I've heard of the introductury flights offered by flight schools and had questions?

Question

I've heard of those introductury flights offered by flight schools for $100 and under, and was wondering what happens during one? Do you get to sit up front in the passenger seat during the flight? Can you take your camera with? How long does the flight last? Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

What your referring to are Discovery Flights, and depending on the flight school typically around 75.00 or so.

They will take you in the left seat, and allow you to try and fly straight and level, do a couple of turns, and look around and explain some aspects of flying.

The schools dont care if you bring a camera.  The flights are usually around 45 mins total from block to block, (about 30 mins in the air total after takeoff).

These can be looked as a a buisness investment, as if they can get you "hooked" on flying, you'll be back with a checkbook to sign up for lessons.

Answer 2

The introductory flight is an introduction to flight instruction.  You will preflight the airplane, under your instructor's supervision.  You will sit in the left front seat as a student pilot, and the instructor will sit in the right seat.  You will be given preliminary experiences with some basic maneuvers, and you may make a supervised landing.

In most cases they will give you a cheap logbook, and log your flight as actual time toward your certificates.

You will be too busy to take pictures while in the air, but if you are a picture taking type, bring your camera.  There will be other things you will want pictures of.

Answer 3

Best to ask the flight school your interested in going to for the flight.  They can tell you how long their flights last.  I would suggest you buy at least 45 minutes to get a decent feel for flying( probably more that an intro flight).

Normally, you sit in the pilot seat and will actually fly the plane.  You may even do the taxi to the runway, the takeoff and the flying around.  The landing is the hard part.  But, depending on how you handle yourself, a good instructor may have you attempt to land it too( with a lot of help of course).  

If you don't get to fly for at least half of the flight, find another school or at least another instructor.  The instructor should allow you to log the time too.

You will probably be too busy to take snaps during the flight, but sure, take your camera.