Choose Your Fighter Experience

Flights with Liberté Flights are based on time in the air, allowing you to choose how deeply you’d like to experience the aircraft.

Within each flight, you can choose the style of experience you prefer — a smooth scenic flight along the Bay of Plenty coastline or a more dynamic aerobatic experience exploring the agility of the fighter.

Every flight includes arrival at Tauranga Airport, an introduction to the aircraft, a full pre-flight briefing, and time in the cockpit of Liberté, a Yakovlev Yak-7B fighter.

From arrival to shutdown, the full experience typically lasts around two hours.

First Sortie

Your first flight in a WWII fighter

20 Minute Fighter Flight

Your introduction to the cockpit of a WWII fighter aircraft.

After takeoff from Tauranga Airport, the aircraft climbs out over the Bay of Plenty coastline as the fighter settles into the sky.

From the rear cockpit, the coastline opens out below as you experience the perspective of a wartime fighter pilot.

You can choose a scenic coastal flight over Mount Maunganui and the surrounding coastline, or a dynamic aerobatic experience to feel the agility of the aircraft in the sky.

A memorable introduction to flying in a historic warbird.

At the Controls

Take the controls yourself

30 Minute Fighter Experience

The perfect balance of scenery, aircraft performance and cockpit interaction.

With more time in the air, you can settle into the cockpit and experience the aircraft more fully.

Under the guidance of your pilot, you may take the controls yourself, feeling how the fighter moves through the stick and pedals.

Or you may prefer to sit back and enjoy the power and agility of the aircraft, including higher-energy manoeuvres and the sensation of G-forces as the fighter turns and climbs.

For many people, this flight offers the most complete introduction to flying a WWII fighter.

Full Mission

The complete fighter experience

45 Minute Fighter Experience

The most immersive way to experience a WWII fighter aircraft.

With extended time in the air, you can explore more of the Bay of Plenty coastline while fully settling into the cockpit environment.

There is more opportunity to take the controls under your pilot’s guidance, gaining a deeper appreciation for how the aircraft flies.

The longer flight allows time to experience the fighter across a wider range of flight — from smooth coastal passes to dynamic manoeuvres that reveal its balance, power and agility.

For aviation enthusiasts, it offers the closest experience to flying a historic fighter aircraft yourself.

Scenic or Aerobatic

After selecting your flight duration, you can choose the style of flight you prefer.

Scenic Coastal Flight

A smooth flight exploring the Bay of Plenty coastline, Mount Maunganui and the surrounding landscape from the cockpit of a WWII fighter.

Aerobatic Fighter Experience

Experience the agility and performance of the aircraft through a series of controlled manoeuvres under the guidance of your pilot.

Both options are the same price — the difference is simply the type of flying you’d like to experience.

Because Liberté has dual controls, your experience can evolve naturally during the flight.

Book Your Flight

Choose your fighter experience and complete your booking.

After booking, our team will contact you to arrange a suitable flight time based on weather conditions and aircraft availability.

→ Book Your Flight