Planes... and Stuff

[Scorpiоn]

I'm really quite tired now and have been rather perturbed all day, so I think I'll be brief.

Since last Christmas, I've been wanting to get a demo flight, I don't have the slightest clue as to what I'm doing however, it's not as if I can call KIAH and say, "Yes, I'd like to fly that big, shiny tube with wings you got there..."  What exactly do I do to get a demo flight?  And is it at all possible to get under $100?  I remeber seeing a flight costing as much as $2,000.  Although those were Texans, not Cessnas.

PS: For some reason, it's extremely important that I pilot a plane before I drive a car.

[Travis]

Okay, drive a car before you fly.  Physics is paramount in flying and driving, and its much cheaper to learn it in a car . . .

[Polynomial]

You should be able to get a pretty cheap trial flight from a local flying school at your local airfield.  I'm speaking from an Australian perspective and we can get one for about $110 AUD.  Just have a look around and you will find one that will suit you.

[Scorpiоn]

My main conflict, is how do I contact the airfield?

[ozzy72]

Scorpion look up your local flying field in the Yellow Pages or on the internet, there should be a number for the flying school, and on the internet there should be info including prices for an intro. flight.

Ozzy

[Professor Brensec]

I had a 'Trial Introductory Flight' (TIF) a few weeks ago, with a view to continue on and get my PPL, provided I pass a medical..........

It's in Australia but all the details and such would be much the same. It cost me $50-00 and apart from taking off and climbing to altitude, I flew the whole 45 min flight, he just gave me headings and I followed them. He actually allowed me to attempt a landing. I did quite well, but I think he was doing more of it than I was at the point of 'flaring'. But I did the rest, approach, descent, All but the flare and touchdown.

www.liverpoolflyingschool.com.au

Look here and you'll get an idea what is available.

I also saw an advert on a Website which offer flights in Texans for about $500 in the US. I try to find it. That's if you want to fly a fighter.

[Professor Brensec]

http://www.stallion51.com

If you want to pop over to Florida you can have a fly of a P51-D (Dual Control).
There's no deatil of the cost. i'd say alot more than $100.

[Scottler]

Scorpion...I just took my intro flight a week ago today, and absolutely loved it.

It was about 40 minutes, and I did everything except land, which my instructor did.  It was absolutely amazing.

I went up in a C172, and the full flight only cost $75.  However, go to:

http://beapilot.com/cgi-local/schools/d ... d_number=5

You'll see a list of schools in Texas (lots in the Houston area) that offer intro flights for $49.  (There's a printable certificate on the site.)

Definitely try it.  If you don't like it (yeah right), then you don't ever have to go again.

If you do like it, the rates here in upstate NY for a 172 are about $120 per hour.  I can do that, but I wouldn't get to fly as often as I'd hoped, so I'm looking into financing at www.pilotfinance.com

Good luck, and keep us posted!

[Scorpiоn]

Goody! I saw one for 25$ one time, but then I figured you'd have to pay for fuel, the instructor etc.  Can anyone say hundreds of dollars? Thanks for the info guys.  Although even if I decide on one, I'll have to wait for Christmas to actually do it.

PS: It'd be nice if I'd get that mustang, but I'll take that high wing Cessna anyway.  A plane's a plane!  I guess...

[loomex]

keep your eyes open my young friend. Sometimes local flying clubs have an open house and give flights for free for kids in your age range. Your best bet is in the summer months, but since I am not sure where you are at, you might get lucky and have an open house some time soon

[Scorpiоn]

How would I recieve word of these open houses you speak of?  Sounds... swell.

[Professor Brensec]

I envy you blokes in th US from an aviation point of view (although not the 'crash record ). We don' seem to have anywhere you can get a flight in a Warbird.

I didn't realsie there were so many places there you could get them, even though most are Texans, they're a heel of a lot more like your average WWII fighter than your Cessna ot Beech.
(We actually used the Texan (as the Wirraway) as our 'frontline fighter' until the "Tommorrow Hawks" arrived (Very late, oft promised Kitty's and Warhawks).

Your'e lucky buggers just to have the opportunity to do it if you want to.
There's even a place in the UK offering Texan flights. No licence required.

[loomex]

How would I recieve word of these open houses you speak of?  Sounds... swell.

watch in the local paper, or the local tv station

[BFMF]

Last june there was a B-17 & a B-24 that was touring the country and stopped in our area. Theye were advertising flights which were 30 minutes but costed $400., but I just don't have that kinda money.