A discovery flight, often called an introductory flight, allows you to gain a new perspective in the world of aviation. Discovery flights are a great option for you if you’re unsure how you’ll feel in an airplane, or you want to get a taste for what flight training would be like. Some people know from a young age that they want to be a pilot, but if you’re unsure, a discovery flight will be your first step to find out.
Here are a couple of things to keep in mind and to guarantee your discovery flight goes well.
How long is the discovery flight?
Our discovery flights are 2 full hours, one full hour of ground instruction and one full hour of flight instruction. By receiving a ground lesson, you’ll understand a few basics before applying them in the airplane. This way, it is less of a sightseeing and more of an introductory lesson that can also be logged in your log book.
What do I need to bring?
You’ll need to arrive 15 minutes prior to your training time to make a copy of your government issued I.D., and have to fill out some documents prior to taking off. If you want to log the hour of flight time, you will need to bring your birth certificate or passport so the Instructor can verify your identity and citizenship. We will provide the headset and logbook if you do not have one. Other than that, be ready to immerse yourself in aviation!
What will I be flying in?
Our discovery flights are in Cessna 172’s. It is one of the most popular single-engine aircraft ever built and a very popular training aircraft.
What do I need to do during the lesson? What is in the lesson?
The instructor will go over a few basic mini lessons and you are more than welcome to take notes and ask questions. You’ll then complete a preflight checklist on the aircraft before takeoff. The key to a good preflight is understanding what you are checking and why you are checking it. You’ll learn what is normal, abnormal, airworthy and not airworthy. After takeoff, your instructor will get to a safe altitude and demonstrate turns, climbs and descents. Depending on your level of comfort, you may take the controls of the airplane at a safe altitude with the instructor guiding you.
Will I get sick? If so, would I get sick every time I fly?
It is not uncommon for students to get sick the first few times they fly. This is totally normal, but the more you fly the quicker your body adjusts. The key is to eat a well-balanced meal beforehand and try to calm your nerves (if you have any). If you do start to feel sick, let your instructor know and he or she will know what to do.
Interview your instructor!
Your flight instructor will tell you what to expect during flight training and answer any questions you may have. Ask them why they love aviation, what careers are available or what their goals are. At one point, they probably had all the same questions you now have.
Take the time to enjoy the flight, we hope you discover that you love aviation as much as we do.