How do you know if becoming a pilot is the right move before you spend thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours in training? The answer isn't more research or more YouTube videos. It's a discovery flight. A short, hands-on session with a certified instructor puts you in the cockpit of a real aircraft, gives you the controls, and lets you feel what flying actually is.
A discovery flight is a short introductory flying session conducted with a certified flight instructor (CFI). It is designed specifically for people who have never flown before or who are seriously considering pilot training but haven't committed yet.
A typical discovery flight follows a clear structure:
Discovery flights are open to anyone. No prior experience, no medical certificate, no special knowledge required.
Pro Tip: Ask your instructor to explain every step during the flight, not just what they're doing, but why.
Simulator sessions have real value later in training, but they cannot replicate the physical experience of being in the air. The vestibular sensations are absent in a simulator.
Ground school seminars and online courses are excellent supplements once you've committed to training. But as a first exposure? They're theory without context.
A discovery flight fills that exact gap. It's designed for adults, structured around career awareness, and conducted by instructors who can speak directly to your goals.
Who benefits most from a discovery flight:
Pro Tip: Take notes immediately after your discovery flight. Write down what surprised you, what excited you, and what made you nervous.
No amount of simulator time, ground school, or YouTube content will tell you whether you should become a pilot. Only being in the air will do that.
Simulators are powerful tools for instrument training and procedure review once you already understand what flying feels like. But for someone deciding whether to invest in a pilot career, a simulator session is like test-driving a car on a screen.
Most working pilots can point to a single moment, usually their first real flight, as the experience that made the decision for them. Not a class. Not a book. A moment in the air.
At Parrillo Air Services, our discovery flight options are designed to give you a genuine, hands-on introduction to aviation with an experienced FAA-certified instructor. You'll get time at the controls, a full pre-flight briefing, and a real conversation about what your training path could look like.
Come tour our facility in Lynchburg, VA, speak with our instructors, and see exactly what your aviation future could look like. The first step is just one flight away.
Book Your Discovery FlightDiscovery flights usually range from $100 to $250 depending on location, aircraft, and length of flight.
No prior experience or medical certificate is needed. Discovery flights are open to all beginners.
Yes, flight time with a certified instructor during your discovery flight can count toward the total required hours for a pilot license.
Discovery flights for aspiring adult pilots typically require participants to be at least 16, though some schools may accept younger teens with parental permission.
No. The EAA Young Eagles program offers youth introductory flights and is designed specifically for young people, not adults considering career paths.