I was 60 this year and my children bought me a very special present - a helicopter flight in formation with a Spitfire and Hurricane.
The flight was from Goodwood (a fair distance from Newcastle upon Tyne). Steph and I set off for her family farm in Cambridge, from there I drove to London to stay the night with my eldest Dan. We drove to Goodwood the next morning and I feared that despite the beautiful sunshine over the previous days, Saturday was forecast for interesting weather heading in form the West and likely to effect the South West. We arrived with an hour to spare so sat in the marvellous Control Tower café (which has a brilliant view of the race track - there was a Lotus track day on) when I received a phone call saying that the flight had been cancelled due to low cloud
We were invited to spend time meeting the owners, pilots and mechanics as well as look around the hanger and fighters. Everyone was very friendly and enthusiastic and I doubt we would have had this time and experience had the flight taken place.
I'd encourage anyone who hasn't visited Goodwood to do so - a brilliant place full of history and in wonderful condition. We got to wander around most the afternoon and with a skid pan and a track day in progress we had a fantastic visit.
Despite the effort and cost of travelling down, I'm looking forward to having to do it all again - and hopefully get to fly with the Spitfire and my favourite, the Hurricane (a Battle of Britain veteran with 5 confirmed BB kills).
The flight was from Goodwood (a fair distance from Newcastle upon Tyne). Steph and I set off for her family farm in Cambridge, from there I drove to London to stay the night with my eldest Dan. We drove to Goodwood the next morning and I feared that despite the beautiful sunshine over the previous days, Saturday was forecast for interesting weather heading in form the West and likely to effect the South West. We arrived with an hour to spare so sat in the marvellous Control Tower café (which has a brilliant view of the race track - there was a Lotus track day on) when I received a phone call saying that the flight had been cancelled due to low cloud
We were invited to spend time meeting the owners, pilots and mechanics as well as look around the hanger and fighters. Everyone was very friendly and enthusiastic and I doubt we would have had this time and experience had the flight taken place.
I'd encourage anyone who hasn't visited Goodwood to do so - a brilliant place full of history and in wonderful condition. We got to wander around most the afternoon and with a skid pan and a track day in progress we had a fantastic visit.
Despite the effort and cost of travelling down, I'm looking forward to having to do it all again - and hopefully get to fly with the Spitfire and my favourite, the Hurricane (a Battle of Britain veteran with 5 confirmed BB kills).
at least you made the best of it & sure just being there was enjoyment enough 
