Flying experience with a 5year old

[mudnomad]

My friend's son is obsessed with planes and he would love to take him for a pleasure flight with an instructor in a small plane.
All the experiences we find have "min 14 years old" condition.
Has anyone on here done it somewhere in England or maybe know of an suitable experience?

Thank you!

[5150]

I took my God Son flying this year. He's 7. It's only a two-seater aircraft and looking back, I should have brought him a cushion to sit on, as his view forwards wasn't great, so it was more about the view out of the side window and having a little go at flying the plane himself.

There's plenty of flying schools that offer trial lessons in 4-seater aircraft - so might be an idea to go up with him - either with you in the back and him in the front, or vice-versa. I couldn't think of any flight school that wouldn't accommodate that. Plus you can snap away taking lots of pics of the day - rather than him just being up on his own with someone he doesn't know. First time in a light aircraft can be a bit of an assault on the senses, so having someone with him he knows, will make it a much more enjoyable and shared experience!

[FlyVintage]

As suggested above, you need to look at flying schools, not flight experiences (which tend to assume one person - hence the age limit). Most schools would accommodate a flight WITH the parent or guardian. However, I can’t think of any school who would contemplate taking a 5 year old up on his own. The safeguarding issues alone would be likely kill that. I certainly wouldn’t take anyone’s child up alone; regardless of how well I knew them.

[Hard-Drive]

^What they say

You'll want to book a 4 seat aircraft, Piper PA-28 or Cessna 172 are the flying club stalwarts. Take the child and two adults, you'll almost certainly need someone in the front (to keep the aircraft balanced) and someone with the child in the back, don't just leave the child in the back on their own as it could be a bit unsettling for them! Be prepared to answer questions on weight (truthfully!) as it will probably be getting near to limits at takeoff with four people on board.

Contrary to your experience "General Aviation" (flying small aircraft) is generally incredibly encouraging of children, unfortunately it is generally the preserve of middle aged blokes and there does seem to be a real drive to change that. I took my 9 year old to a GA event over the weekend and the amount of people talking to him was brilliant, a certain very well known aviation supplies company even told him to take a £10 "wings" badge FOC off their shop stand.

It's also perfectly legal for a child to take the controls of an aircraft in flight under supervision of the PIC, and unlike driving, you can actually take your test on your 17th birthday, having done all your training beforehand (including all the solo stuff).