Helicopter Flying Lesson: a Very Special Present
Helicopter Air Experience Flight as a Special Gift for a Loved One
Dec 31, 2008
For most people, a private flight in a small helicopter, with a chance to take the controls if they want to, would be a once in a lifetime experience which they would treasure for the rest of their lives. It is quite possible to buy gift vouchers for such a flight, either for oneself or a loved one or friend. So how does one go about organizing this?
Helicopter Flight Vouchers from a FlyingSchool
Most airports or small airfields have helicopter flying schools, which train people to fly. Many also sell their own gift vouchers for trial lessons/air experience flights (called demo flights in some countries). Often they are available for varying lengths of time – 20, 30, or 40 minutes, or an hour.
The shorter time periods are basically taster flights, while the longer ones are suitable for someone who really wants to have a go at flying the helicopter. Since the school sells the voucher directly to the customer, this is the cheapest way to obtain a helicopter gift voucher.
Rotary Flight Gift Vouchers from a Specialist Organisation
Several companies sell gift vouchers for a number of special days or adventure experiences, and almost all of these include helicopter flights in their list. This is a more expensive way of obtaining a voucher, since the ‘middle man’ needs to make a profit. However it has certain advantages.
These organizations can be easily found, as most of them advertise widely on the internet, in mail order catalogues, and sometimes in large retail stores. They often provide a beautifully packaged ‘gift box’, which may include a certificate and quite a lot of detail of the flight. Finally, their gift vouchers can be used at a number of airfields around the country. This could be very useful if the gift giver lives a long way from the recipient, since the latter can then use it at an airfield close to his or her home.
Further Information About Helicopter Trial Lessons as Gifts
Most of these trial flights will take place in the Robinson R22 helicopter, as this two-seater helicopter is used by most schools. However, it has a relatively low maximum seat weight of around 240 lbs. If the proposed recipient is heavier than this, another helicopter type would be more suitable. Some flying schools use the Robinson R44, which will take heavier people. Other helicopters used in some places are the Schweizer 300CBi and the Bell 47.
It may be possible for the recipient to overfly his or her house, or some other area of interest. If he or she wishes to do this, it is worth buying a voucher for a longer time period, unless the house is very close to the airfield.
There is no upper or lower age limit for these flights, but some schools will not take children below a certain age; it is safest to inquire in advance. The recipient needs to be agile enough to get into a small helicopter, although no climbing is required.
Taking the controls is not mandatory, although most recipients wish to do so. But the flight can be purely treated as air experience if the recipient wishes. Note that all these helicopters do have dual controls!
Finally, a camera to record the flight is considered by most people to be an essential! And remember, for most individuals this really is a once-in-a-lifetime experience which they will never forget. And it can also be used as the first lesson of a Private Helicopter Pilot’s Licence if the person decides to carry on flying.
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