Largely as a result of Christmas gift certificates, this is the time of year when I start to provide a lot of ‘trial flights’ or, as the French call them, Baptême de l'air.
Of course, the trial flight means different things to different people.
Some people see it as an exciting one-off experience, like having a ride in a racing car—once they have ‘been there and done that’, it is never really considered again.
Others are delighted because this is 'a dream come true' while a few are somewhat apprehensive at the concept of flying in such a tiny aircraft.
I remember my first flight as if it were yesterday, even though it was actually 20 years ago.
I did this as as challenge to myself as I was terrified of heights which is still the case although I am now totally addicted to flying!
I was feeling fine until the initial climb and couldn’t understand how this tiny plane could stay up in the air.
Numbing fear or not, I was immediately hooked and I gained my Private Pilot Licence eight months later.
Sadly, I often hear horrific tales of people whose confidence was shattered by pilots who tried to impress their novice passengers with displays of aerobatics or downright dangerous flying.
Not very clever!
To my mind, the trial flight should result in a passenger who is delighted with the experience, keen to fly again or, better still, ready to go on and train for a pilot’s licence.
Most of my trial flights start with a briefing on the basic principles of flight including the welcome knowledge that the aircraft can easily glide into a field in the unlikely event of an aircraft failure—maintenance of aircraft is subject to strict standards so engine failures are actually quite rare.
To those who are not entirely convinced, it is worth mentioning that gliders don’t have engines at all and they generally manage to land without the screaming dive featured in so many films and TV shows.
For the flight, I recommend comfortable casual clothing and mention that modern training aircraft do actually have heaters, just like cars.
I always suggest bringing a camera to record the experience and, if we can actually find it, the opportunity for passengers to photograph their own home is always a big hit.
The format of my trial flights is very flexible—we can just enjoy the scenery and take photographs or I can demonstrate the basic flight manoeuvres and let the front-seat passenger ‘have a go’.
There won’t be any aerobatics or violent manoeuvres though I can always demonstrate some gentle stalls or steep turns, if asked.
Our trial flights are generally planned for 30 minutes which is usually enough for beginners though we can always tailor the mission and flight time to meet your requirements—there are, of course, other Instructors at the Aéroclub de Limoges but I, being English, tend to handle most of the English-speaking customers.
Subject to ‘weight and balance’ considerations, our club aircraft can take up to 4 people (1 pilot, 3 passengers) for the same price—currently 79€ for a 30-minute flight.
I often recall the delightful lady who stayed in one of my gites to do some riding with her daughter who was also keen to try a flying lesson.
On the appointed day, daughter turned-up with mother who was armed with a novel which she intended to read in the clubhouse until her daughter returned—the lady was in her 70’s, had never stepped into an aircraft, with no intention of so doing.
While we were checking-out the aircraft, however, ‘Mum’ fired me with questions and was somehow inspired to join us, much to the astonishment of her daughter.
Having flown the plane very gently with just 10º of bank for nearly an hour, I was quite surprised when ‘Mum’ asked me to drop the wing so that she could photograph the historic village of Oradour sur Glane which was burnt-out by the Nazis in the second world war .
The next time they came for a holiday, it was by Ryanair!
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