Many children find anything aviation-related like planes fascinating. Plus, some will even get excited at the prospect of flying in one. For other kids, aviation isn’t just a passing fancy but more a pastime they feel passionate about.

It’s not unusual for some children to turn their aviation passions into careers, such as becoming pilots or even working with companies that build aircraft. If you’ve got a child that loves everything about aviation, here’s how you can develop their passion:

Go plane spotting at your local airport

When people think of airports, they immediately think of places like London Heathrow Airport or Birmingham International Airport. But, it’s possible to go planespotting with your offspring at smaller local airports where light aircraft get flown by enthusiasts.

You’ll often find outdoor spaces where you can sit down and observe light aircraft and helicopters landing and taking off, plus there will be facilities like a cafe and toilets that you can use during your visit. You also won’t need to pay a fortune to park your car in the area!

Buy a Gaming PC

If your son or daughter has designs for being one of tomorrow’s commercial airline pilots, you could buy them a flight sim PC to use for gaming. There are several games titles, such as the world-famous Microsoft Flight Simulator, that they can use on the PC.

Such games offer realistic flying experiences from the comfort of your home, and it’s possible to use accessories with them like gaming aircraft controls and joysticks. It’s certainly a fun way to get them learning about the basics of aviation and aircraft control.

Enrol your child on flying lessons

The next natural step from playing a realistic flight simulator game at home is to pilot an aircraft in real-world scenarios. Did you know that kids can have flying lessons?

While it might not be something you’d consider for a six-year-old, there are growing numbers of teenagers getting expert tuition in flying light aircraft. When they reach the required age, they can theoretically apply for and get examined for a private pilot’s licence.

Once your child is a bit older and has enough flying hours in their records, they can technically pilot a small plane solo or even work towards getting a commercial airline pilot’s licence.

Go flying

Lastly, international travel might still be challenging due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. But, that doesn’t mean it isn’t possible to travel by plane to domestic destinations.

Believe it or not, flying from one end of the country to another is affordable and is often significantly cheaper than making the same journey by train or car. You could fly from Birmingham to Edinburgh for the day, for example, and have a fun day out with your child!

Another option might be to consider flying on an experience day, such as going in the air in a helicopter or hot air balloon. There are many ways you and your child can enjoy flying across the country regularly that won’t break the bank.

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