Gatwick Aviation Museum

BYP Holiday Club – Gatwick Aviation Museum

Get ready for a truly unique aviation experience at Gatwick Aviation Museum — where students will spend the week surrounded by legendary aircraft, historic jet engines, and real aviation history right beside the runway.

This exciting 5-day holiday club combines hands-on aviation learning, simulator flying, fast jets, airline operations, engineering, and air traffic control in one of the most inspiring aviation environments in the UK.

Led by highly experienced aviation professionals including Chief Instructor Paul Facer — a former RAF Phantom and Tornado pilot with 17 years flying the Boeing 747 for Virgin Atlantic — students will gain real insight into both military and commercial aviation from pilots who have lived it.

Throughout the week, students will take part in a different themed aviation experience each day, including:

🔥 Fast Jet Day

Explore the world of military aviation and air defence, learning how fast jets are flown and operated. Students may also have the opportunity to experience the museum’s Typhoon motion simulator.

⚙️ Jet Engine Design & Engineering Day

Discover how jet engines work, how they are maintained, and the engineering behind military and airline aircraft. Students will explore real engines, ejector seats, aircraft systems, and aviation technology up close.

✈️ Boeing 747 Airline Day

Step into the world of long-haul airline operations and learn what it was like flying one of the world’s most iconic airliners. Students will experience realistic airline procedures, navigation, take-offs and landings through simulator flying sessions.

🎧 Air Traffic Control & Radio Day

Learn how pilots and air traffic controllers communicate using authentic aviation radio phraseology. Students may also take part in live aviation radio exercises using walkie talkies and — weather permitting — enjoy aircraft spotting with views of aircraft departing nearby runways.

🛩️ Cold War Aircraft Experience

Students will get up close to incredible historic aircraft including Cold War jets such as the Sea Hawk, Venom, Vampire, and potentially even the Shackleton, exploring the history and technology behind these legendary aircraft.

Throughout the week, students will enjoy:

• Hands-on simulator flying

• Fast jet and airline pilot experiences

• Aviation engineering activities

• Real aircraft exploration

• Interactive aviation challenges and teamwork exercises

• Learning from highly experienced military and airline pilots

• A truly immersive aviation museum environment

Located right beside the runway, the museum offers an unforgettable atmosphere where students can experience aviation surrounded by real aircraft and live airfield activity.

📍 Location

Gatwick Aviation Museum — a unique aviation venue packed with historic aircraft and positioned beside active runway operations.