Spend a blissful hour exploring the Thames and Medway Estuaries with amazing sights of innovative buildings and natural erosion showing the sheer power of rivers.
Begining at Redhill Aerodrome in Surrey fly over the beautiful Surrey countryside including villages such as Godstone, Oxted and Westerham. Your route will take you along the edge of the North Downs bordering South East London. Affording views of the London Skyline as you fly high above The M25 traffic past Sevenoaks.
Turning North takes you past the Historic World War 2 airfield of Biggin Hill and on past Chelsfield and Orpington to join the River Thames at the impressive QE2 Bridge. Here you will be turning for The East Coast passing over the fascinating industrial landscapes of container ships, jetty’s and Factories that surround the Dartford crossing and the banks of the river up to City Airport and the Thames Barrier.
Continuing east along the river you will fly overhead Tilbury Docks one of the major freight ports of the UK and on to Tilbury Fort (1680), one of the best examples of a Pentagon Fort in the country. 3 miles further on in the flight the route passes between the Coalhouse and Cliffe Forts (1860) facing each other across the river.
The Ruins of Hadleigh Castle (1215) still stand on the Northern Bank of the River just past Canvey Island. Guarding against French invasion. Now an English Heritage site and former London Olympics 2012 site for the mountain bike event. Along the coast the flight passes along Southend Beach front and over Southend pier, the longest pleasure pier in the world at 1.34 miles. While traveling to a wonderful place like this with your loved one, make sure you record that memory with the help of a photo, to cherish this beautiful memory for a lifetime.
From Southend the tour crosses the river passing close to the wreck of the SS Montgomery a World War 2 ammunition ship sunk in the estuary with several thousand tons of explosives aboard, her masts still visible above the water. Crossing to the Kent side of the Thames takes you past Sheerness and up the Medway River towards the historic Royal Chatham Dockyard (1567), still home to numerous ex Royal Navy Warships and Submarines.
Passing through the beautiful city of Rochester along the Medway river you will get an incredible view of both Rochester Castle and Rochester Cathedral. You will also spot the 2000 ton Russian Black Widow Submarine moored in the Medway near Strood.
Leaving Rochester the flight will make it’s way back to Redhill Aerodrome taking in Knole House, one of the biggest Manor Houses in the UK with some 365 rooms and Brands Hatch race track a former Formula 1 track and currently used for touring cars and the Moto GP.
After an hour in the air it’s now time to make an approach back into Redhill Aerodrome, perhaps make your way to one of the many great restaurants and pubs in the area to tell everyone all about the amazing flight you just had!
Spend an hour soaring through the air for a grand tour of England’s beautiful South Coast for up to 3 passengers.
Your tour starts at the beautiful Redhill Airfield. Climb aboard one of our modern helicopter fleet and take-off heading south for Gatwick. Passing directly over Gatwick Airport you will get an amazing view of the terminals, taxiways and big airliners coming and going from London’s second biggest airport. Your pilot will be your tour guide and can tell you all about the activities below.
Following the Brighton mainline you will see the huge Ouse Valley Viaduct sometimes called the Balcombe Viaduct, built in 1842, it is an incredible 450m bridge spanning the Ouse Valley, carrying the London to Brighton railway line, and built from 11 million bricks for the princely sum of £38,500; it is an incredible feet of engineering.
Continuing south takes you past the Sussex towns of Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill, then on over the South Downs to the Port town of Shoreham and The South Coast. On reaching the beach you turn eastwards towards Brighton. In the sea looms the wreck of the old Brighton West Pier destroyed by fire in 2003. Keeping just off the shoreline you will have fantastic views of the city and coastline. Further along the beach you fly over the newly refurbished Brighton East Pier with it’s fun fair. On leaving Brighton you over fly the chic Brighton Marina packed with some of the latest and most expensive yachts.
Moving east you may glimpse the Newhaven Ferry as it leaves or returns from Dieppe in France. You will get a great view of Newhaven ferry port and docks as your journey continues. The coast now changes shape to chalk cliffs and rocks as you head for the world famous Beachy Head. With it’s massive record breaking white cliffs and lighthouse, it is a sight not to be missed.
Continuing along the coast you arrive at Eastbourne with its smart new Sovereign Harbour. Now turning north you fly past Halsham and Crowborough which is situated on the Weald next to Ashdown Forest. On reaching Edenbridge you turn west paralleling the North Downs towards South Godstone Station snatching views of the London skyline. Back at Redhill Aerodrome now, your pilot will smoothly land back on the helipad. It’s time for photos and maybe a cream tea at the Nutfield Priory?
Starting from Redhill Aerodrome and flying west past Dorking, Box Hill and Denbies Vineyard. Flying over the lush woodlands and past the stunning Paladial Mansion of Albury Park you head south through beautiful valleys, passing many impressive country homes. Next is Dunsfold Airfield home of the BBC program Top Gear. Continuing south you over fly the market town of Midhurst with the ruins of Cowdray House set within the stunning “Capability” Brown landscaped Cowdray Park.
Then crossing over the South Downs you will see The Isle of Wight in the distance. The flight takes you over Hayling Island, where the windsurfer was invented. Heading out over the Solent towards the four 18th Century Forts that guard the Solent (Now all private homes or Hotels) you arrive over Ryde on the Isle of Wight and follow the River Medina to the town of Newport in the centre of the Island then on towards Blackgang famous for smugglers of yesteryear. This particular section of cliff and coastline is famous for Dinosaur fossils and the clearly visible rapid erosion by the sea, many houses now perilously close to the edge! Following the shoreline you continue westwards towards the famous Needles. You swoop low over the water to get an unsurpassed view of these jagged rocks and the lighthouse.
Turning back towards the east you will follow the northern shoreline to Cowes, the sailing centre and capital of the island. Many yachts adorn its harbour, you may even be able to see some of the exciting racing events that happen all through the year. Just to the east of Cowes is the imposing Osborne House. Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert bought Osborne House in October 1845. Prince Albert designed the house himself in conjunction with builder Thomas Cubitt the London architect and builder whose company also built the main facade of Buckingham Palace.
Crossing the sea back to Portsmouth, home of the British Royal Navy. As well as a fantastic view of The Spinnaker Tower, you will also see the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard with HMS Victory and HMS Warrior. You may also see some of the visiting ships in the Naval Dockyard that come in from time to time for a refit or naval celebrations. Now back over the open countryside you head northeast over flying small villages and market towns such as Chiddingfold. In the distance is the North Downs and Surrey. A trip that you well remember for some time, showing the stunning countryside and the varied coastline of Southern England.
Tours Operated by EBG Helicopters.
Air Operators Certificate: GB 2163R
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