Hello, my name is Ben Lovegrove and in this video I'm going to describe some of the options
open to you if you're considering having a trial flight in an aircraft or buying an introductory
flying lesson for someone else as a gift.
This video is for people who have little or no experience of aviation and would perhaps
want some basic questions answered in plain English.
You'll find links to introductory flying lessons at www.privatepilotslicence.org .
First of all let's be clear about what we mean by a trial flight, an introductory flying
lesson, and a flight experience or a pleasure flight.
An introductory flying lesson or trial flight are pretty much the same thing in that it's
an opportunity for the person to experience flight in a light aircraft with a view to
perhaps undertaking flying lessons and obtaining a pilot's licence.
A flight experience could lead on to further lessons too but it may also be a one-off event
like some aerobatics or a scenic aerial tour, perhaps given as a gift for a special occasion.
A pleasure flight often doesn't involve any flying by the recipient and is designed to
be more of a sightseeing tour, a chance to relax and enjoy the views as you are flown
around prominent landmarks.
Trial flights and flight experiences usually amount to anything from 15 to 60 minutes with
an qualified Flying Instructor during which you will have ample opportunity to fly the
aircraft yourself.
Now let's look at the various types of aircraft there are available for anyone considering
a trial flight or flight experience.
One way to categorise them is to divide them into two main groups: fixed wing (light aircraft
of various types) and rotary wing (helicopters and gyrocopters).
Fixed wing aircraft might be high wing aeroplanes like a Cessna 150 or 172, or a low wing aircraft
like a Piper PA-28.
There are many other examples of light aircraft but the essential difference is that the aircraft
will have the main wing above or below the cockpit.
High wing aircraft give excellent visibility but the view upwards is obscured while the
converse is true with low wing aircraft.
The debate goes on and on with fans of both types.
Some people prefer high wing because they are designed to be more stable while others
prefer low wing because it feels more like a 'real' aeroplane.
My advice is try both and decide for yourself!
Another aspect to consider is monoplane or biplane i.e. one wing or two?
And you can also throw in the option of open cockpit or canopy.
Consider the difference between an open cockpit Tiger Moth and a Slingsby Firefly T6.
With the former you will experience slow and sedate flying in a vintage aircraft.
The wind will be in your hair and you'll be able to experience pure flying with stick
and rudder.
With the latter you'll be able to experience much faster flight, aerobatics, and responsive
handling in the comfort of a cockpit with a canopy.
One other option worth mentioning is tail wheel or nose wheel aircraft.
Most modern aircraft have the main wheels under the wings and third wheel under the
nose.
This keeps the fuselage horizonal when on the ground.
However, there are plenty of light aircraft with the third wheel under the tail.
As with high and low wing aircraft, you'll hear the pros and cons of each described by
instructors and pilots alike, so again, try both if you can and go with the variant that
you find more appealing.
Now let's have a quick look at rotary wing aircraft starting with gyrocopters.
Gyrocopters are great fun and make an ideal flight experience.
One of the most significant differences in flight is the greatly reduced amount of fuselage
around you.
If it's an open cockpit gyrocopter like the MTO-Sport then you really notice the absence
of the airframe of conventional aircraft.
The view is of course excellent and you can see as far as your neck muscles will allow.
There are also gyrocopters with canopies like the Calidus and Cavalon models.
This gives you more scope for flying in worsening weather and generally flying in more comfort.
A trial flight in a helicopter on the other hand could be a very pleasant flight experience
that lingers as a happy memory or it could be the start of a career.
Think of all the many ways in which helicopters are flown in civilian and commercial life,
and think of all the advantages they have over fixed wing aircraft.
Flying helicopters well requires skills developed through plenty of practice but once mastered
many pilots never look back and fly nothing else.
Finally, a few words about microlights.
Most people are familiar with the term microlight and will have seen them flying with the pilot
suspended underneath, pushing a bar forward or pulling it back to climb or descend.
These are flexwing microlights but there're also fixed winged models that look like conventional
light aircraft but are much more basic in design and therefore below a certain weight
limit.
They may not be as powerful as larger aircraft but the net result is that they are less expensive
to operate, so lesson prices are lower.
Flying is tremendous fun and leaves memories that last a lifetime.
Just listen to old pilots and you'll soon realise this is true.
Even a one-off flight experience like 30 minutes of aerobatics is a present that lasts far
longer than the event itself.
Book yourself a trial lesson, visit your local airfield, give the gift of wings to friends
and family.
Who knows?
Perhaps your gesture could be the catalyst that started a career in aviation for a family
member.
Or maybe you'll take up flying and enjoy many hours in the air, making new friends, and
visiting places you would never have otherwise seen.
This was a Redspan Solutions production.
Head over to Redspan.com to find out how I can make marketing videos for your aviation
business.