If you are still looking for that last minute fathers day gifts for the AvGeek in your life then here is our guide to the best aviation gifts you still have time to buy before fathers day on the 18th June.
Trial Flying Lesson
Give the man in your life a gift from the kids he will never forget. There is nothing like the thrill of going up in a light aircraft and taking the controls to experience what it really is like to be a pilot.
A trial lesson gives them the opportunity to not only have a unique experience but possibly go on to get their very own private pilots licence.
Flying from a welsh airport also give them the chance to explore Wales as we have one of the largest areas of unrestricted airspace in the UK.
Don’t forget to take your camera along to remember the day!
A trial lesson with Horizon Flight Training at St Athan costs from just £45
Helicopter Trial Lesson
If the dad in your life is more into helicopters than planes then why not think about a a helicopter lesson instead.
Taking off vertically to explore the welsh coastline you can get a different perspective by being able to hover in mid-air and take in the scenery.
The thrill of flying around in a helicopter is unlike any other flying experience as you defy gravity and they can even take the controls themselves.
A helicopter trial lesson with Heli-Air Wales costs £99 + vat
Visit an Airshow
If he really loves aircraft then why not get tickets for an airshow. The top two after Fathers Day are the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) at RAF Fairford and Yeovilton Air Day.
The Air Tattoo is the largest military airshow in Europe and features aircraft from air forces around the world. It takes place between the 14th-17th July. Tickets are still available for Sunday at £55 (kids go free)
Yeovilton Airday takes place on July 8th at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset. With over 5 hours of flying this popular “Fly Navy” airshow showcases the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm. Tickets are available in advance for £22
Flight Simulator: X-Plane 11 (PC/Mac)
X-Plane 11 is the latest version in the flight simulator series for Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. In this simulator, there is a whole world to discover. Thanks to its open structure, all users and enthusiasts can change every single part of it and adapt it to their preferences.
The 11th edition of X-Plane offers a much more realistic and immersive experience. A new rendering engine makes the whole world appear in a new light – literally. Due to ‘Physically Based Rendering’, illumination and reflections behave in physically correct ways and change depending on viewing angle and the object’s surface. This technique works dynamically which means that graphical effects no longer have to be pre-rendered. It was also developed with very good performance in mind. In the completely redesigned user interface, the control setup, aircraft, airports and weather options are now presented with a visual preview which makes editing them a breeze. The simulator can now be controlled much more intuitively thanks to this well thought-out menu structure.
Furthermore, X-Plane 11 features a brand new sound engine that realises 3D surround sound with high quality samples. This works on a global scale resulting in spatially correct audio placement of any aircraft and any object within the scenery while also taking the current location of the user into account. The sound engine is fully usable and extendable by third-party add-ons.
The content of X-Plane 11 is also considerably expanded. Numerous new aircraft with 3D cockpits and extensive documentation are available to the virtual pilot; add to that, more than 3000 airports with 3D buildings, static aircraft and dynamic environments. The global scenery sees new cities specific to Europe and North America and an update to its overall layout based on recent Open Street Map material.
Considering all this, X-Plane 11 is the most modern flight simulator – still a simulation, but closer to reality than ever before!
Flight Simulator X-Plane 11 (Mac/PC)
Book: Flight: The Complete History
From the Wright brothers’ first powered flight, to Concorde’s final voyage and the tragic crash of the Columbia, Flight takes you on a sky-high journey through the history of aviation.
Charting the trailblazers, jet test pilots and constant progress at the cutting-edge of technology, every aspect of flight is explored in this stunning book. Recalling memorable events – record-breaking flights, aerial warfare and hijackings – Flight is the story of how man’s dream to fly became a reality.
This new compact edition features incredible photography and breathtaking stats; the perfect bookshelf addition for everyone interested in how we took to the skies.
Flight: The Complete History of Aviation
Model: Iron Maidens’ Ed Force One Boeing 747-400
Relive the time Ed Force One came to Cardiff Airport with this Skymarks resin collectors desktop model which is 1:200 scale.
The Model is a snap-fit predecorated model that features solid injection moulded plastic construction with highly detailed graphics.
All models assemble in minutes and include a display stand and approx 35cms long with a wingspan of 33cms.
