Finest Hour Experiences

23/02/2025

Tiger Moth coasting in over the Norfolk Coast Path at the eastern edge of Cromer 🙂

Picture by Lewis Hurley
Camera Ship: Eurofox G-GBNZ, flown by Chris Pote

19/02/2025

Its not often we delve into the engineering detail of our aeroplanes, but we couldn't resist sharing this image of the immaculate and recently-fettled engine bearers returning to G-AGEG... just one example of the amazing standard of work that goes into the restoration of our historic aeroplanes 🙂

Picture by Ian Castle

http://www.finesthourwarbirds.co.uk/index.php/tiger-moth-g-ageg/

17/02/2025

One of the very best life experiences is to fly in close formation with someone special, so we're pleased to announce a series of this year's dates on which Tiger Moth open-cockpit formation flying experiences will be available with us from Yarmouth Heliport 🙂

The dates are:

26 April
27 April
18 May
1 July (evening)
2 July (evening)
3 July (evening)

First to book secures their slot!

Your formation flying experience gift voucher is here: https://www.finesthourexperiences.co.uk/flight-experiences/tiger-moth-formation-experience/

Picture by Lewis Hurley
Camera Ship: Citabria G-CIDD, flown by Cliff Nichol

15/02/2025

Very pleased to announce that our gorgeous CAP10B will be based at Yarmouth Heliport throughout May, July, September and the latter part of October this year 🙂

If you have a voucher to fly the CAP with us, do please get in touch to book your slot. If you don't yet have a voucher,a trip in this, the world's best aerobatic training aeroplane, makes the perfect gift for the adrenaline ju**ie in the family; check out the full story here: https://www.finesthourexperiences.co.uk/flight-experiences/aerobatic-experience-flight/

Picture by Lewis Hurley
Camera Ship: Citabria G-CIDD, flown by Cliff Nichol

14/02/2025

On 14 February 1942, Pilot Officer Rolf Atkinson was carrying out his second operational mission as second pilot of an Armstrong Whitworth Whitley, with the German city of Mannheim as his target. During his flying training, Atkinson had flown Tiger Moth R5172, now our flagship aeroplane, from RAF Ansty in Warwickshire.

Atkinson's mission to Mannheim did not go well. Encountering navigational 'difficulties' typical of the time, the crew's flight ended with a ditching 20 milles South of Bournemouth:
http://www.finesthourwarbirds.co.uk/index.php/tiger-moth-g-aois/g-aois-pilots/rolf-edgar-atkinson/

12/02/2025

A look back to last Spring, and Tiger Moth open-cockpit biplane G-AOIS / R5172 cruising along the Norfolk coast, just North of her home at Yarmouth Heliport 🙂

Your Norfolk open-cockpit biplane experience is here: https://www.finesthourexperiences.co.uk/flight-experiences/

Picture by Lewis Hurley
Camera Ship: Citabria G-CIDD, flown by Cliff Nichol

10/02/2025

Great view of Cromer Pier, taken during one of last Summer's Tiger Moth vintage biplane flights over the North Norfolk coast 🙂

Picture by Lewis Hurley

07/02/2025

An engineering day for us today, as G-OOSY / DE471 receives some 6-monthly / pre-season attention 🙂

19/01/2025

A cold, grey day on which to launch for some Winter 'anti deterioration' flying... but we got the job done 🙂

Video by Ian Lodge

18/01/2025

Our Tiger Moth open-cockpit biplanes over Blickling Hall, an impressive enough sight in its own right but also a feature of one of our Norfolk Aviation Heritage Tours: https://www.finesthourexperiences.co.uk/flight-experiences/norfolk-aviation-heritage-tours-100-group-raf/

Picture by Lewis Hurley
Camera Ship: Citabria G-CIDD, flown by Cliff Nichol

16/01/2025

An aerial view of our home at Yarmouth Heliport 🙂

Picture by Lewis Hurley

14/01/2025

On 14 January 1941, Wing Commander (Viscount) Arthur Forbes, an RAF Intelligence Officer based in Athens, flew his Percival Q6 from Greece to Turkey. One can only speculate as to the nature of the visit, but Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden also visited Turkey in March and April 1941, in a bid to foster closer relations.

http://www.finesthourwarbirds.co.uk/index.php/percival-q6/

Picture via Andy Thomas

11/01/2025

Did you know that Trimingham was one of the first two ground stations (2 were required; 'Cat' and 'Mouse') for the Oboe navigation aid used by Bomber Command during World War Two?

Here, our Tiger Moth G-AOIS / R5172 overflies the site, which is your challenge to spot during our Ultimate Norfolk Coastline tour: https://www.finesthourexperiences.co.uk/flight-experiences/ultimate-norfolk-coastline-tour/

Picture by Lewis Hurley
Camera Ship: Eurofox G-GBNZ, flown by Chris Pote

01/01/2025

Flying with friends is one of life's great pleasures 🙂 We don't tend to 'big up' individuals by name in our social media, its just not our style, but those in the four aeroplanes, the Citabria camera ship, the two Tigers and the Beech 18 know who they are and why they're special to Finest Hour. Great memories and a bright future... roll on 2025 🙂

Picture by Lewis Hurley

31/12/2024

Finest Hour Slideshow 2024; a review of our year 🙂

A review of our year, starting with Winter flying over Oxfordshire and our move to Yarmouth Heliport in Norfolk, the handover of the groundcrew 'baton' from ...

30/12/2024

Looks like someone was watching during today's Winter 'anti deterioration' flying 🙂

29/12/2024

In yesterday's post, we described the loss of our keen, dedicated Oxfordshire-based groundcrew team, due to our forced move from that part of the world. Today's is a more positive message, celebrating the recruitment, with much help from our hosts at Yarmouth Heliport, of a new and equally dedicated and energetic team. An operation such as Finest Hour is nothing without the contribution of our talented and energetic team; the pictures tell the story:

1. 'Hard Core' Yarmouth groundcrew team. Left to Right: Alex, Lewis, Ian.
2. The new team being introduced to the delights of Tiger Moth ground handling, on the arrival of the first aeroplane, 30 March 2024.
3. Ground handling teamwork in action. Alex, Lewis and Ian again.
4. Customer formation 'see off'; Alex and Joe

28/12/2024

2024 was a year of major upheaval for Finest Hour. During January, we were informed that, along with all other aeroplane owners, we were required to move our aeroplanes from our Oxfordshire location. As can be the way of these things, this forced move coincided with a fantastic opportunity to relocate to Yarmouth Heliport, more of which in subsequent posts. An operation such as Finest Hour is nothing without the support of a dedicated groundcrew team, and we were fortunate to have recruited a small but talented core of dedicated and energetic crew in the years prior to our departure from Oxfordshire. The loss of these individuals from the Finest Hour team is the most unfortunate consequence of the geographical move. The pictures tell the story:

1. The Finest Hour groundcrew team 'sees off' one of our last customers in Oxfordshire.

2. The Team (L to R: Lewis, Aime, Luke, Robin and Geoff) pose with pilot Cliff Nichol after one of the final customer flights in Oxfordshire.

3. Ceremonial handover of the groundcrew baton (more accurately, the 'Multi Purpose Wooden Device' [MWD]) from Oxfordshire lead groundcrew Peter Jell to Alex Prestidge of the Norfolk team. (L to R: Robin, Luke, Peter, Aime, Alex, Geoff).

4. One last pose.

Pictures by Lewis Hurley and Chris Thompson