THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Slide into the cockpit of an Alvis Spartan and feel the shove of 200+ horsepower as you drive a genuine light tank beside Gatwick’s runway. This 20-minute hands-on session at the Gatwick Aviation Museum is an adrenaline-packed, instructor-led experience for anyone seeking something out of the ordinary.
Slide into the cockpit of an Alvis Spartan and feel the shove of 200+ horsepower as you drive a genuine light tank beside Gatwick’s runway. This 20-minute hands-on session at the Gatwick Aviation Museum is an adrenaline-packed, instructor-led experience for anyone seeking something out of the ordinary.
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Operated by SWB Motorsport · Charlwood, England
At the Gatwick Aviation Museum, on the edge of the airport in Charlwood, England, a narrow strip of concrete and grass becomes your course. The Tank Driving Experience - GATWICK puts you behind the controls of an Alvis Spartan, a lightweight, 8-ton military sports tank tuned for speed and agility. For roughly 20 minutes you’ll pilot a vehicle with over 200 horsepower, rapid steering and a gearbox designed for responsive handling, reaching speeds in excess of 50 mph with the runway of one of the UK’s busiest airports in view.
This session is built for hands-on adrenaline rather than long distance endurance. After a short safety briefing and slotting into the cockpit, you’ll climb through a low hatch and learn the methods that turn heavy tracked machinery into a surprisingly nimble driver’s experience. Instructors from SWB Motorsport offer one-on-one tuition, translating military mechanics into plain-English controls so novices and experienced drivers alike can feel confident before the first throttle.
The setting itself is part of the appeal. The Gatwick Aviation Museum provides a hard-surfaced test area and aviation context: static exhibits, hangars and the cadence of takeoffs create a raw mechanical theater for this unusual driving trial. The Alvis Spartan’s profile — armored, compact and engineered for quick handling — contrasts against modern jetliners, offering a collision of eras that makes every acceleration feel cinematic.
Practical details are simple: sessions last about 20 minutes, participants must be 18 or older, and drivers need a valid driving licence, long trousers and sturdy footwear. The experience is not suitable for pregnant visitors or those with epilepsy or certain cardiac conditions; the operator enforces height and proportion limits to keep controls and safety harnesses effective.
Why book it? Beyond the obvious thrill, this is a rare chance to operate a genuine military vehicle in a controlled, instructor-led environment with expert tuition and museum-side infrastructure. It’s a standout activity for gifts, stag weekends, or anyone after a break from conventional motorsport.
Plan to arrive at the Gatwick Aviation Museum meeting point early, bring a voucher and your licence, and allow time afterward to wander the museum grounds. The combination of rolling tank tracks, the hiss of a gearbox, and the propulsive shove of unexpected speed turns a short booking into a memorable story you’ll tell for years.
Located just off Lowfield Heath Road, the meeting point at Gatwick Aviation Museum is within easy reach of Crawley hotels and public transport, so the session fits cleanly into a day trip or weekend itinerary. Bring a compact camera and an appetite for hands-on mechanics; you’ll leave with grit under your nails, a grin, and footage that captures the truly singular thrill of driving authentic military engineering.
moderate.
20 minutes.
Moderate — you must be able to climb into a low hatch, brace through bumps, and remain alert during instruction.
Drivers must be 18 years or older.
Yes — a valid driving licence is required to take control of the vehicle.
The driving portion is approximately 20 minutes; allow extra time for briefing and check-in.
It is not suitable for pregnant visitors or those with epilepsy or certain heart conditions; disclose health issues when booking.
Yes — friends and family can watch from designated viewing areas on museum grounds, but follow instructor guidance for safe distances.
Gatwick vouchers only are accepted for sessions at Gatwick; vouchers for Dunchurch or Rugby are not valid here unless upgraded.
The experience takes place alongside the Gatwick Aviation Museum, linking hands-on military vehicle operation with local aviation heritage and displays.
Noise and ground disturbance are managed by operating within museum facilities; stick to designated areas, follow instructor directions, and avoid disturbing nearby wildlife.
SWB Motorsport is a specialist experience provider based in Dunchurch, England, offering hands‑on military and heavy‑vehicle driving experiences. The operator stages a range of supervised activities that let participants drive tanks, Leyland and DAF army trucks, MAN off‑road trucks, Scorpion vehicles, Snatch Land Rovers and a Dennis Sabre fire engine. Experiences include tank driving and passenger rides in the Alvis CVR(T) Spartan 'sports tank', Scorpion firing and driving sessions, Leyland DAF 45/150 and T244 truck drives, MAN SV off‑road runs, and the junior military buggy Desert Storm activity for ages 12 and up. Several experiences are 20‑minute sessions, and vehicle specifications feature notable details such as the Spartan’s Jaguar E‑Type engine, a MAN SV with 325bhp, and the Scorpion’s 76mm gun for supervised firing. Drivers tackle off‑road courses, obstacles like the Dennis fire engine brick wall test, and high‑speed sections with reported speeds over 40–50mph on selected experiences. SWB Motorsport operates at a dedicated Dunchurch venue and presents experiences with instructor supervision and safety procedures built into each activity. The business appears on The Adventure Collective, where its experiences are listed for booking and discovery. SWB Motorsport’s offering focuses on realistic military and heavy‑vehicle handling, combining adrenaline, technical driving and supervised firing opportunities for participants seeking authentic, high‑intensity driving experiences. The junior Military Driving Experience welcomes drivers aged 12 and above and the Gatwick tank driving option highlights the Spartan’s capability to reach speeds over 50mph. Each booking outlines age limits, session length and safety briefings before activity start. details.
Book with SWB Motorsport