Fly a Motorglider in Devon: Handle the Controls

Motorgliders can glide without the engine running, which is why they're so quiet you'll hear the wind.

A 30-minute motorglider flight over Devon with a fully qualified flying instructor who can teach you to handle the controls. You'll fly along the northern edge of the Blackdown Hills, passing Culmstock Beacon, Wellington Monument, and the disused RAF airfields of Culmhead and Upottery. The choice to fly the aircraft yourself or relax and photograph the countryside is yours. A pre-flight briefing prepares you either way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Motorglider flight over Devonshire countryside

• Enjoy 30 minute motorglider flight
• Receive flying instruction from pilot
• Try flying the motorglider yourself
• Relax and view Devon from aircraft
• Take aerial photographs through canopy
• Fly along northern edge of Blackdown Hills
• Pass Culmstock Beacon fire hut
• View Wellington Monument obelisk
• Pass former RAF Culmhead Airfield
• Pass former WW2 RAF Upottery airfield

The Experience

You arrive at the airfield for a pre-flight briefing, then climb into a motorglider with a long-wing design that makes it stable and efficient in the air. The bubble canopy and sliding side windows give you an unobstructed view: ideal if you want to photograph the landscape below. The aircraft is quiet enough that you'll hear ambient sound, and smooth enough that you can focus on what's passing underneath rather than the ride itself.

Once airborne, you'll fly along the northern edge of the Blackdown Hills. Culmstock Beacon, a stone hut built in 1588 as a signal fire to warn of the Spanish Armada, sits on the ridge below. Wellington Monument, a 175-foot obelisk completed in 1820, rises from the countryside nearby. You'll also pass over Culmhead and Upottery, both former RAF stations from World War II, their runways still visible from above.

If you want to take the controls, your pilot, a fully qualified flying instructor, will walk you through handling the aircraft. You can learn the basics of flight and, if you're comfortable, help fly back to the airfield. If you'd rather stay in the passenger seat and take photographs or simply watch the landscape unfold, that's equally valid. The motorglider's efficiency means it can stay aloft without engine power, so there's no pressure to perform. The experience adapts to what you want from it.

What’s included

• 30-minute motorglider flight over the Devonshire countryside.
• pre-flight briefing.
• optional flying instruction from a fully qualified instructor.
• unobstructed views of the Blackdown Hills, Culmstock Beacon, Wellington Monument, and former RAF airfields.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditions

Operated by Southwest Motor Gliders

Is this one for you?The 30 minutes leaves room for other activities in your day, but it's long enough to fly the full route over the Blackdown Hills and WW2 sites and, if you choose, to receive instruction and handle the controls yourself. Pick this if you want to try flying without committing to a longer lesson or a full pilot course.

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Top questions

Can I actually fly the motorglider myself, or is it just a passenger ride?

You can take the controls if you wish. Your pilot is a fully qualified flying instructor and will provide tuition on handling the aircraft. Many people do fly part of the journey, including potentially helping to bring the motorglider back to the airfield, but it's entirely optional, and you can choose to relax and observe instead.

What will I see during the 30-minute flight?

You'll fly along the northern edge of the Blackdown Hills, passing Culmstock Beacon (a 16th-century fire beacon on the ridge), Wellington Monument (a 175-foot obelisk), and the disused RAF airfields at Culmhead and Upottery. The bubble canopy gives you unobstructed views for photography.

Is the motorglider safe if the engine stops?

Yes. Motorgliders are designed to glide efficiently without the engine running, which is why they have long wings and are considered extremely safe aircraft. The quiet operation you'll experience is partly because the engine doesn't need to work as hard as in conventional planes.

Can I bring a camera to take aerial photographs?

Yes. The large bubble canopy with sliding side windows is specifically designed to offer unobstructed views for photography. You'll have plenty of opportunity to capture the landscape below during the flight.

What happens before the flight?

You'll receive a pre-flight briefing to prepare you for the experience. This covers safety, what to expect, and (if you're interested) an introduction to the controls you may handle during the flight.