Have you ever dreamt that you could fly? It’s a feeling of freedom that’s so real at the time, but so out of reach when you wake up in the morning. Well not anymore! You don’t need wings, jet engines, or even a pilot’s licence to take to the skies in a light aircraft in beautiful Somerset - and not only as a passenger. This isn’t just a chance to fly in a plane, it’s your chance to fly one yourself.

This region offers a rich and varied tapestry of aerial views when contemplated from the cockpit of a light aircraft. You’ll see a world in miniature: the waters of the Bristol Channel, the coasts of Somerset and South Wales, the city of Bristol and the undulating hills - among them the Mendips, the Blackdowns and the Quantocks - the first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the country. Within this landscape are secret nooks and corners coloured by ancient legends but best viewed from a modern aircraft. Cheddar Gorge isn’t just famous for cheese, but also the oldest complete human skeleton ever found in the UK, dating back almost 9,000 years. Some believe that around the town and abbey of Glastonbury there is a huge Temple of the Stars whose outline is visible by lines in the landscape. In the Bristol Channel, the island of Steep Holm boasts important seabird populations alongside the ruins of wartime fortifications. All of this is yours to enjoy on an aircraft flight, but don’t worry if you’re so excited by piloting the plane that you don’t get to take it all in - you can always come back for more! You can live the dream of flying as many times as you want here.

Where can you fly an aeroplane in Somerset?

• Bristol airport is located 6 miles from the city centre in the charming area landscape. If you’ve ever taken a commercial flight from here you’ll have seen the pastoral Chew Valley slip out of view as you climb to 35,000ft. A light aircraft flies at much lower altitudes, so you’ll see the surroundings in detail. The Chew Valley contains some beautiful lakes that sit below the first ridges of the Mendip Hills. To the North is the Bristol Channel where you can see the island of Steep Holm and even the shoreline of Wales, while Exmoor National Park is to the West.

• Further into rural you’ll find Henstridge airfield, where you can climb into a plane and explore the skies above Somerset and neighbouring counties of Devon and Dorset. The historical site of Glastonbury isn’t far away, and you can have an even more historic experience by choosing to fly in a classic Second World War era plane.

What kinds of light aircrafts can you pilot?

- Piper Cherokee: a classic name in recreational aviation, Piper aircraft are known for being reliable and simple to fly, without compromising on the excitement. The Cherokee is a favourite model among pleasure pilots, and here you’ll also find a Turbo Arrow model, bringing the power of turbo charging to the general market.

- Cirrus Vision: if power is what you’re looking for, the Turbo Arrow is a good choice but you can do one better. The Cirrus Vision is a jet powered light aircraft, one of the smallest planes around that harnesses the power of jet propulsion. IT cruises at a speed of 560 kilometres per hour, which means that you can see the whole county even on a short flight!

- Cessna 152/172: simple, easy to use, and a lot of fun, Cessna’s are the perfect choice for first time flyers. The 152 is a 2-seat model, and the 4-seat 172 is the most successful aircraft in history in terms of units sold - there are almost as many Cessna 172s in the world for every inhabitant of Taunton, the county town, to own one.

- SOCATA TB: this French.made plane is the perfect choice for those in search of the best aerial views. The cabin of the TB is comfortably fitted and more roomy than most comparable planes, and the visibility is spectacular. Large windows allow for excellent observation of the ground below and sky above, making a flight in the TB a sightseeing experience with a touch of style.

- De Havilland Tiger Moth: this is an aviation icon. With its biplane wings, open air cockpit and striking colours, the tiger Moth is the stuff that aviators’ dreams are made of. It was designed as a training plane and was so popular among pilots that many models have been lovingly preserved, to let you experience a bit of history in the skies of Somerset.

Requirements to do this activity

You’ll be surprised to learn just how accessible the flying dream is here. Adults can indulge their old childhood fantasies, and children as young as 12 can live out their wildest dreams by flying a real plane here. If your son or daughter is under 16 years of age, you’ll need to go up with them as a supervisor alongside the pilot, so you’ll be limited to planes with at least 4 seats.

When it comes to light aircraft, your size and weight are an important factor in planning a flight. In the first place, the cockpits of these planes don’t have much room to spare, and if you're over 2 metres tall you won’t be able to enter or exit comfortably. Secondly, the payload of light aircrafts is limited so that if you weigh over 100 kilograms, or 15.5 stone, your combined weight with the pilot could be too high. The same goes for any passengers that you might want to take with you in a 4-seat plane: you’ll need to provide details of the weight of each person before your experience to ensure that the flight is viable.

How long does a flight experience last?

You’re in control of the length of your experience when you organise a flight, with flight times from 30 minutes to an hour and a half. Bear in mind that you’ll need a couple of hours on either side of the air time for briefings, preflight checks, etc., so the experience as a whole will last longer. The longest on offer are known as Land Away flights, because you’ll take off in Somerset and land somewhere else - Swansea in South Wales for example - before flying back. This could mean 85 minutes of airtime in a 4 hour experience. The really exciting thing about a Land Away flight is that, having observed your pilot land the plane the first time, you can have a go at landing when you get back! You know what they say: anyone can fly a plane, but it takes a pilot to land one.

It’s easier than you think to make your dreams come true! Just make a booking with us and we’ll take care of the rest.