Helicopter to Silverstone F1

[9005rpm]

Hi all,

I have a big birthday this year and wanted to treat myself and fly into the GP from one of the locations nearby. Does anyone have any experience of good / bad / indifferent options? I imagine that this is mostly booked up already, but I wanted to ask for suggestions before I look any further.

Thanks all.

[Geneve]

There should still be plenty of options.

Many years ago it used to be possible to fly right into the circuit and, for the F1 GP, the airspace was full of helicopters transiting passengers in and out.
It was described as the busiest heliport in the world.

Although there is now a new Heliport, and some BRDC members land at Farm, only VIPs can fly into the circuit during the F1 weekend, and most flights must go into Turweston, out to the West, and there is a shuttle service to/from the circuit.

Depending on what you want to pay, you can be picked up from your home (or nearby) and have an exclusive helicopter all the way to Turweston. Or, drive to a particular location where there is a shuttle service you might be sharing with others.

You’ll beat some traffic, but the real kudos is/was flying right into Silverstone.

Cost will also depend on the type of helicopter. Budget end is Robinson R44. Turbines, such as a Jet Ranger, Squirrel, Augusta Westland, etc will be increasingly more.

[paulguitar]

9005rpm said:

Hi all,

I have a big birthday this year and wanted to treat myself and fly into the GP from one of the locations nearby. Does anyone have any experience of good / bad / indifferent options? I imagine that this is mostly booked up already, but I wanted to ask for suggestions before I look any further.

Thanks all.

I went via helicopter all the way back in 1988. We landed near Stowe. It was great fun.


I was 16, my dad paid.

[Flooble]

Is there a reason it's now VIPs only for flights into the circuit?

Presumably more advanced technology (GPS, ADS-B) would mean if anything you could have more flights, not fewer.

Just ensuring that the elite don't have to rub shoulders with the merely wealthy?

[vaud]

Geneve said:

Augusta Westland

I got taken in via an 8 seater AW. I was told it was £10k to rent for the day.

Very nice it was too.

[eliot]

Flooble said:

Is there a reason it's now VIPs only for flights into the circuit?
?

Probably explains why I don’t have a constant stream of choppers out of Cranfield (Milton Keynes) flying overhead any longer - I assumed it was become the parking onsite was sorted.

[LukeBrown66]

They are probably the only people that can afford it or companies that can. it has become a very very expensive up market event

[Geneve]

Flying into the Goodwood FoS is a better experience IMO
You beat the traffic, land at Goodwood Airfield, next to the event, alongside the VIPs, you are offered breakfast in one of the hospitality marquees, and then chauffeured across to the main venue.
It feels a bit more special.

[eliot]

Geneve said:

Flying into the Goodwood FoS is a better experience IMO
You beat the traffic, land at Goodwood Airfield, next to the event, alongside the VIPs, you are offered breakfast in one of the hospitality marquees, and then chauffeured across to the main venue.
It feels a bit more special.

the only reason i’m not a regular to fos is the traffic jams

[poo at Paul's]

I flew 4 of us in in a Cessna 182 in 1989, and two of us kipped under the wings! After renting the plane we had no cash for hotels.
The good old days. Silverstone in the 80s was excellent. So easy to blag your way in and out. Even used to get on track on a summers evening and get a few laps in before being chased off by security in pick up trucks! Just had to watch out as they put barriers part way across track at woodcote so it was a bit narrow and you had to go offline a bit!

[LukeBrown66]

Lol wish I was a bit older so I could have taken advantage of a few of those scams back then, plus the circuit was better then too for bikes and cars I might add.