Aerospace eXperience Flight Simulators

What Aerospace eXperience Flight Simulators does

Aerospace eXperience Flight Simulators operates the UK's largest fleet of professional full motion and fixed base flight simulators from two physical training centres — Peterborough (headquarters) and Gatwick/Crawley — under the legal entity V1 Aerospace Flight Simulators Limited. The fleet includes CAA- and EASA-certified Level D devices (Boeing 747-400, plus A320/A330 and Boeing 737/757/767/777/787 variants), a Level A Boeing 737-200 Classic on a 3-axis hydraulic motion platform, and a unique full-motion McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II fighter-jet simulator. Simulators feature collimated visual displays, dynamic control loading, and Boeing data packs authentic enough for actual pilot type-rating workflows.

The company runs a direct-to-consumer business across three revenue streams: (1) one-time simulator experiences priced £135–£875 across 20-minute to 120-minute formats; (2) structured training courses including the Future Pilot Cadet Program (£1,195), Virtual Type Rating 5/10/50-hour courses (£595–£3,600), Airline Assessment Preparation (£449), and Fear of Flying courses (£195–£350); and (3) branded merchandise and open gift vouchers (£50–£1,500). All sessions are delivered one-to-one by active airline pilots from BA, EasyJet, TUI, Ryanair, and Jet2. The customer base is horizontal — individual enthusiasts, gift buyers, aspiring professional pilots, youth (ages 12–18), aviophobia sufferers, and corporate clients — with corporate team events and meeting rooms also available at both sites. The company holds no disclosed external funding, operates from owned DTC channels only, and has won the TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Award 2025 with a 5.0/5.0 average rating.

Name

Aerospace eXperience Flight Simulators

Legal name

V1 Aerospace Flight Simulators Limited

Website

https://aerospace-experience.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Aerospace eXperience operates the UK's largest fleet of professional full motion and fixed base flight simulators at Peterborough and Gatwick, selling CAA/EASA-certified flight experiences, type-rating and fear-of-flying courses, and gift vouchers direct to aviation enthusiasts, aspiring pilots, and corporate clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Flight Simulation Services

NAICS

Flight Training (611512)

akta.pro primary industry

Aviation & Aerospace (EDABALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Aviation Pilot & Crew Staffing/Training Services (THABAFAJ), Private Aviation Experiences (Charters, Scenic Flights, Helicopter Tours) (THAJALAF)

Keywords

• Flight simulator experiences
• Aviation training courses
• Professional pilot training
• Simulator experience gifts
• Fear of flying courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Peterborough

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Flight Simulator Experiences: One-time paid experiences ranging from 20 minutes to 120 minutes in various simulators including Boeing 737, 747, Airbus A320, and F-4 Phantom. Customers can purchase individual sessions or gift vouchers. Experiences include pre-flight briefing, simulator time, and debrief.
2. Aviation Training Courses: Structured training programs including Future Pilot Cadet Program for ages 12-18, Virtual Type Rating courses (5, 10, and 50-hour advanced programs), and Airline Assessment Preparation courses. Programs include ground school, simulator instruction, and certificates of completion.
3. Merchandise Sales: Branded merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, hats, water bottles, patches, lanyards, and keyrings featuring aviation themes and company branding. Sold through online store.
4. Gift Cards: Open gift vouchers in denominations from £50 to £1,500 that can be redeemed against any flight simulator experience. Also available as personalised gift packs for physical presentation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Aerospace eXperience operates the UK's largest fleet of Full Motion and Fixed Base professional flight simulators from two physical training centres in Peterborough and Gatwick. The company sells one-to-one guided flight simulator experiences (20 to 120 minutes) across Boeing 737, 737-200 Classic, 747-400, Airbus A320, and F-4 Phantom II simulators, complemented by structured aviation training courses (Future Pilot Cadet Program, Virtual Type Rating, Airline Assessment Preparation, Fear of Flying) and gift vouchers. All sessions are conducted in person at the centres, led by active airline pilots, and use CAA/EASA-certified simulators of the same standard used for real pilot certification.

Product overview

Aerospace eXperience Flight Simulators operates the UK's largest fleet of full motion and fixed base professional flight simulators, offering experiential flight experiences alongside professional pilot training courses. The core product portfolio centers on flight simulator experiences across multiple aircraft types including Boeing 737-800, 737-200 Classic, 747-400, Airbus A320, and the F-4 Phantom fighter jet. Experiences range from short 20-minute sessions to full-day courses, with simulators certified at Level A and Level D standards used by actual airlines for pilot training. The company complements its simulator experiences with a suite of educational programs including the Future Pilot Cadet Program for aspiring aviators aged 12-18, Virtual Type Rating courses (basic and advanced), and Airline Assessment Preparation. Additional offerings include Fear of Flying courses and merchandise including branded apparel and aviation-themed accessories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 737 Commercial Flight Simulator Experience Take-the-controls airline pilot experience in a Boeing 737-800 Fixed Base Level 1 simulator at the Peterborough location. Sessions of 60, 90, or 120 minutes guided one-to-one by professional instructors. From £159.00, ages 10+.
• 737-200 Classic Full Motion Simulator Experience Full motion flight simulator experience in a Boeing 737-200 Classic on a hydraulic motion platform with 3 degrees of freedom, featuring Collins flight data computers and collimated visuals. Options from 20 minutes to 90 minutes (duo). From £135.00, ages 12+.
• F-4 Phantom Full Motion Simulator Experience McDonnell Douglas F-4J (UK) Phantom II fighter jet full motion simulator experience featuring authentic cockpit controls, helmet, and guided missions with professional instructors. From £135.00, ages 12+.
• 747-400 Full Motion Sim Experience Full motion Level D Boeing 747-400 'Queen of the Skies' simulator experience with 6-axis motion platform at Gatwick. Scheduled or open-date sessions of 60 or 120 minutes. From £295.00, ages 16+.
• A320 Pro-Level Simulator Experience Professional-grade Airbus A320 Fixed Base Level 2 flight simulator experience at Gatwick featuring dynamic control loading, collimated visual displays, and guidance from qualified airline pilots. 60 or 120 minute options from £297.00, ages 14+.
• B737 Pro-Level Simulator Experience (Gatwick) CAA- and EASA-certified Boeing 737-800 Fixed Base Level 2 simulator experience at Gatwick with dynamic control loading, collimated displays, and Boeing data packs, conducted by active airline pilots. 60 or 120 minute options from £297.00.
• Full Motion Level D Simulator Experience Highest-standard flight simulation with 6 degrees of freedom motion platform certified for airline pilot training. Aircraft types include Airbus A320/A330 and Boeing 737/747/757/767/777/787. From £875.00, minimum age 18.
• Future Pilot Cadet Program Aviation career preparation course for ages 12-18 delivered by real airline pilots, comprising 4 x 3-hour modules with minimum 10 hours simulator time in a B737-800 simulator. £1,195.00 (saved from £1,500). Delivered over 2 or 4 days.
• Virtual Type Rating Course (5 & 10 hour) Introductory Boeing 737-800 type rating course covering aircraft systems, flight management computer, autopilot, and airline operating procedures. 5-hour course at £595.00 or 10-hour full day course. Ages 12+.
• Virtual Type Rating Advanced (50-hour) Comprehensive 50-hour advanced type rating course split into 5 modules of 10 hours each covering general handling, IFR navigation, multi-crew operations, and line-oriented flight training. £3,600.00 (saved from £5,995). Ages 13+. Includes ground school, training materials, debriefs, and check ride.
• Airline Assessment Preparation Course Airline pilot assessment preparation course including 1-hour classroom briefing plus 2, 3, or 4 hours in fixed base simulator, plus interview coaching. £449.00. More than 90% of students go on to secure airline positions. Available at Cambridgeshire or Gatwick.
• Fear of Flying Course 90-minute one-to-one course with an airline pilot designed to help participants overcome aviophobia through education about flight physics, aircraft systems, and a guided simulator flight. £195.00. Locations: Cambridgeshire or Gatwick.
• Fear of Flying Turbulence Course Specialized fear of flying course using full motion simulators to gradually introduce turbulence sensations in a controlled environment. £350.00. 1-to-1 with airline pilot.
• Open Gift Vouchers Open gift vouchers redeemable against any flight simulator experience or course, available in denominations from £50 to £1,500 with 12-month validity. Can be purchased as personalised gift packs for physical presentation.
• Personalised Gift Pack Personalised gift pack with boarding pass and aviation-themed brochures, available with free standard delivery or 48-hour tracked delivery.
• Branded Apparel and Aviation-Themed Merchandise Branded merchandise range including F-4 Phantom and Aerospace Experience t-shirts (from £31.50), hoodies (from £58.50), hats (from £22.50), water bottles (£15.00), patches (£8.50), lanyards (£7.50), pens (£5.00), and drawstring bags (£12.50). Features aviation themes and company branding. Free shipping on all items.
• Corporate Team Experience and Meeting Room Hire Corporate team events, meeting room facilities, and group simulator experiences for team building and corporate entertainment. Available at Peterborough and Gatwick centres.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 90% of airline assessment students secure positions with airlines
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Airbus: European aircraft OEM with pilot training services and a growing training centre network. Comparable in aircraft type ecosystem (A320 training featured by Aerospace Experience at Gatwick) and pilot-training demand drivers, but operates training at corporate/airline scale rather than consumer experience.
• Boeing: Aerospace OEM with pilot and crew training services through Boeing Global Services. Comparable in aircraft ecosystem and pilot training demand, but as an OEM incumbent rather than a consumer-focused experience operator; relevant context for end-market demand rather than direct competition.

Emerging players

• PilotEdge: Online air traffic control network for flight simulator users aspiring to professional aviation careers. Comparable in addressing aspiring professional pilots and pilot training preparation, but delivered via software/network rather than physical simulator hardware.

Broad incumbents

• FlightSafety International: Berkshire Hathaway-owned professional aviation training organisation with hundreds of full-flight simulators worldwide. Comparable in simulator technology, regulatory certifications, and instructor credibility, but focused on professional/corporate aviation training rather than consumer experiences.
• CAE Inc. Canadian aviation training giant operating the world's largest network of full-flight simulators and pilot training centres. Comparable in underlying technology (Level D simulators) and pilot-training positioning, but serves airline/professional training customers at much greater scale.
• L3Harris Technologies: Major aerospace and defence company with a flight simulation and training solutions business serving military and commercial customers. Comparable in simulator hardware and certifications, but operates at vastly greater scale and in a B2B/government context rather than consumer experiences.

Direct peers

• Transair Flight Training: UK-based pilot training organisation offering simulator-based pilot training and experiences. Comparable geographic footprint, training customer base, and use of certified simulators, though smaller in scale and consumer-experience positioning.
• Pan Am Experience: UK-based flight simulator experience provider operating out of a Boeing 747 upper deck simulator, directly comparable in target market (consumer experiences and gift buyers), aircraft type (747), and price points to Aerospace Experience's Gatwick 747-400 Full Motion offering.

Regional players

• The Pilot (Flight Experience Europe): European (Spanish) operator of consumer flight simulator experiences across commercial aircraft types, with similar one-to-one instructor model and gift-oriented booking flow. Comparable concept and customer base but primarily serving southern Europe rather than the UK.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aerospace-experience-flight-simulators

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Aerospace eXperience Flight Simulators