OT: flying lessons via mightydeals
#1
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
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OT: flying lessons via mightydeals
Though this might be of interest. mightydeals did an offer recently to get £20 of fuel for £10, see post 263 on here (now expired). Anyway, I have been receiving the mightydeals emails since then, but very few of the deals have been of interest to me until this one.
£129 for up to 2 hours at Blackpool, Beverley, Coventry, and Elstree, or £99 at one in Coventry.
http://www.mightydeals.co.uk/Activities/Flying-Lesson
If you book via topcashback you get 15.75% back as well.
http://www.topcashback.co.uk/mighty-deals/
Anyway, I have booked the £129 as the one at Beverley is fairly close to me. Never done a flying lesson before. Getting a PPL has been something I wanted to do at some point - just held back by lack of funds!
£129 for up to 2 hours at Blackpool, Beverley, Coventry, and Elstree, or £99 at one in Coventry.
http://www.mightydeals.co.uk/Activities/Flying-Lesson
If you book via topcashback you get 15.75% back as well.
http://www.topcashback.co.uk/mighty-deals/
Anyway, I have booked the £129 as the one at Beverley is fairly close to me. Never done a flying lesson before. Getting a PPL has been something I wanted to do at some point - just held back by lack of funds!
#2
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 858
None of them great bargains!
(most flying school, mine included, will do a 30 min trial lesson for £99)
As for extras, like a hangar tour, we offer that free - along with a tea or coffee for the participant and their family!
But, of course, add in three months "club membership", which you don't need for a single flight, some refreshments at "Starbucks prices" and a "hangar tour" at whatever price you want to say it costs... then you are at 200 quid and you can then give 50% off.
Still, it is the way of the world now..... price "off" everything and the value of nothing!
(most flying school, mine included, will do a 30 min trial lesson for £99)
As for extras, like a hangar tour, we offer that free - along with a tea or coffee for the participant and their family!
But, of course, add in three months "club membership", which you don't need for a single flight, some refreshments at "Starbucks prices" and a "hangar tour" at whatever price you want to say it costs... then you are at 200 quid and you can then give 50% off.
Still, it is the way of the world now..... price "off" everything and the value of nothing!
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: BA Gold, QF WP
Posts: 12,551
None of them great bargains!
(most flying school, mine included, will do a 30 min trial lesson for £99)
As for extras, like a hangar tour, we offer that free - along with a tea or coffee for the participant and their family!
But, of course, add in three months "club membership", which you don't need for a single flight, some refreshments at "Starbucks prices" and a "hangar tour" at whatever price you want to say it costs... then you are at 200 quid and you can then give 50% off.
Still, it is the way of the world now..... price "off" everything and the value of nothing!
(most flying school, mine included, will do a 30 min trial lesson for £99)
As for extras, like a hangar tour, we offer that free - along with a tea or coffee for the participant and their family!
But, of course, add in three months "club membership", which you don't need for a single flight, some refreshments at "Starbucks prices" and a "hangar tour" at whatever price you want to say it costs... then you are at 200 quid and you can then give 50% off.
Still, it is the way of the world now..... price "off" everything and the value of nothing!
#4
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: South East, UK
Programs: BA Gold / GfL, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,431
But I suspect they have been very clever with the wording. It sounds to me like you will actually only be at the controls for one leg and for the other you will be the navigator. So its more like a 30 min flying lesson, plus a 30 minute ride with some other random person at the controls!
#5
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
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But I suspect they have been very clever with the wording. It sounds to me like you will actually only be at the controls for one leg and for the other you will be the navigator. So its more like a 30 min flying lesson, plus a 30 minute ride with some other random person at the controls!
#6
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,198
Pretty good value.
When I was young I would have jumped at the chance however I've become a big fearty since getting older. I now suspect single engined aircraft as having the same reliability as my lawnmower.
When I was young I would have jumped at the chance however I've become a big fearty since getting older. I now suspect single engined aircraft as having the same reliability as my lawnmower.
#7
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Had my lesson today. gms was correct in that it was a joint lesson with one other person over the 2 hours. Basically there was me and another guy who had come from Manchester with his dad. His dad was just an observer. The lesson was at Hull Aero Club.
The instructor went through a few basics with me and the other guy for 5 minutes, then we went out to the Cessna 172, got, and were off. The other guy had his hour first. The instructor did the take-off and then handed control over during the truing climb to go towards the Humber Bridge.
We then came back, turned to pass over the coast, and then came back in to the pattern and for a landing. Just as we were going back in to the field, we heard that the Vulcan based at DSA was at HUY and was heading towards Humber Bridge. If we had been ten minutes later we would have been able to see it at the bridge.
After a 5 minute break we swapped seats and were off. I did a bit of taxing towards the runway. We lined up on runway 30 and the instructor did the take-off. I took over and flew up towards Flamborough Head, went around that, and then cam back over the coast turning for the approach back in to the field.
Signpost to airfield.
Plane taxiing as I arrived.
Lining up on runway 30 for first flight.
Hull.
Humber Bridge
Looking across the bridge to the west.
Coming up to the East Yorkshire coast.
View forward.
Banking over the coast.
View along coast to the south.
Just before final turn to runway 30.
Coming in to land.
Overall I really enjoyed it. I found it quite hard to fly the aircraft as there were obviously quite a few things to constantly keep monitoring. It was a little bumpy due to the wind. In the end I was at the controls for just under an hour. I do want to go for my PPL at some stage, perhaps next year. I was also glad I was in the back for one flight as I could take some photos and enjoy the views for a bit before having to concentrate on flying.
The instructor went through a few basics with me and the other guy for 5 minutes, then we went out to the Cessna 172, got, and were off. The other guy had his hour first. The instructor did the take-off and then handed control over during the truing climb to go towards the Humber Bridge.
We then came back, turned to pass over the coast, and then came back in to the pattern and for a landing. Just as we were going back in to the field, we heard that the Vulcan based at DSA was at HUY and was heading towards Humber Bridge. If we had been ten minutes later we would have been able to see it at the bridge.
After a 5 minute break we swapped seats and were off. I did a bit of taxing towards the runway. We lined up on runway 30 and the instructor did the take-off. I took over and flew up towards Flamborough Head, went around that, and then cam back over the coast turning for the approach back in to the field.
Signpost to airfield.
Plane taxiing as I arrived.
Lining up on runway 30 for first flight.
Hull.
Humber Bridge
Looking across the bridge to the west.
Coming up to the East Yorkshire coast.
View forward.
Banking over the coast.
View along coast to the south.
Just before final turn to runway 30.
Coming in to land.
Overall I really enjoyed it. I found it quite hard to fly the aircraft as there were obviously quite a few things to constantly keep monitoring. It was a little bumpy due to the wind. In the end I was at the controls for just under an hour. I do want to go for my PPL at some stage, perhaps next year. I was also glad I was in the back for one flight as I could take some photos and enjoy the views for a bit before having to concentrate on flying.
Last edited by KARFA; Aug 4, 2013 at 2:41 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Isle of Skye, Scotland
Programs: BA gold
Posts: 3,902
It looks great, thanks for sharing. ^
It's something I'd like to do, but a bit weary due to my deafness - I'd need a good patient instructor that is easily understood. I know there are deaf pilots in the US, but it doesn't seem to be as popular in the UK, perhaps due to regulations or something.
It's something I'd like to do, but a bit weary due to my deafness - I'd need a good patient instructor that is easily understood. I know there are deaf pilots in the US, but it doesn't seem to be as popular in the UK, perhaps due to regulations or something.
#10
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Canterbury, UK
Programs: BA Gold, IHG Diamond + Ambassador, Accor Gold, Avis President's Club, Heathrow Rewards
Posts: 2,471
Great report, fab pictures! ^
However, what I can't understand is that you managed to get on a plane out of Hull, then voluntarily returned??
What sort of hearing loss do you have? Is it in both ears?
You might want to check out deaf pilots UK.
However, what I can't understand is that you managed to get on a plane out of Hull, then voluntarily returned??
What sort of hearing loss do you have? Is it in both ears?
You might want to check out deaf pilots UK.
#11
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
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As I live in Yorkshire's first city, moving anywhere else in Yorkshire would be a backwards step. Now, where has my whippet gone
#12
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Isle of Skye, Scotland
Programs: BA gold
Posts: 3,902
What sort of hearing loss do you have? Is it in both ears?
You might want to check out deaf pilots UK.
You might want to check out deaf pilots UK.
Thanks for the link, had not seen that before, so there is some flying that can be done in the UK. ^ Looking to spend my next year's leave in the UK, so should be able to check out some flying clubs.
#13
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 122
What sort of hearing loss do you have? Is it in both ears?
You might want to check out deaf pilots UK.
You might want to check out deaf pilots UK.
I've already replied to Stez by PM.