Date: 15th April 2026
Estimated Flight Time: 1hr 05mins
Probable Formation Element : 2 x Pilatus PC21 Trainers
 
The dawn chorus wakes you up and you realise you are about to do something that very few people will have done since the Second World War. During World War 2, the West County and Bristol were subject to attacks by the Luftwaffe, ports, towns, and airfields all in the firing line! You are about to undertake a standing patrol of 1 hour over England’s Green and pleasant lands in a Spitfire! Not just any Spitfire but K5054. Few people have had the privilege of flying around the Welsh and Cornish coastline in any aircraft yet alone this beauty. 
 
Taking off from the old RAF St Athan, which during the war was a centre of maintenance for these iconic fighters, then onwards up and over Cardiff and the Severn Bridge, on route down the Cornish coastline. You will be blown away by the performance of this 90-year-old design and get chance to turn her upside down over the River Severn. The play area of many fighter pilots patrolling the West of England during the war. 
 
Heading eastbound you'll climb up over Wales soaking up the sheer beauty of the countryside below, before then turning to the west towards you destination.  You'll then hear two PC-21's from the UK's Empire Test Pilots' School from Boscombe Down call up to request to join you in formation!
 
The day has just got better. Not only are you in the best seat ever, in the best fighter ever! You are now in close formation with two aircraft used to train RAF fast jet pilots to become Test Pilots.. the highest qualification you can get as a military pilot.
 
These two modern trainers will then escort you all the way to RAF St Mawgan, a Key Coastal command base during WW2. Its role was one of defending the western approaches from enemy attack. Next door is the old RAF St Eval which was home to Spitfire squadrons from the Battle of Britain onwards.
As you head down the rugged Cornish coast, over tin mines, shipwrecks, and historic fishing villages, you will be enthralled by the incredible vista.
One last chance to have a fly of this beauty and cement your love affair with this incredible piece of British Engineering!
Time to put the wheels down and gracefully approach into land, flaps down and 85 mph over the hedge! Time to open the cockpit after landing and smell the engine, then listen to her gently tick, tick, tick as she cools down. Time to rest and reflect on the days emotional flight.