Helicopter flying lesson Knokke-Heist

Get behind the controls of a helicopter yourself and experience what it is like to fly in this complex machine. You fly in a JetRanger Bell 206, one of the most famous helicopters in the world. You will fly alone with the instructor, with no other passengers.

Location

You will take off from Knokke-Heist in Belgium. Depending on the chosen time, you can indicate your preference for the route.

Some examples of possible routes are:

• Within 20 minutes you will fly over the center of Bruges, Lissewege and over the port of Zeebrugge.
• Within 30 minutes you will fly over Damme, Bruges, the pier of Blankenberge, over the sea and over the port of Zeebrugge.
• Within 45 minutes you fly over Bruges, the castle of Wijnendaele, Diksmuide, over the sea and over the port of Zeebrugge.
• Within 60 minutes you fly over the entire Flemish coastline.
• Within 75 minutes you fly over Maldegem, the port of Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges.

Special machine

Flying in a helicopter is unique! Only helicopters can hover completely still in the air. The view from a helicopter is therefore fantastic. However, they are very complex machines. That makes the construction and maintenance expensive. Therefore, flying lessons on a helicopter are more expensive than on other aircraft.

The time has come!

The pilot welcomes you at the heliport in Knokke-Heist.

Theory

You start with an explanation of the basics of flying. The instructor will answer important questions in this 'briefing'. How do you control a helicopter? What are all the buttons and gauges for? You learn about the main and tail rotor. How to control them with the collective, cyclic and foot pedals. Of course you can ask all your questions. Are you coming together with your partner, friend and/or family member? Then he/she is welcome to attend as well. Then you all know what you will experience in the air. You do not have to pay extra for this.

The theory part always takes about 30 minutes, regardless of the time you choose for the practical part.

Practice

After the theory part you go with the instructor to the helicopter. First you check together whether the aircraft is ready for departure. In consultation with the instructor you decide where you will fly to. You get in and put on your headphones. Through the headphones you can hear the instructor. And then it's time! In the air you can fly the helicopter yourself. You can fly everything yourself except for the take-off and the last part of the landing. Of course the instructor will help you with everything. He will take over if you want to look outside. Or if you want to make photos or a video.

How long the practical part takes you choose. The minimum is 20 minutes. But the longer, the more fun of course!

© Photos: Annelies Bearelle