About Us
Air Freedom, where Power plus Attitude equals Performance!
Our flying season is May to September.
What do we offer?
Air Freedom, located 17 miles from the historic town of Oxford, offers you a unique and breath-taking opportunity to experience the flight of a lifetime in a beautifully restored 1941 US Navy Training Aircraft, the distinguished Boeing Stearman.
What will you experience?
After a friendly reception, we will kit you out with a leather flying jacket, helmet and goggles and provide a thorough safety briefing before walking you out to the aircraft for a fantastic photo opportunity with family and friends.
A fully qualified flying instructor will explain the controls so you can have the opportunity to actually fly the aircraft and complete that amazing hands on experience.
Then imagine the thoughts of the very young Pilots, who were training for war as you climb aboard, strap in and soak up the essence of this classic Warbird. Hear and smell her powerful radial engine fire into action before you lift off and experience the thrill and the freedom of flying in an open cockpit, thankfully in the now peaceful skies over Oxfordshire.
We are also proud to celebrate the men, women and flying machines from all services and nations who have defended our freedom across the globe since the dawn of flight.
Gareth Bliss
Director & Flying Instructor
The Stearman is currently under restoration so we are unable to take any bookings this year.
We still welcome all enquires via info@airfreedom.co.uk.
Beth Tilley Take Off
What Our Flyers Say
Was excited Thursday night when I found our flight track on flightradar24!
Many thanks again, I really loved being airborne again in such a great and iconic aircraft and we both enjoyed meeting you. Thanks too for looking at Mike's father's log books etc,
We wish you all the best for the future
Carolyn McFarlan
WHAT A GREAT EXPERIENCE!!
From the minute that we arrived at the airfield, Gareth at Air Freedom made us feel right at home and in very professional hands. After our safety briefing and a coffee, we headed outside feeling excited and confident about what lay ahead.
We had great fun as each member of the family got kitted out and then strapped carefully into the plane. And then we were off on our wonderful flights - the plane is fantastic and beautifully restored. We all felt totally safe and we had superb weather so Gareth was able to point out the sights as we flew. We even took a short turn at the controls under Gareth's vigilant eye!!
I can't recommend Air Freedom highly enough and encourage you to treat yourself to a once in a lifetime experience - don't forget to ask Gareth about a video of yourself in the cockpit as a reminder of a great day.
Many thanks from the whole family
Mike, Debbie, Charlotte & Megan Barrington, & Ben Coward.
My flight with Gareth in the Boeing Stearman was utterly joyful. We had perfect weather, and the Oxfordshire countryside was beautiful beneath us. So wonderful to fly over Blenheim Palace, somewhere I know well from childhood.
I do sometimes experience anxiety during take off and landing on commercial flights, but not one moment of this flight was frightening or anxiety provoking - it was just such an incredible experience! I would recommend it wholeheartedly.
Gareth is professional and reassuring and the focus is on safety and enjoyment. The experience of flying with the wind in your face and feeling the temperature of the air is one not to be missed. Book your flight today!
I am still buzzing from it, it was so much fun!
Helen Calvert
As you are reading this you must already have more than a passing interest in flying one of these renowned aircraft.
So why fly with Gareth? Simple! You will be hard pushed to find a more welcoming and informal venue to fly from which has its own Stearman assembly hangar. Something special in mind, land away and have lunch before returning to base. Ask Gareth, if time and weather permits and the destination airfield has a grass airstrip - there are a few nearby - he will do his level best to make it happen.
All this at a very competitive price!
Whether it is your first flight in a light aircraft or you are an experienced pilot you can be assured that this is one ride you won't forget in a hurry for all the right reasons.
Stop thinking about it and just do it.
The Cons. After a break from flying for 40 years this experience rekindled my desire to fly and I'm busy re-training to regain my wings. Alas it won't be in a Stearman.
Roy Greaves
Well it’s not every day you get your hands on a stearman. They are the iconic biplane. Gareth takes you through a through briefing before you don the flying jacket and climb into a flying slice of history. As soon as the engine fires into life and you get the oil smell from the engine, it’s the start of a flying experience the way it’s supposed to be, sun in your face the open cockpit, Gareth taxis the aircraft to the end of the grass runway; then your whisked into the blue over the oxford plain.
The view's incredible. You even get the smell from farms as you pass overhead. And over the intercom “ you have control” well how do I describe getting the chance to fly an iconic aircraft in the blue yonder.
Sign up and fly with Gareth and you will find out. All I can say is thanks for an amazing flight.
James Wood
As a relatively experienced pilot, flying in a Stearman has always been on my bucket list and my flight with Gareth certainly didn’t disappoint.
The aircraft is simply stunning - a work of art - and in immaculate condition. Gareth was flexible with timing to make the most of the best weather and we cruised around in near perfect conditions, over beautiful North Oxfordshire. It’s a full sensory experience with the fantastic sound of a radial engine, the ability to see so much of the aircraft, especially in the turn and a combined feeling of power and grace.
I still have a huge smile on my face a day later and would certainly consider doing this again. A beautiful aircraft and a complete professional owner/pilot. Thank you Gareth.
Paul Bramley
On arrival, Gareth, a charming gentleman, went through the flight briefing and made me feel completely at ease.
Up into the air, as a Vintage Motor Cycle enthusiast, I could really appreciate the sound and feel of the 7 cylinder radial – an absolute delight.
The 45 minutes flew past in what seemed only a few minutes, and flight over, there was only one word to describe it: Brilliant!
Alan Bailey
Air Freedom says it all, flying a fantastically restored open cockpit tail dragging 1940s biplane in the twenty first century, coupled with the sound of a radial engine, flying over the cotswolds. What more could anyone want except more of the same. Just awesome. Just do it!
Paul Young
Flying the Stearman had always been on my to do list and it was almost by accident I discovered the Air Freedom set up which at the time of booking was promoting a spring time offer at a very affordable price.
Come the day you the sense straight away that this is a serious but relaxed kind of set up. Some operations churn flight experiences through in a some what impersonal manor, however my Stearman flight was anything but, The Air Freedom team certainly make you feel like you’ve bought a very personal experience and Taylor it perfectly to the individuals needs.
As for the flight itself, the old bird was a true delight to fly and I fell in love with the Stearman before we were even off the deck. I would strongly recommend Air Freedom to anyone wanting to experience vintage flying.
Mark Young
The dream Warbird experience with a great instructor who lets you take control from the start. The aircraft is such a delight to fly, one can really appreciate why people fall in love with this beautiful beast. The sights and sounds coupled with an Air Freedom WW2 jacket take you out of this modern world and straight back to 1942!
Mike Maddams
Gareth ensures you have a very enjoyable experience, in an efficient, friendly & relaxed manner.
Andy Wivell
A real blast from the past, a beautifully restored WWII aircraft with a great instructor flying over the rolling Oxfordshire country side - shear Bliss.
Bob Bell
Gareth Bliss has captured the essence of mid century aviation. The Steerman emanates charm and I would recommend the experience to everyone.
Roland Rawicz-Szczerbo