Harrogate jet plane and and F1 simulator business goes up for sale

If a buyer for Real Simulation is not found, its assets will be sold off individually by acting agents BPI Asset Advisory RICS via online auction.

The sale includes a range of highly unusual and sought-after assets, including: an F4 Phantom fighter jet simulator; a Boeing 737 200 Series simulator with analogue cockpit dials; a full-size F1 car simulator; a three-quarter-size F1 car simulator; and a trailer to transport the car simulators.

The vendor is Adrian Martin, who set up the business in 2005. He said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed running the simulation business for 17 years with lots of help and support from my family. We have met some wonderful people and helped create fond memories for them and me. Sadly due to health issues and the impact of the recent pandemic, I have decided to retire and enjoy a bit of travelling and personal time.”

Mr Martin set up the business after purchasing the Boeing 737 200 series and an F4 Phantom, which are both on motion platforms, for £88,520; he then added the full-size F1 car (bought for £40,000) in 2008.

The F4 Phantom came from a Ministry of Defence sale and had been used as a trainer by the RAF during the time that Phantoms were operational. Believed to be an American F4J variant of the fighter, it has genuine a fuselage and controls inside.

The Formula One full-sized car is based on a 1982 design and was built as a show car for one of the teams, which was then converted into a sit-in and drive simulator and a pitstop challenge car, facilitating wheel-changes against the clock. The vehicle could also be used as a show car, with various company corporate branding applied.

The primary streams of revenue streams for the business include gift voucher experiences for the general public, as well as corporate team building days and exhibition magnets for other companies.

Mr Martin added: “Whoever takes over the business will enjoy a great deal of fun and satisfaction from making dreams come true and will meet some amazing people from all areas of the country. The F4 Phantom is very unique in that it is the only real cockpit fuselage on a ‘motion’ system in the world; customers from the USA and all over Europe have come to experience what it was like to fly one of these iconic aircraft!

“The new owner will gain great satisfaction from providing such a service; the smiles and genuine pleasure from the customers gave me a real sense of achievement and job satisfaction.”

Potential buyers will have to act quickly, however; BPI Auctions is requesting interest and proof of funding by 4pm on Friday (July 29).

Andy Cromack, director at BPI AA, said: “We are thrilled to be able to offer such a unique proposition to our customers, as the purchaser will not only own the business but inherit the fantastic assets that come along with it. We anticipate a huge surge of interest for this amazing opportunity, so we recommend getting in touch as soon as possible if you think this business venture could be for you”.

For further information, or to view the assets, visit https://www.bpiaa.com/business_sales/real-simulation-ltd-business-assets-sale/ or alternatively, contact [email protected] or 07545 320045.