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What to Expect
A Discovery Flight is intended to familiarize a prospective student with the airplane, the airport, and the flying environment. You’ll sit in the pilot seat, and the FAA-certified Flight Instructor at your side will allow you to fly for most of the flight.
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Safety
Modern, well-equipped fleet
Flight Log
Counts toward flight training
Duration
2 hours (60min in the air)
Price
$265 (tax included)
It will be casual
Your pilot will be friendly and relaxed. A flight school is an environment for learning, so you may see other student pilots and private pilots engaged in lessons, taking a ground school class, or just hanging out and chatting with other pilots. Your instructor will likely welcome you personally, might ask you a few personal questions to see what your level of interest is, and then will discuss the details of the flight with you.
It will be in a small airplane
Our Discovery flights are conducted in a Cessna 172. This is a single-engine propeller-driven aircraft in which the instructor and student will sit side-by-side in the front. These airplanes are 180 horsepower and cruise at about 115 knots (132 MPH). These aircraft are meant for flight training and are safe, comfortable, reliable airplanes for discovery flights. The Discovery flights with Arise Aviation depart and return to the Colorado Springs Airport (KCOS).
Note: Because Colorado Springs is a busy, active airport, please be prepared for a bit of a "commute" on the ground—it can sometimes take up to 15 minutes just for taxiing before we reach the runway!
You'll have an opportunity to fly the plane
It’s voluntary, of course, but you will be encouraged to fly the aircraft on your own, with the instructor coaching you. After takeoff and when the instructor has maneuvered to a safe altitude, he or she will demonstrate how to do basic turns, climbs, and descents, and will let you control the aircraft. Depending on your level of interest, you might even be able to perform a private pilot maneuver or two.
There might be a few (small) bumps
Turbulence is typically not an issue since instructors tend to steer clear of choppy weather on discovery flights. For the most part, discovery flights are conducted on calm days, but turbulence isn’t entirely predictable. Your instructor wouldn’t take you up in an unsafe condition, and a small amount of turbulence is quite normal for light aircraft.
You'll wear a headset
Pilots wear headsets to reduce cockpit noise and to clearly communicate with each other and air traffic control. You will be given a comfortable headset to wear. Don’t worry: Your voice won’t be heard over the radio by Air Traffic Control—there’s a push-to-talk switch that the pilot uses for that. When you talk into your microphone, only the pilot and any other passengers will hear you.
See the Front Range
Yes, you can probably fly over your house and even take a picture! During your flight, you'll get an incredible bird's-eye view of Colorado Springs and the stunning Front Range.
If you have a specific landmark you want to see from the air, just let your pilot know. If it’s within range and doesn’t violate any airspace restrictions, they’re usually happy to oblige.
Learn what it takes to become a pilot
There won’t be any cheesy sales pitch, but do expect that your instructor will be eager to share the joy of flight with you.
He or she might tell you more about what to expect during flight training and how to go about getting a pilot's license. Our instructors really are just excited to share the world of flying with others.
Timing Your Experience
You should plan for a 2-hour total experience. This includes one full hour of flight time, plus another hour on the ground to get settled, take photos in front of the airplane, and chat with the pilot about next steps if you decide you want to begin flight training.
Most importantly, expect to have fun
Discovery flights should be fun. They're a low-key, relaxed way to see the sights, take in the elements of flight, and learn a thing or two about flying an airplane. Take time to enjoy it.
Contact Us
1575 Aviation Way, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80916
