Offers of Fly an Aeroplane Gwynedd

The highest peaks in Wales are found in Snowdonia National Park, located mainly in Gwynedd. Snowdon itself rises to a dizzying height of 1090 metres above sea level, and a series of dramatic ridges and ranges radiate away from this mountain, covering an area of over 800 square miles. Imagine soaring above these peaks and looking down on the rugged landscape from the seat of a light aircraft, seeing more than you could on a hike or the Snowdon Mountain Railway. Now imagine taking the controls of the plane and flying through the air as a pilot for a day. If that’s not the stuff that dreams are made of, we don't know what is!

Flying a plane here is a unique opportunity in the UK. In no other part of the country can you, as a member of the public, take to the skies so close to mountainous terrain and enjoy the majesty of the landscape with a bird’s eye view. And it’s not just mountains that you’ll see: the spectacular North Wales coastline, with bays, peninsulas and islands, is beautiful at sea level but even better viewed from the air. Add to that the thrills of travelling in a light aircraft and you get an offer that you can’t refuse - read on to find out how to make it happen.

Where can you take a light aircraft flight in Gwynedd?

This airfield in Gwynedd is outside the village of Llanbedr. Sitting between Snowdonia’s peaks and the coastal area of Shell Island, the views from ground level are enough to make your jaw drop before you climb into the plane -after that, you have a choice of where to fly.

• Snowdon: No other mountain in England and Wales rises as high above sea level as Snowdon. The beauty of the rocky peak with boulder fields and lakes clinging to its sides has made it the busiest mountain in the country, with tens of thousands of climbers reaching the summit by six separate routes every year - not to mention those who arrive on the mountain railway. You can have a VIP visit to Snowdon by flying there in a light aircraft, escaping the crowds and enjoying sweeping, 360º views. It’s also possible to fly to other mountains in the National Park, for example the Rhinogs or Cadair Idris when the weather conditions are suitable.

• Llyn Peninsula: The mountains of Snowdonia aren’t the only attraction that this region has to offer. Sticking out into the ocean, the Llyn Peninsula is a tongue of land bordered by coves, cliffs and small fishing villages. Flying along its 30 mile length is like flicking through a picture book of the best coastal vistas that Wales has to offer and we predict that you won’t be able to take your eyes off it for a moment.

• Aerobatic: Perhaps you’re drawn to an aeroplane flight not for the views but for the thrills, in which case you should choose a flight in a specialised aircraft that can perform aerial acrobatics - or aerobatics. We’ve all seen loops, rolls and dives in movies or at airshows, but it’s something quite different to experience them first hand, in the cockpit of the plane. Of course, if you choose this option there’s no possibility of taking a turn at the controls, but believe us - you won't want to!

• Flight simulator: The airfield in Llanbedr also boasts a state of the art flight simulator. The virtual cockpit is a faithful recreation of that of a Piper aircraft, but the software allows you to choose from a huge range of aircraft, as well as locations, to experience a flight in. The best thing is, there’s no danger of bad weather interfering with your plans!

What kind of planes can you fly?

- There’s a fleet of top quality aircraft waiting for you at the Llanbedr airfield. The most popular for a sightseeing tour - during which you can have a go at the controls - is a Robin DR400. The design of this aircraft includes large windows which will give you unrivalled views of this magnificent part of the country. It’s a 4 seater, but in order for all of those seats to be occupied all the passengers have to be quite slim as the payload of the Robin is relatively low. A better option for groups of 3 who want to be taken up by a pilot is the Rockwell Commander, more robust and can carry more weight.

- The Robin and the Rockwell are great for getting from A to B in the most scenic way possible, but if you’re looking for something more aerodynamically advanced, choose the aerobatic Super Decathlon. Is capable of performing a range of airborne stunts including inverted loops, barrel rolls and near vertical descents. If you take a ride, the mountains of Snowdonia will blur into the Welsh coastline outside the window as you hang on for dear life!

How long does an experience last?

The length of your aircraft flight from Llanbedr depends on the itinerary. The Llyn peninsula is just a few miles to the North, so you can take a tour of this part in about 45 minutes. Budding pilots can take control of the plane at various points during the flight, maybe flying the plane for up to 20 minutes. Snowdon is further away and inland, and to reach this mountain and return it’s a full hour. Of course, that means more flying time too.

An aerobatic flight comprises 30 minutes. After take off, the pilot will start off with some simple manoeuvres to make sure that you can handle the G forces, before turning up the intensity. Believe us, half an hour is plenty of time when you're participating in these high altitude stunts!

Whichever option you choose, the times listed above refer only to flight time. You should factor in extra time for arrival at Llanbedr airfield, briefings, pre-flight checks and other procedures, so overall you should set aside around half a day in total.

That’s all you need to know, the only question left is when do you want to fly?