If you want to get the big picture and enjoy the West Midlands from a new perspective, the best way is by taking to the skies in a light aircraft.

There are several airports around the county where recreational flight clubs and schools welcome people like you to take a tailor made flight into it's skies. The aeroplanes that you have the chance to fly in are light aircraft, usually with just 4 seats, whose large windows offer unrivalled views of the landscape. If you want to get a bird’s eye view of this part of the country, sit down, fasten your seatbelt and take off!

Where can you fly a light aircraft in the West Midlands?

This is a Metropolitan county that includes large urban areas, as well as important commercial airports. For that reason, much of the county’s airspace is off limits to recreational flight and so your flight will take you beyond the boundaries of West Midlands, to enjoy the sights of neighbouring Warwickshire, Staffordshire and Shropshire.

• Warwick Castle: The turrets and towers of this mediaeval stronghold are an imposing sight from ground level, but flying over the castle reveals the intricate architecture and beautifully landscaped gardens that make it a visitor favourite. The flight to Warwick follows the stunning River Avon, so this is a trip that you won’t want to miss.

• Silverstone Circuit: Calling all lovers of speed! The home of the British Grand Prix and MotoGP is just a short flight away from the West Midlands. Its most challenging corners, including Club, Maggots and Brooklands, are legendary, and you´ll see why if you get a bird’s eye view of them. Best of all, your cruising speed in a light aircraft will be faster than the top speeds of the Formula 1 drivers on the track!

• South staffordshire: This region borders Staffordshire in the other direction, and here you can take a tour of some of England’s most green and pleasant land. Cannock Chase is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with a mixture of forest and plain, and it is home to a herd of 800 fallow deer.

• Shropshire Hills: Not far away lie the charming Shropshire Hills, where the undulating landscape cradles quaint towns such as Much Wenlock and Ludlow. An aerial view of Shrewsbury is also a treat, with the towers of the castle and the abbey making up a distinctive skyline.

Take off points

- The city of Coventry was historically part of Warwickshire, so for flights over this part of the country you can head to Coventry Airport. You’ll take the skies in a four-seater Cessna or Piper light aircraft, which both have large windows that are perfect for aerial observation

- If you want to see the Shropshire and Staffordshire landscape from the skies, your flight will take off from Wolverhampton Halfpenny Green Airport. Alongside Cessna and Piper Models, there’s also an eye-catching Slingsby Firefly with a bright yellow paint job here, to make sure that your flight is an opportunity to see and be seen.

Options to do this experiencie

For the ultimate sightseeing tour, we recommend that you take a pleasure flight or flight experience from a West Midlands airport. With the speed and elevation of a light aircraft, you can cover a lot of ground to get a bird’s eye view of the surrounding areas and local landmarks in just one hour, and shorter trips are also available.

But if being a passenger isn’t enough for you, you’ll be happy to hear that you can go one step further than flying in a plane - and fly it by yourself! To do this, you’ll need to organise a trial lesson. You’ll be in the experienced hands of a flying instructor who’ll get you airborne before handing over the control of the aeroplane to you. In a 30 minute flight you might have 10 or 15 minutes at the controls, and even longer if you opt for a 60 minute experience. For those who have sights set high in the sky we recommend a pilot for a day experience. You'll spend the full day at Coventry Airport and take part in planning, pre-flight checks, and, of course, flying - over two separate flights. This is the perfect choice for you if you have the ambition to become a qualified aviator.

Requirements to do this activity

When you book a flying experience, you’re booking a private, four-seater plane. One of those seats is reserved for the pilot, who’ll also act as your inflight guide, so there are 3 seats left for you and your lucky invitees. However, as with any flight, the weight of passengers has to be taken into consideration when planning your tour. Aside from the pilot, there’s a combined weight limit of around 230 - 250 kilograms on the passengers. If you want to take two people with you you’ll have to choose them carefully! On the other hand, with just two passengers in the cockpit you’ll be able to sit more comfortably.

For anyone wanting to pilot the plane themselves, you’ll be delighted to learn that you need absolutely no experience of flying to take the controls of the aircraft during the flight. It’s even possible for budding pilots as young as 14 years old to have this wonderful experience! However in the case that they decide to continue their training they need to be 17 years old in order to gain a licence.

We urge you not to miss out on this fantastic opportunity, so make a booking today and we’ll get on with organising it.