Finest Hour Experiences

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

26/12/2024

If you ever wonder how we achieve our air-to-air photographs, the camera ship and its crew are key; meet the Citabria 🙂

https://www.finesthourexperiences.co.uk/about-us/

Picture by Lewis Hurley

22/12/2024

Tiger Moth hitting the vertical during a recent trip overhead Yarmouth Heliport 🙂

Picture by Lewis Hurley

21/12/2024

Our two Tiger Moth open-cockpit biplanes over the wild Norfolk coast 🙂

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

19/12/2024

Did you know that, during the First World War, Covehithe airfield in Suffolk was part of the Air Defence of Great Britain and was involved in the interception of a number of Zeppelin airships? Here's the former airfield today, seen during one of our Suffolk Coastline tours by Tiger Moth open-cockpit biplane:

https://www.finesthourexperiences.co.uk/flight-experiences/suffolk-coastline-tiger-moth-tour/

Picture by Lewis Hurley

16/12/2024

Our two Tiger Moth open-cockpit vintage biplanes over the dramatic Norfolk coast near Cromer 🙂 A trip in one of these fantastic machines makes the perfect Christmas gift: https://www.finesthourexperiences.co.uk/flight-experiences/

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

15/12/2024

Our view of Waxham, one of our regular turning points as our customers explore the beautiful Norfolk coastline 🙂

13/12/2024

Gratuitous Tiger Moth picture to take you into the weekend 🙂

Picture taken at Yarmouth Heliport by Lewis Hurley

12/12/2024

Tiger Moth G-AOIS / R5172 over Hickling Broad, one of the highlights of our World War One Experience, which retraces the steps of the brave men who defended against attack by Zeppelin airships.

Buy here: https://www.finesthourexperiences.co.uk/flight-experiences/norfolk-aviation-heritage-tour-the-world-war-one-experience/

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