In the dark days of the Second World War, the skies above Kent became one of the key sites in the aerial Battle of Britain. Plucky RAF pilots fought off enemy air raids and eventually won control of the airspace. Winston Churchill described this as the country’s finest hour and it was a turning point in the battle to defend freedom against tyranny. The secret of the success of British forces was technology. Hugely aided by new radar systems that could detect incoming squadrons, the Hurricane and Spitfire fighter aircraft outmanoeuvred the enemy planes in dogfights and have become legendary feats of engineering. To this today, you have the chance to experience a flight in a piece of aviation history, for a journey through the air and back in time.

There are several airfields in Kent that offer the fantastic opportunity of taking to the skies in a light aircraft, some of which specialise in historic planes and others where you can fly more modern aircraft. Whatever you choose, it’s an adventure like no other: taking off from the English countryside, flying over the county and maybe even taking the controls yourself. You can’t get better views than from above. The South coast boasts the famous White Cliffs of Dover, while to the North the Thames Estuary separates Kent from Essex and Suffolk. In between are rolling hills, woodland and picturesque villages, with London looming to the Northeast. With year round operation and affordable prices, aviation is no longer just for the few.

Where can you fly an aeroplane in Kent?

• East of Ashford, Headcorn Airfield is a paradise for aviation enthusiasts. It’s here that you can experience the timeless thrill of flight in a plane from the Second World War Era, as well as classic models from the second half of the twentieth century. What’s more, there are multiple historic planes that you can fly yourself, under expert supervision of course, for some of the experience.

• In the North of the county, and enjoying a continental climate of clear skies and sunny days, Rochester Airport is an excellent place to take off in an aeroplane. Flight experiences here use Cessna light aircraft, the modern recreational aircraft of choice. If your goal is to be a pilot for a day, this is the option for you as you’ll have more time at the controls than in other planes.

• On the Isle of Grain, a peninsula that sticks out into the Thames estuary, you’ll find Stoke Medway Airfield. This small airfield, tucked on the edge of marshes, has the only curved runway in the UK and offers a limited number of flight experiences, including microlight and gyrocopter flights.

Kinds of light aircraft you can have

- Spitfire: the crowning accomplishment of British aviation, the Spitfire is the stuff of legends for history buffs and aviation enthusiasts. But not anymore - you can bring the legend to life by climbing into the cockpit of a Spitfire. The design and aerodynamic complexity of this plane mean that it’s not possible for a novice to pilot it, but with the adrenaline you’ll feel when riding as a passenger in this engineering marvel you probably won’t be in a fit state to think about controlling it. You can also fly with a Spitfire, taking off in a separate plane and flying alongside a Spitfire in flight, to admire it from the outside.

- T6 Harvard: manufactured in Texas during the war, this was the first American plane to arrive in Europe. As such, it was used by the RAF to train pilots who would later fly American-made fighter planes which had different controls and handling to the European models. You can also take a test flight in this iconic aircraft, with its trademark canary yellow paint job, and thrilling manoeuvrability.

- Tiger Moth: for a flight that will transport you to the early days of powered flight, you can choose a Tiger Moth experience. This classic biplane was designed in the UK in the 1930s and was the principal training plane for RAF pilots. It was so popular among soldiers that many were preserved and a Moth Club was established in the 1970s for owners and enthusiasts. You can find out what all the fuss is about by booking a flight in one of these charming machines, and take the controls yourself.

- Piper Cub: often compared to the Model T Ford, this was one of the first mass produced, affordable light aircraft. They had a combat role in the Second World War, but were most popular in subsequent years as “bush aircraft”, used to deliver supplies to or conduct reconnaissance of remote areas such as the Australian outback.

- Mudry CAP 10: a wooden frame stunt plane from the 1970s, the CAP 10 is capable of aerial acrobatics such as flick rolls, loop the loops, stall turns and inverted flying. While you won’t be able to try these out for yourself, your pilot can talk you through the tricks during the flight, and complete some of them above the airfield where your friends and family can watch! And maybe you’ll be able to convince them that it was you at the controls after all.

- Robin DR400: a common modern day training aircraft, the Robin is quiet, comfortable and has windows that provide great visibility of the countryside below. It’s also a four seater, which means that you can bring some fans to watch you take the leap from passenger to pilot.

- Cessna 152/172: this name has almost become synonymous with recreational flying in the past decades. Known for their simplicity and reliability, without compromising on the excitement of flight, Cessnas are some of the best selling planes in aviation history. There are two and four seater models available in Kent, so you can take to the skies with just a pilot, or choose to have a small audience on the back seats.

Requirements to do this activity

As we’ve mentioned above, not all of the planes in Kent are possible to fly if you’re a newcomer to the world of aviation. This is because fighter and aerobatic aircraft are designed to be highly manoeuvrable and so their controls are very sensitive. Having said that, flight experiences are open to all kinds of people. If you’re over 14 years old you can get into the cockpit of a light aircraft with your parents’ permission, and then the sky’s the limit!

Payload, or weight, is a consideration that all pilots have to account for and that includes the size of the people on board as well as cargo and fuel. To experience flight you must weigh less than 15 stone (95kg), and if you’re taking a ride in a four seater aircraft you will also need to provide the weight of your prospective passengers in advance to make sure that the activitiy will be viable.

How long does a flight experience last?

Although you shouldn’t prepare for a long haul, transatlantic flight experience, you have a lot to choose from in terms of duration. From as little as 15 minutes - allowing you to take to the skies, circle the local area, and return to the runway, to a full airborne hour, your flight can adapt to your needs and preferences. The length is usually arranged in 15 minute increments, though an aerobatic flight is usually a 25 minute experience. Even a short one is sure to whet your appetite for more, so we recommend you book a longer stint - or come back for more soon!

Now that you’re ready to step into an engineering marvel and experience flight like you never have before, don’t hesitate to make your booking!