An air experience flight (trial flight) is actually your first lesson in a microlight aircraft - to be precise, Flight Exercise 3 from the British Microlight Aircraft Association (BMAA) Syllabus of Microlight Pilot Training.  It's your chance to experience the truly amazing sensation of flight in one of these tiny, yet incredibly robust, flying machines.  Like the earliest pioneers of powered flight, you will experience for yourself the sensation of open-cockpit flight in a small aircraft.  The school's microlights fly at around 45-60 mph, no faster than a sedate cruise on a motorcycle, and we'll be at around 1000-1500 feet, so you'll have plenty of time to take in the unrivalled view you get from the back seat.  And what better way to get an idea of what a trial flight looks like from the back seat than by watching Peter Farrow's video of his flight with us! 

You can book 15, 30, or 60 minute flights.  All the equipment you need for your trial flight - flying suit, gloves, helmet and intercom headset - will be provided.

There are NO age restrictions for trial flights and we're happy to take youngsters from about 9 years of age.  There is no upper age limit.  People with physical disabilities can also fly, depending on the nature of the disability and providing they are able - with the help of a relative or carer where necessary - to be seated comfortably and securely in the aircraft.  Check with us if you're not sure.

When you arrive for your flight, you'll become a member of Microflights Flying Club as a Trial Flight Day Member (your membership fee is included in the price of the trial flight).  Then we'll discuss the route of your flight, fix you up with a flying suit, helmet and intercom headset, and get you securely strapped into the aircraft.

After briefing you on the flight and carrying out full pre-flight safety checks, we'll taxy out onto the runway at Finmere, first used sixty years ago by RAF bomber crews, and take off.  Once airborne, we'll climb to around 1000-1500 feet, which gives us a marvellous view of Buckingham and the surrounding countryside.  If the flight you have booked is long enough, we'll take a look at your home town or village - microlights aren't allowed to fly over settlements, so we'll go round the edge instead! Depending on the flight conditions and your wishes, you'll get the chance to have a go at flying the aircraft from the back seat, using the student training bars fitted to the control frame.

Microlight flying is a lot cheaper than conventional light aviation or helicopter flying and trial flight prices start at just £40 for 15 minutes.

15 minutes - £40

30 minutes - £75

60 minutes - £140

Please note that flight times are calculated from engine start to engine stop, so they include engine warm-up, pre-takeoff checks and taxying to and from the runway.

It depends on how long your flight is and what the weather and wind conditions are like on the day.  If you live close enough, we'll try to include your home in the route we fly.  We offer three flight durations (please bear in mind that we might need to vary the route depending on flight conditions).  If you'd like to see some photos taken by Jeremy Hollinshead when he flew our 60-minute Grand Tour South, take a look at www.hollinsheads.com/photos/2004_micro.

15 Minutes

This is the "introductory" flight, ideal for those who think they might be a little apprehensive of flying.  Once securely aboard the aircraft, we'll taxy out, take off and have a look at Finmere from the air, and then it'll be time for us to line up for our landing.

30 Minutes

After a panoramic view of Buckingham, we'll have time to fly past the National Trust's spectacular Landscape Gardens at Stowe School on our way to the world-famous Grand Prix circuit at Silverstone.  We'll then track eastwards to Foscote Water and return to Finmere via the eastern edge of Buckingham.  Alternatively, we can fly out to Winslow, taking in Winslow Hall and Claydon House before returning to Finmere via picturesque Hillesden village.

60 Minutes

The "grand tour" flight, which gives us lots of time to take in all the sights.  We tend to fly two "standard" routes from which you can choose:

Grand Tour North

• Panoramic view of Buckingham
• Stowe Landscape Gardens
  
• Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit
  
• Towcester Racecourse
• Stoke Bruerne Canal Centre and the Blisworth Canal Tunnel
• M1 south past Hanslope and Tyringham to Newport Pagnell
• Panoramic view of Milton Keynes
• New Bradwell and the historic railway town of Wolverton
• Cosgrove Country Park with its amazing canal viaduct
   
  
• Stony Stratford, famous for its historic "Cock and Bull" coaching inns
• Return to Finmere via the picturesque course of the River Great Ouse and Buckingham

• Twyford and Marsh Gibbon
• Fantastic view of Brill, the village perched on top of a hill, and Oakley Aerodrome - like Finmere, a WW2 airfield and home to the Buckinghamshire Microlight Club
• Thame and Haddenham, with view of Aylesbury
• Waddesdon Manor and view of Westcott Airfield
• Quainton Historic Railway Centre
• Panoramic view of Winslow Hall and the historic market town of Winslow
• Claydon House
• Return to Finmere via picturesque Hillesden, with its famous "Cathedral in the Fields"

Even on warm summer days (they do happen occasionally), it's a good idea to bring a sweatshirt or top with you to wear under the flying suit you'll be provided with - no slip-on sandals or flip flops, please!  On particularly warm days we dispense with flying suits and gloves altogether and can fly comfortably in jeans and t-shirts.  In winter, you'll keep warmer if you wear several layers rather than one heavy top.  In colder weather, extra pairs of socks are also a good idea, worn with trainers or shoes (wellingtons or heavy boots aren't suitable).

Certainly you can.  We offer half-day excursion flights, with a landing and tea break or lunch stop at another airfield.  Between May and October, for example, we can land at Old Warden Aerodrome in Bedfordshire, a genuine 1930s airfield and home to the world-famous Shuttleworth Collection of vintage aircraft and motor vehicles. With around an hour's flight each way, a trip round the collection and a meal or snack at Old Warden's very nice café, this really is a very pleasant half-day out! Landing fees and admissions are included in the price of the flight.  Ask us for more details.

Yes.  Since our aircraft's maximum all-up weight limits are assessed as the total of pilot, passenger and fuel load, we can't take you flying if you weigh more than 90 kg (14 st 2 lb).  There are no height restrictions.  If you're unsure, call us!

Microlights are unaffected by rain and are perfectly safe to fly in quite rough atmospheric conditions.  However, we want you to get the very best out of your flight and so will make every effort to ensure you get a flight in pleasant conditions.  If weather conditions are not conducive to flying, we'll simply re-book your flight.

Once you've decided the length of flight you want, BUY ONLINE or just send a cheque (payable to James McCafferty) for the required amount and we'll send you a Trial Flight Gift Voucher.  This is valid for twelve months, which gives you plenty of time to book your flight.  Once you have the voucher, just call us and we'll book your flight in the diary. We'll talk to each other on the day to check on the weather and, if it's okay, just plan to arrive about 5 minutes before your booked flight time.

When you send your cheque, please let us have the following information:

1. Your name and address, including postcode
2. Your home telephone number
3. The name of the person for whom you're buying the voucher
4. His/her home telephone number and mobile number (for contacting him/her en route to the airfield on the day of the flight)

Your voucher is only valid for flight until its expiry date.  However, subject to the CFI's sole discretion, you may be able to extend your voucher for a further six months on payment of a £25 extension fee.