Buying a Trial Flying Lesson as a Gift
A Flight in a Light Aircraft is a Wonderful Present for a Loved One
Need an unusual present, or something for the person who has everything? What about buying him or her a gift voucher for a trial flying lesson, also called an air experience flight or demo flight (the names vary in different countries). Every year many people do this – for birthdays, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, as a thank you, or for some other special occasion. So how does someone go about it?
Where Can You Find a Gift Voucher for a Flight?
There are two main ways of obtaining trial lesson vouchers. They can either be bought from individual flying schools, or from organisations which act as middle men, selling ‘adventure experiences’ of various types.
In the UK the two main organisations selling vouchers of this type are Adventure 001 and Virgin. There will be others in different parts of the world, and a web search should find them. The advantage of buying from one of these organisations is that the recipient of the voucher can use it at any of the flying schools affiliated to the organisation.
So if the gift buyer lives in one part of the country, but wants to buy a present for a friend or relative living elsewhere, this may well be the easier way to do it. However, it is a more expensive option, since the organisation naturally needs to make a profit.
If a voucher is obtained directly from the flying school it will be cheaper. The gift buyer can find out about his or her local flying schools by searching on the internet, looking in local newspapers, or buying a copy of a specialist flying magazine and perusing the small ads. Not all flying schools do gift vouchers, but the vast majority do.
Is the Air Experience Flight Suitable for Anyone?
Trial flying lessons are suitable for most people, but not absolutely everyone. In general there is no age limit, but it is a good idea to check. There is often a weight limit, so if the recipient is large, it is wise to enquire about this. The recipient will need to be fairly mobile, since light aircraft are not always easy to climb into. However, the author of this article has in the past helped an arthritic older lady into a small aircraft for a trial lesson with the help of the airfield’s fireman, so most things are possible!
What Does the Recipient Need to Know?
Most of the information can be found in a related article on The Trial Flying Lesson. But it should be emphasised that these lessons are for absolute beginners and no prior knowledge is expected or required. The student can handle the controls if he or she wants to, but this is not a requirement, so the vouchers are equally suitable for someone who just wants to experience being in the air in a small aircraft. However, if the recipient is keen and wants to do more flying, the trial lesson can be logged and it counts towards the hours required for a Private Pilot’s Licence.
Most people who receive vouchers for trial flying lessons have a wonderful time. For many, it is one of the greatest experiences in their lives. So this is definitely a gift which is likely to be welcomed.
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