Airbase, Baginton

Visited this new aviation attraction for the first time yesterday and was really impressed. It is a 'working hangar' - all aircraft are airworthy or being restored. When the airport gets all its flying licences back they will be operating pleasure flights as well. Staff were great and it is very child friendly. It is not to be confused with the Midland Air Museum on Rowley Road. Entrance to Airbase is via Baginton Village - the West gate entrance. http://www.youtube.com/v/8DgIZ4ILdLw

I've just had another look at this, and it looks like they've got clearance for the pleasure flights. A bit pricey though - 150 quid for 2 of us is quite a lot, so it'll have to be a 'good' month! It doesn't mention kids - I wonder if they're free? We might have to limit ourselves to a 'taxi ride' up the runway for now The £4 admission for the base looks like very good value though. Thanks for letting us all know about this Simon.

Today saw a major event at the airport in aid of "Help for Heroes". It wasn't a full-on airshow but certainly had some impressive aircraft taking part: http://www.youtube.com/v/x10ranupNXk http://www.youtube.com/v/t6K1BO8OcIE http://www.youtube.com/v/xMuo2VS1y9I

I was in Coventry last weekend for a family wedding at Coombe Abbey and while we were there (in Cov) we were taken to a rather novel restaurant that no one I mentioned it to knew it existed. We drove in through the main airport gate at Baginton and after many twists and turns arrived alongside an old Dakota aircraft. This was where we were eating, it has been cleverly converted to a super restaurant maintaining all the features of the original plane, you can walk along to the fully functional cockpit with all the instruments in place. There was even a bar in the tail end where you could go just for drinks. I hope I'm not advertising Rob but I feel there must be many aviation buffs out there who would love the experience. Alan

Although a Douglas aircraft like the Dakota, the diner is in fact a converted DC-6 Coventry Airbase

I stand corrected Dutchman, I should have known that as it is called the DC-6 Diner. Alan

What a coincidence! Last Saturday we visited Baginton's Airbase for our first time, and very impressed we were, too. We didn't use the DC6 Diner that time, but we almost certainly will soon, as we plan to go again in a couple of weeks (August Bank holiday) for a special "Imagineering" event lasting 3 days. (Dutchman's link above should lead to the details.) And Alan.... please don't worry about "advertising", I know that you (and all the regular members) always have the best interests of this forum at heart, and we all benefit from hearing about decent places to visit, etc.

Indeed, having flown in a Dakota, I can tell you that it was a 36-seater. Not much room for a restaurant, I fear. The DC-6 was the precursor to the DC-7C, one of the largest, last and possibly the best, piston-engined transatlantic aircraft. They had to refuel in Newfoundland and at this end, either in Shannon or Prestwick, to make the hop across the pond.

Looking at the picture of the "Rapide" the first flight I ever had was in one of these, c.1959/60. From Cov airport and a flight round Cov and a circle above our school "Freddies" for an all in price of 7/6d (38np). A bit different to the price now, lol.

Yes there is a big difference scrutiny from 7/6d to £50, lol. When you said airbase I thought military, oh well yes, great idea. Let's hope it's successful and no accidents.

We took the kids (2 and 4) there when it was half price for adults and free for the kids on a heritage weekend. It was OK for the price we paid, but if I'd paid full price I would have felt ripped off. The kids enjoyed sitting in the aircraft, but there were not enough staff there to have them all open so we had to wait for ages to get into them. The Dakota diner was supposed to open at 12:30, but it didn't. The kids were hungry so we eventually just left to get them some food somewhere else. It still wasn't open when we left an hour after it was supposed to open. I found the whole thing a bit of a shambles. The play area was terrible. It's a great idea, but seems very poorly run and put together. What was most fascinating was the state of the airport - it's like something from a JG Ballard novel. Decaying buildings, bits of places, overgrown car parks...

My first ever experience in an aeroplane was when I was aged nine. We had a school trip which cost ten shillings from Coventry aerodrome. Aerodrome, that is as bad as listening to the wireless, hey!

This is a photo of the DC6 diner Rob, if you are thinking of eating out then you will not be disappointed. Colin. My brother in law (he is a Lt with the Sea Cadets at Nuneaton, officer Commanding). My good lady wife next to him and his wife nearest the camera. You can guess who is taking the photo. It's a real nice experience. Colin.

We went (2 adults, 2 kids) to Airbase last year, and it wasn't a good experience. The kids enjoyed going in the planes, but it was a complete shambles. The DC diner was supposed to open at 12:30 or something, but by 1:30 it had yet to open and the place reeked of chip fat. What with two hungry kids and a rather pathetic play area, we'd had enough and fled. If I'd paid full price I would have felt ripped off. It felt like a bit of a half-hearted attempt at something. Since then, I read this Restaurant review: DC Diner, Coventry, which makes me wonder if we had a lucky escape. Coventry Airport is fascinating in a JG Ballard sort of way, with all those derelict buildings, overgrown car parks and bits of plane knocking about. There's something about abandoned places like that. Might have to go up there with a camera one day and capture it before it's turned into an empty business park or distribution park.

Sorry you had a bad experience Flapdoodle and I can imagine it was a bit stressful. There is an old saying "speak as you find". I have to say we had a great meal last night, having said that, back in May of this year my son and his wife treated us to a meal on the DC6 and it was not up to scratch, bland I would call it so we were a bit on edge in case we had a similar experience. Our meals were all good and we watched other meals being served and we were somewhat impressed, again I can only speak as I find. I'm a bit sold on aviation in general so the experience was good for me. Maybe they have got their act together, who knows. I liked it that much I bought the T shirt, now as for the various aircraft surrounding the DC6, from what was said last night it appears that any aircraft airworthy will be flown very soon to a new location down south somewhere, the area they stand on has been sold. Not sure what will be there in the future, point I am making is that if anyone wishes to take photos before they go now is the time. Colin.