
12:30 – Tea, Coffee, Q+A, Spitfire Start up*
13:00 Depart
What’s included:
Tea and Coffee
Presentation by Edward McManus aviation historian
Guided Tour of the Restoration facility to view Spitfire projects
Sit in a Spitfire
Spitfire Engine Startup (subject to weather)