Frequently Asked Questions About 744 Experience

744 Experience is a Boeing 747-400 flight simulator and Upper Deck experience near Tattenhall in Cheshire, built from two retired British Airways aircraft. Below are the questions we are asked most often, grouped by topic.

If your question is not answered here, call us on 01556 747400 or email enquiries@744experience.co.uk.

On the Day

  • Please arrive 15 minutes before your session starts. That gives us time to welcome you and get you settled before the briefing.

  • Yes. Photography and filming are welcome throughout, in the flight deck and in the cabin, and we would love to see what you share.

  • No food or drink is to be consumed onboard the aircraft. Light refreshments (tea/coffee) are available in the Hangar. For those wishing to bring their own food / drink, there is an outdoor eating area.

  • We provide light refreshments (tea/coffee). food is not available on site unless you are attending one of our Afternoon Tea or Destination Themed Dining experiences.

Who Can Fly

  • The recommended minimum age is 12 years, although this is more of a guideline than a strict rule. What matters more is the child. A session lasts at least ninety minutes in a real flight deck. If your child is younger and you think they would love it, call us before you book and we will work out together whether it is right for them.

  • No. An experienced instructor sits beside you throughout, and most guests arrive having never touched an aircraft control. You will take off, fly a route of your choosing and land.

  • Minimum height for flying is 1.5m. This is to enable the flight controls to be adequately operated.

  • Yes. G-CIVM operates as a procedures trainer as well as a simulator, so you can fly normal and abnormal operations, work through system failures and run full emergency scenarios, exactly as a 747 crew would have done.

Bringing Guests

  • Up to three non-flying guests are included free with every booking, at no extra charge.

  • Your guests are not left waiting. They spend the session in the original Upper Deck Business Class cabin, and there are two observer seats in the flight deck itself so they can watch you fly.

  • Please get in touch if you would like to book more guests, additional charges apply.

  • Yes. The Upper Deck cabin hosts afternoon tea and destination themed dining experiences, and the space is available for private and corporate hire.

The Simulator

  • Yes. It is the original flight deck of British Airways Boeing 747-436 G-CIVM, which flew in service for over twenty years. The instruments and avionics are hers, not reproductions.

  • No. G-CIVM is a fixed base simulator and procedures trainer, which means the flight deck does not move. What it offers instead is complete authenticity: every original switch and instrument works exactly as it did in service.

  • You can fly to hundreds of airports worldwide, and you choose the route, the weather and the time of day.

Gift Vouchers

  • Vouchers are valid for 12 months and are non-refundable.

  • Yes, absolutely! Gift vouchers are a perfect gift for family and friends.

Finding Us and Accessibility

  • 744 Experience is at Peckforton Stables, Back Lane, Tattenhall, Cheshire, CH3 9NJ. It is a short drive from Chester and within reach of Manchester and Liverpool.

  • Yes. Parking is free and on site, with plenty of space.

  • Access is step-free and fully accessible throughout.