What Classic Wing does

Classic Wings is a UK family-run vintage aviation experience operator that has run commercial flights from the Imperial War Museum at Duxford for over 30 years, founded in 1988. The company offers paid passenger flights and pilot training in a curated fleet of airworthy WWII and pre-war aircraft — including a rare two-seat T9 Spitfire, four De Havilland Tiger Moths, two Dragon Rapides, a T6 Harvard, a Boeing Stearman, a Piper Super Cub, and a Scottish Aviation Bulldog — all maintained and restored in-house to authentic RAF specifications. Core products span introductory sightseeing flights (£99-£269 on Dragon Rapide and Cambridge/London routes), Tiger Moth open-cockpit lessons from £189, Harvard warbird flights (£455-£569), wing walking on the Stearman (£439-£499), and premium two-seat Spitfire experiences priced at £2,975 for 30 minutes and £4,850 for 50 minutes. The business also runs a tiered Spitfire pilot training programme for qualified PPL holders, with assessment days at £1,995 and one- or two-day conversion courses at £5,725-£7,895, and operates a year-round flying school via sister company Clacton Aero Club.

Name

Classic Wing

Legal name

Cirrus Aviation Ltd

Website

https://classic-wings.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Classic Wings is a UK family-run vintage aviation operator flying paying passengers and training pilots in WWII-era aircraft (Spitfire, Tiger Moth, Dragon Rapide, Harvard, Stearman) from IWM Duxford, serving gift-buyers, aviation enthusiasts, licensed pilots, and charity fundraisers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Experience Services

NAICS

Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation (481211), Flight Training (611512)

akta.pro primary industry

On-Demand Helicopter Charter (Private/Corporate) (TLAFACAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Wingsuit & Speed Flying Experiences (Guided/Instructional) (THAAAMAF)

Keywords

• Vintage flight experiences
• Warbird passenger flights
• Spitfire pilot training
• Wing walking experiences
• Aviation sightseeing tours

Headquarters

HQ city

Duxford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Flight Experiences: Direct sales of flight vouchers and bookings for individual experiences including Spitfire flights (£2,975-£4,850), Tiger Moth flights (£189+), Dragon Rapide flights (£99-£269), Harvard flights (£455-£569), wing walking (£439-£499), and introductory flying lessons (£179-£279). Vouchers valid 12 months, redeemable March-October.
2. Premium Packages: Tiered experience packages combining multiple flight experiences with additional benefits. Examples include Wing Commander (£629) with Rapide flight, Spitfire formation, champagne, lunch and hangar tour; Air Commodore (£799) adding Tiger Moth flight with video and log book.
3. Group Charter and Hire: Private Dragon Rapide charter for groups and families with custom routes over London, Cambridge, or tailored destinations. Includes private museum tours and champagne.
4. Pilot Training Courses: Specialized aviation training including Spitfire assessment days (£1,995), introductory Spitfire training packages (£5,725 one-day, £7,895 two-day), tailwheel conversion, and Spitfire conversion training for qualified pilots.
5. Charity Wing Walking Partnerships: Wing walking experiences packaged for charity fundraising events, with dedicated support from Classic Wings' 'Dare Crew' staff.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Classic Wings sells paid flight experiences and pilot training from IWM Duxford using its own restored fleet of vintage WWII and pre-war aircraft. Offerings range from introductory Tiger Moth, Dragon Rapide and Super Cub flights, through wing walking on a Boeing Stearman, T6 Harvard and Bulldog aerobatic flights, to premium two-seat Spitfire passenger flights, wing-to-wing formation flights with Spitfire and Hurricane, and a multi-stage Spitfire pilot training programme for licensed pilots. All voucher holders receive free entry to IWM Duxford, and group/corporate charter of the Dragon Rapide is offered as a private hire product.

Product overview

Classic Wings is a family-run vintage aviation flight experience company operating from IWM Duxford for over 30 years. The company offers a portfolio of flight experiences centered on restored WWII and pre-war aircraft, ranging from introductory flying lessons and sightseeing flights to premium Spitfire experiences and pilot training courses. Core products include Tiger Moth Flights, Dragon Rapide Flights, Spitfire flight experiences, T6 Harvard warbird flights, wing walking experiences, and aerobatic flights. The company also offers Spitfire pilot training programs for licensed pilots, group charter flights, and gift vouchers. All flight experiences include entry to IWM Duxford for the voucher holder with half-price entry for accompanying friends and family.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tiger Moth Flights Open-cockpit flight experiences in a De Havilland DH82a Tiger Moth WWII trainer aircraft, with 15–40 minute durations from £189. Customers can take controls under instructor supervision, wear authentic leather flying jacket, helmet and goggles, and visit IWM Duxford.
• Dragon Rapide Flights Nostalgic sightseeing flights in a pre-war De Havilland Dragon Rapide (up to 8 passengers). Routes include Cambridge (from £99), Cambridge/Ely/Newmarket (from £219), and London Landmarks (from £269). Available March–October.
• Fly in a Spitfire from IWM Duxford Two-seat Spitfire (T9) passenger flight experience with 30-minute (£2,975) or 50-minute (£4,850) options. Includes pre-flight briefing, flight suit, helmet, parachute, Q&A, certificate and professional photo, plus a possible victory roll demonstration. Free IWM Duxford entry included.
• Wing to Wing with a Spitfire Formation flight experience in a Dragon Rapide alongside a Spitfire, with three tiered packages: Squadron Leader (£469, 30-min Rapide flight + formation photo), Wing Commander (£629, + Cambridge flight, champagne, Spitfire ground viewing, lunch, hangar tour), and Air Commodore (£799, + Tiger Moth flight with video and log book).
• Wing to Wing with a Hurricane Special limited-availability formation flight in the Dragon Rapide wing-to-wing with the iconic Hurricane fighter on 30 August 2026, priced at £469 for a 30-minute flight and including free museum entry.
• Warbird T6 Harvard Flights Trial flying lesson in a North American T6 Harvard warbird (used to train Spitfire pilots), with 20-minute (£455) or 30-minute (£569) options. Includes opportunity to take controls, personalised gift voucher, 1930s-style presentation pack, and IWM Duxford entry.
• Fly with a Spitfire in the T6 Harvard 30-minute flight in the T6 Harvard with the Spitfire flying alongside in formation, including opportunity to take controls, hangar tour, full-day IWM Duxford entry. Priced at £1,295 per person.
• Introductory Flying Lessons Introductory 30-minute (£179) or 60-minute (£279) flying lesson in a 4-seat Cessna 152 from IWM Duxford (seasonal) or Clacton Aero Club (year-round). Includes a qualified instructor, flight time that counts toward a PPL, and up to 2 free observers.
• Duxford Wingwalk Experience Wing walking experience strapped to the top wing of a 1940s Boeing Stearman biplane. Dare 1 (£439) is a scenic wing walk; Dare 2 (£499, returning customers only) adds aerobatic manoeuvres including loop-the-loops and barrel rolls at over 120 mph.
• Aerobatic Flight in a Bulldog 30-minute aerobatic flight experience in the Scottish Aviation Bulldog RAF trainer at £299, including opportunity to take controls and experience aerobatic manoeuvres over the Cambridgeshire countryside.
• Flights in the Super Cub 30-minute (£189) or 60-minute (£299) flights in a Piper PA-18 Super Cub two-seat single-engine plane, with instructor and chance to take controls in tandem seating; available approximately two weekends per month May–October.
• De Havilland Double: Tiger Moth & Rapide Combined package with a mini flying lesson in the open-cockpit Tiger Moth followed by a sightseeing flight in the Dragon Rapide, approximately 15 minutes each, from £249.
• Spitfire Training Programme Integrated pilot training programme for licensed pilots, comprising Spitfire Pilot Training Day, Assessment Day Course, Tailwheel Conversion, Tiger Moth Conversion, High Performance Complex Type Conversion, Spitfire Conversion Training Course, and 'The Sky's the Limit' package, using Tiger Moth, T6 Harvard and Mk 9 Spitfire aircraft.
• Spitfire Pilot Training Day Introductory Spitfire training course: One Day Course (£5,725) with 3 hours ground school, 1 hour Tiger Moth and 30 min Spitfire; Two Day Course (£7,895) with 6–8 hours ground school, 1h 20m Tiger Moth, 1h 20m Harvard and 40 min Spitfire.
• Assessment Day Course One-day assessment for experienced pilots with current ICAO PPL and medical, 1000hrs TT, 50hrs tailwheel and 10hrs complex type. Includes 3 hours ground school, 45 min Tiger Moth or Chipmunk flight, and 45 min T6 Harvard flight. Priced at £1,995.
• Flights for Groups (Dragon Rapide Charter) Private charter of the Dragon Rapide for groups and families, with standard routes over London or Cambridge or custom routes over specific destinations. Includes the 'Duxford Experience' package with private flight, guided museum tour and champagne toast. Quote-based pricing.
• Charity Wing Walking

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 9,000 guests annually from around the world
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Imperial War Museum (IWM) DuxfordflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerClassic Wings operates from IWM Duxford, Europe's premier aviation museum located on a former RAF wartime base. The partnership provides Classic Wings with exclusive access to operate commercial flights from this historic location. In return, Classic Wings attracts visitors to the museum and enhances the visitor experience with live flight demonstrations of vintage aircraft from the museum's collection. All Classic Wings voucher holders receive free museum entry.
• Aircraft Restoration CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Aircraft Restoration Company at Duxford completed the restoration of Spitfire Mk 1a N3200, which was donated to IWM. Classic Wings operates Spitfire experiences in conjunction with aircraft from this restoration company.
• Pilotpix (Digital Dreams)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAviation photography partner providing professional photographic memories of customer flights. Customers who have flown can find their photos through the Pilotpix platform.
• Booking HoundcoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline booking platform provider enabling direct voucher purchases and flight date reservations through the Classic Wings website.
• Clacton Aero ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company and flying school located at Clacton Airfield, Essex. Offers introductory flying lessons year-round and specializes in tailwheel flying training. Provides pipeline for customers interested in vintage aircraft training.
• Cirrus Aviation LtdcoreOthersClassic Wings is a trading name of Cirrus Aviation Ltd, the parent company providing operational infrastructure and regulatory certifications including Air Operator's Certificate (AOC).

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Aero Legends: UK-based operator offering Spitfire (T9 two-seat), Harvard and other warbird passenger flight experiences from Biggin Hill. Direct competitor to Classic Wings for the same bucket-list Spitfire customer, sharing on-demand premium pricing and AAC-grade flight experience model.
• Boultbee Flight Academy: Spitfire and warbird training and experience provider based at Goodwood Aerodrome, UK. Directly comparable to Classic Wings' Spitfire Assessment Day and conversion training programmes, using similar vintage types (Tiger Moth, Harvard, Spitfire).

Regional players

• The Old Flying Machine Company: Duxford-based warbird display and airshow operator flying Spitfires, Hurricanes and other WWII types. Operates from the same Imperial War Museum Duxford site and shares the heritage aviation ecosystem, though primarily airshow-focused rather than passenger experiences.

Others

• The Fighter Collection: Based at Duxford, this is a sister warbird operation maintaining and flying one of the world's largest collections of airworthy WWII fighters. An ecosystem participant at the same IWM Duxford site rather than a direct passenger-experience competitor.
• Virgin Experience Days: UK experience gift voucher marketplace that distributes Classic Wings vouchers (alongside many other experience providers) and competes indirectly for the gifting/bucket-list customer through aggregated presentation and SEO reach.

Broad incumbents

• Goodwood Aviation: Goodwood Aerodrome hosts multiple aviation operators including Boultbee and offers flying lessons, charter, and aviation events. Overlaps with Classic Wings on introductory flying lessons and warbird experiences but operates a broader portfolio of activities beyond vintage aviation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Classic_Wings
• Facebookfacebook.com/ClassicWingsUK
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/classic-wings

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Classic Wing