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This might sound like a silly question to some, but is it possible to go and sit in the cockpit of a Boeing 737, somewhere in the UK? (Otherwise in Europe, or beyond).

Maybe at a museum or something? I'm building a [currently tiny] home cockpit based on a 737, and I'd like to see how the real thing looks and feels.

I tried searching online, but I couldn't find anything.

Hope this isn't too dumb of a question, i.e. "not possible Jim!"

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    $\begingroup$ You might want to look at this question, which has some links to 737-related data for your cockpit $\endgroup$
    – SSumner
    Commented Mar 23, 2014 at 0:00
  • $\begingroup$ Any way to mention US? I'd hate to ask the same question, as it is a good one, I've been trying to find a real simulator for a while $\endgroup$
    – KORD4me
    Commented Mar 23, 2014 at 0:53
  • $\begingroup$ @KORD4me: Flight Experience mentions Coming to Boston this summer but not which year or even which hemisphere. :) $\endgroup$
    – Greg Hewgill
    Commented Mar 23, 2014 at 0:59
  • $\begingroup$ I did read that, still hoping for something closer to Chicago!! $\endgroup$
    – KORD4me
    Commented Mar 23, 2014 at 1:00
  • $\begingroup$ If you're ever in London, virtual-aerospace.com/product-category/flight-experiences/… $\endgroup$
    – Simon
    Commented Mar 23, 2014 at 11:28

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There is a company called Flight Experience which builds 737 simulators and offers their use to the public. These are fully certified simulators and are frequently used by commercial pilots for currency training.

Their closest location to London appears to be in Paris.

I had an opportunity to fly one of their simulators a few years ago, and it was a lot of fun. We spent some time doing landings at the old Kai Tak airport in Hong Kong.

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    $\begingroup$ There are many more such companies. $\endgroup$
    – Jan Hudec
    Commented Mar 23, 2014 at 11:02
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    $\begingroup$ @JanHudec Can you please name some? $\endgroup$
    – Farhan
    Commented Mar 24, 2014 at 13:37
  • $\begingroup$ @Farhan: Unfortunately not one relevant for England. $\endgroup$
    – Jan Hudec
    Commented Mar 24, 2014 at 16:10
  • $\begingroup$ @JanHudec: How about in the US? $\endgroup$
    – Farhan
    Commented Mar 25, 2014 at 12:59
  • $\begingroup$ @Farhan: Even less:-(. $\endgroup$
    – Jan Hudec
    Commented Mar 25, 2014 at 20:03
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I noticed that someone in the comments had asked about the U.S., too. Delta's aviation museum in Atlanta does offer the ability to rent an hour in an old 737-200 simulator. This is a full-motion pilot-training simulator. Their website claims that it's the only one open to the public in the U.S. It costs about $400 USD for an hour.

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  • $\begingroup$ And it was quite fun, though the graphics are from 2002 at best. $\endgroup$
    – zymhan
    Commented Jan 25 at 17:19
  • $\begingroup$ @zymhan Yes the graphics are indeed old. But then so is the plane it simulates. That plane was retired from the fleet 18 years ago. I wouldn't be surprised if the simulator was built in the 1990s. $\endgroup$
    – reirab
    Commented Jan 25 at 23:13
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Cotswold Airport, near the village of Kemble in Gloucestershire, England.

Cotswolds landing strip, has become the busiest aviation scrapyard in the world.

Usually the cockpit parts are taken out before they end up there, but you never know; you may get lucky and they grant you access for a day. I don't see why not!

Chevron Aircraft Maintenance Ltd is responsible for the dismantling of all Boeing 737 series aircraft.

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Bournemouth aviation museum?

BOURNEMOUTH’S popular aviation museum has a new addition – of a more recent vintage.

The distinctive exhibit is an old Palmair jet, a familiar sight at the airport until the carrier closed three years ago.

The Boeing 737-200 carried tens of thousands of holidaymakers from Bournemouth Airport, before being replaced by a more modern plane.

The front half of the white fuselage was unveiled at the museum along Parley Lane last week.

enter image description here

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If you're in the South West then take a look at the full motion flight simulator at Jet-Ex Simulation. It's a full 737 cockpit on a moog motion base with 6-dof. They're based in Frome, Somerset.

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This is a little bit of an "outside of the box" answer, and I won't be accepting it. I'm just sharing it so there are more ideas of places to do this.

Virgin Experience Days offer 15 minutes of 737 simulator time to newbies for £24.50 in London. I guess I could just tell them I don't want to fly, I just want to "play with the buttons" :P

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British Airways' flight training program provides public access to their full motion simulators.

You can book a one hour training session in their 737-400 simulator.

In my opinion, well worth the money, since its a professional and I stress again full motion simulator. In fact, its the same one BA uses to train their own pilots.

They are located in Cranebank.

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Your best bet would be SimSpot. This way you can get a real look and feel.

I have been past this spot time after time as is in the Cineworld but never ventured in. It's now on my checklist of things to do 2015 :)

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  • $\begingroup$ @Farhan thanks for the edit still quite new on here :) $\endgroup$
    – Paul Young
    Commented Feb 25, 2015 at 15:45
  • $\begingroup$ You are welcome. We all are learning here. If you need more help, don't hesitate to join in chat (link down on every page). You'll find many people willing to help. $\endgroup$
    – Farhan
    Commented Feb 25, 2015 at 15:50

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