45 Minute 747 Simulator Experience

You'll be flying inside G-BYGA, an authentic ex-British Airways Boeing 747-400 preserved inside Taurus Hangar at Barton Aerodrome (M30 7SA). The flight deck retains its original pilot seats, controls, and instruments, paired with a 180-degree visual wrap system.

We're based at Barton Aerodrome, so you may want to allow a little extra time before or after your Deck 747 experience to enjoy the surroundings and watch the activity around the airfield.

An experienced simulator instructor remains in the cockpit with you throughout the session. Your introductory briefing and cockpit familiarisation will typically take around 5–7 minutes and forms part of your booked session time. Your instructor will introduce the main controls and tailor the familiarisation to your level of experience, getting you flying as quickly as possible.

No previous flying experience or flight simulator knowledge is required.

All ages are welcome! Our flight simulator experiences are designed to accommodate flyers of all ages and abilities.

Under-16 Rule: All participants under the age of 16 must be accompanied in the cockpit by a responsible paying adult (aged 18+). The responsible paying adult can be added as a guest during booking.

Instructor discretion applies regarding safe seating and control access for very young participants to ensure a safe and enjoyable session.

Cockpit Capacity: Bookings can include up to 7 people in total. A maximum of 5 people can be in the cockpit at any one time, with the remaining guests seated immediately behind the cockpit in the aircraft’s original Business Class seating.

All Guests on Booking: All guests attending must be included on the paid booking, whether they are flying, sharing the controls, spectating in the cockpit, or sitting in the Business Class seating.

Swapping During Experience: Guests can swap between the cockpit and Business Class seating during the experience, so everyone can be involved while keeping a maximum of 5 people in the cockpit at one time.

Sharing Flying Time: Flying time may be shared between participants on your booking. Simply inform your instructor on arrival how you would like to split the session (one person flies at a time). For 20-minute sessions, sharing is permitted but splits the available time, so longer sessions (45m+) are recommended for multiple flyers.

There is wheelchair ramp access to the main hangar floor, cabin deck area, and aviation shop.

Flight Deck Access: Due to original Boeing 747 cockpit door width and airframe layout, wheelchairs cannot enter the flight deck itself. The transition into the flight deck involves two small steps, approximately 3 inches high each.

Moving between the pilot seats and flight controls is essentially unaided, although your instructor can assist with foot-pedal positioning or control reach where necessary.

Photography & Video: You and your guests are warmly welcome to take photos and video throughout your flight simulator experience.

Aircraft & Cabin Exploration: Any time spent exploring the preserved upper deck or cabin forms part of your booked experience time. Customers who want plenty of time both flying and exploring are encouraged to add additional simulator time.

Optional Extra Flight Time: If you wish to extend your session, extra flying time add-ons (+15 mins or +30 mins) can be selected on the next step or during date booking.

The Deck 747
Taurus Hangar, Barton Aerodrome, Liverpool Road, Eccles, Manchester, M30 7SA.

Parking: Free visitor parking is available at the aerodrome. Follow the signs on site for The Deck 747 / Taurus Hangar — you can park directly beside or alongside the hangar.

Arrival: Please arrive 10–15 minutes prior to your session time and check in at the ground floor reception of Taurus Hangar.

The Deck 747 does not offer refunds. However, bookings can be moved or rescheduled subject to our booking-change notice rules (free rescheduling with more than 7 days' notice; 50% re-booking fee between 48 hours and 7 days). If you need to change your booking, please contact us as soon as possible.

Where Booking Flex was purchased at checkout, it provides additional flexibility allowing you to reschedule your session date and time once up to 3 hours prior with zero admin fees.