Flying at Manston

Take to the skies flying a light aircraft out of historic Manston Airport! Our range of flying vouchers means you can choose a 20, 30 or 60 minute flight in a two seater Cessna 152 or opt for 60 minute lessons in a four seater Piper Warrior plane, so up to two friends or family can join you taking the two spare rear seats.

Manston Airport has a long history of aviation, starting life as a Royal Naval Station in 1916. Nowadays the airport is also known as Kent International Airport with the IATA code MSE and welcomes cargo, charter and private arrivals and departures on its 2752m long paved runway cable of handling 747-400s, so there is always lots going on making this an ideal gift for any flying fan.

Your trial lesson will begin with a safety briefing and introduction to the plane. Once strapped in a ready for take off, you'll taxi away (watch out for big cargo planes!) and then line yourselves up on the runway and away you go. On all flight durations you'll have time to take the controls once airborne. Lessons are given by a team of fully qualified flying instructors who all hold commercial licences, headed up by Captain Dave Henderson.

More "amazing" flying experiences are available at airfields around the UK from our main flying lessons page.

After a welcome and introduction you will receive a 10 minute briefing session prior to your flying time. On 20 minute flights you can expect to fly over the Isle of Thanet, covering Whitstable, Canterbury, Folkestone and Dover in longer duration flights. 4 seater flights allow for one student plus two guests who can observe the lesson from the rear seats. Participants will be presented with a certificate.

Experiences run throughout the year on both weekdays and weekends.

This family run flying school is located at Manston Airport in Ramsgate, Kent with easy access from the A28.

The minimum age for a lesson is 14 years old. Minimum height is 4'6", maximum 6'4", with a maximum weight of 14 stone for 2 seater flights and 18 stone for 4 seater flights. Customers need to provide two forms of identity including a photo id. 4 seater flights allow for one or two additional guests (at the pilots discretion).

Spectators are welcome to attend. Guests can watch the participants take off and land from the viewing and picnic areas in and around the clubhouse. There is an RAF museum close by where you can visit and have lunch in the on site cafeteria, a small admission fee applies.