Since the first flight by the Wright brothers, we have been obsessed with the excitement and adventure of flying. Some people are destined to defend freedom and morality by piloting a fighter plane into battle and others will be responsible for transporting millions of people safely around the world. But, for the rest of us who simply long for the freedom of gliding through the great blue yonder, a small single-piston light aircraft will do the job nicely.
After World War I, almost 60 private flying clubs began and about 5,000 private pilots became licensed in the UK. Today, the UK has more than 28,000 registered licensed private pilots. Are you ready to join them?
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulates all general aviation in the United Kingdom. General aviation is defined as any non-commercial air transport operation. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) grants Private Pilots Licenses (PPL) in the UK. With a PPL in the UK, a pilot may fly an aircraft but cannot receive any compensation, either monetary or in the form of rewards, for flying. To receive a PPL a pilot must complete a training course at a registered training facility/flight school. After completing the course, the applicant must pass a flight and written examination.
After getting your PPL, you may be in search of your own light aircraft to fly. Most private pilots command two or four seater, single piston engine planes. Some of the more popular models for small aircraft pilots are the Cessna 152 or 172 and the Piper PA28 Cherokee.
Pilots who can’t afford their own aircraft, however, can join one of the area’s local flying clubs and rent one of their small aircrafts. Many trendy small aircraft pilots invest in amateur built aircrafts like the Rutan-Long EZ or buy a vintage aircraft like the former WWII fighter jet the Hunter Hawker.
