Aircraft & Air Race Winners Of BGAD 2015
Earlier this week our team headed down to London Biggin Hill Airport to check out this year’s annual BGAD (UK Business and General Aviation Day). One of the biggest events in the UK aviation industry’s calendar, the event showcases all the key elements usually experienced in a three day trade show into a single day.
Exhibitors, existing business aircraft owners, operators, charter brokers, service providers and many other aviation enthusiasts meet at BGAD each year for solid networking and discussions. Here’s a quick roundup of highlights from this year’s event:
The Aircraft
As always at aviation industry events, the private jets and other aircraft were definitely a highlight of the day. While all the aircraft were each spectacular, there were a few aircraft that specifically stood out to the PrivateFly team.
PC-12 NG
Don’t be fooled by this small turboprop – the Pilatus PC-12 combines excellent economy, reliability and inherent safety. With a very spacious and luxurious interior, plus the ability to run on short and grass runways, the Pilatus PC-12 is a versatile choice for short hop flights. This aircraft is already very popular in Africa and Pilatus is hoping it will be available for charter in Europe soon. (See “Why Can’t I Charter A Pilatus PC-12 In Europe?”)
Hawker 800
The Hawker 800 is one of the most popular midsize business jets booked by our clients – and we can see why. While the model’s YOM is 1992, the interior was recently redone, making it just as luxurious as a newer aircraft. This means charter passengers can get a luxurious, spacious aircraft for less. (See more ways to save by private jet travel in our recent blog)
Citation Latitude
The Citation Latitude has been in the news a lot recently, with much excitement over it becoming available for charter in the US. Seeing the aircraft in person at BGAD was just as impressive on the outside as it was on the inside, with plenty of room to move and stand (tall members of our Flight Team especially liked this aspect!). We’re excited to see this new aircraft become more readily available for charter in Europe and globally shortly.
Cirrus SR22
This small, single-engine aircraft was a major hit for our PrivateFly team. While small and compact on the outside, inside it is surprisingly roomy. But the major highlight was the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS), an emergency whole-plane parachute capable of lowering the entire aircraft (and occupants) safely to the ground during an emergency.
#PFAirRace Winners
In addition to the aircraft displays, attendees got the opportunity to try an exhilarating virtual reality air race at the PrivateFly stand. We teamed up with Red Bull and leading virtual reality agency Rewind, to allow BGAD attendees the chance to sit directly in the pilot’s chair (or passenger for those feeling a little less confident) and experience the blistering pace and quick turns of an Air Racer.
After a full day of volunteers trying their hand at the virtual reality race, we announced the shortest lap times of the day. London Biggin Hill’s Managing Director Will Curtis may have tried to manipulate the leaderboard, but these were the real winners:
- Mark Pearson (Liftec-Viking): 85.77 second lap time
- Michael Roberts (TAG): 107 second lap time
- Miles Bailey (Gama): 118.725 second lap time
Congrats again to the winners and a special thanks to Rewind FX for helping make yesterday a soaring success!
If you stopped by our stand yesterday, make sure you check out our Facebook page to see if you can spot yourself having a go at the Air Race – and feel free to share with your friends and colleagues!
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