"Our research and experience has helped us to choose the right aircraft for your Spitfire flight"
"for the Spitfire to show you its true flying colours and provide perfect photos, you have to fly with it at sufficient speed. Our experiences showed us that the Bell 206L LongRanger helicopter and the de Havilland Dragon Rapide were both too slow. In 2015 we acquired the ex-RAF 1946 de Havilland Devon. Finally, Britain has a vintage passenger aircraft fast enough to fly with a Spitfire."
Since 2010 Action Stations / Aero Legends have flown nearly 5000 customers alongside a number of Spitfires and WW2 fighter interceptors. We started our Fly With A Spitfire Flights using the Bell 206L Longranger Helicopter. We then began using fixed wing aircraft such as the de Havilland Dragon Rapide. Each change gave us more speed, but it became apparent that we would need a minimum cruising speed of around 130 knots (150 mph) to give the Spitfire / Hurricane a comfortable flying speed and ‘clean’ flying - without flaps.
Our Spitfire HF IX with its Merlin 70 is capable of a true speed of 329 mph at sea level or 413 mph at 30,000 ft. It was designed to manoeuvre well for fighting at its cruising speed of 220 mph to its maximum speed. Quite simply, for the Spitfire to show you its true flying colours and provide perfect photos, you have to fly with it at sufficient speed. Our experiences showed us that the Bell 206L LongRanger helicopter and the de Havilland Dragon Rapide were both too slow.
Flying in the Devon is a true vintage RAF flight experience in itself. Its re-assuring full metal construction, beautiful RAF livery and Dove shape remind you of an important historical past stretching back to 1946 post-war Britain. In 1985 the aircraft joined the Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) at RAF Coningsby, where the aircraft was used as a crew transport in support of the BBMF Lancaster, Spitfires and Hurricanes. The Devon and its non-military sister the de Havilland Dove were exceptionally successful, proving reliable and economical in service. They became one of the best selling British aircraft of the 1950’s. For our Fly With A Spitfire guests, soon after take-off you will be thrilled to see the Spitfire, Hurricane or other heritage aircraft draw alongside, and marvel at the clear views of the legendary fighters! You will experience something of what one of the ‘Few’ would have seen and felt back then, in the moments after the scramble, forming up for the long climb into battle, your well matched, supercharged engines synchronised with each other. The sight takes your breath away. Imagine yourself as a young pilot at the time – what emotions he must have felt in the moments before he flung his machine into battle. From the comfort of the de Havilland Dove, the sight of our Spitfire drawing alongside takes you back to those days – it’s almost as if you are flying in The Battle of Britain!
We fly our guests in an ex-RAF 1946 de Havilland Devon, famously used by Air Chief Marshall Sir Basil Embry as his personal transport during his time as Commander Of Allied Forces, Central Europe. In 1985 the aircraft joined the Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) at RAF Coningsby, where the aircraft was used as a crew transport in support of the BBMF Lancaster, Spitfires and Hurricanes. The Devon and its non-military sister the de Havilland Dove were exceptionally successful, proving reliable and economical in service. They became one of the best selling British aircraft of the 1950’s. The Devon is a comfortable aircraft inside, with roomy seats and large panoramic windows. There are excellent photo opportunities for your very special Air Tour.
Aero Legends have been operating flight experiences from Headcorn Aerodrome since 2014. Its location in the heart of Kent allows passengers to travel through the same airspace in which the Battle of Britain was fought so furiously.
Action Stations was borne in 2010 out of a passion for the iconic Spitfire. We aim to share experiences with what must be the most famous aircraft of all time with enthusiasts from every walk of life, from veterans to children. We started the fly along side a Spitfire business and have become the UK's leader in delivering such experiences.
We have developed the business using the De Havilland Devon as the customer aircraft and now operate from the beautiful Headcorn airfield (ex RAF Lashenden and last remaining grass wartime fighter base in the South East).
Some of the pictures in the gallery have been taken on phone cameras but you would not know! In 2015 Action Stations became part of Aero Legends Ltd who also offer fly in a Spitfire passenger flights and have a growing fleet of vintage aircraft including two Spitfires.
