Once you decide to take up flying, the next decision is what you want to fly.

Once you decide to take up flying, the next decision is what you want to fly.Gliders are generally towed into the air by a powered aeroplane. The main cost in gliding is the tow. If the weather is suitable (which it is on most days) you can then keep airborne, and even fly distances, by finding thermals, rising currents of air which are quite powerful enough to sustain a light aircraft.Microlights are simple light aeroplanes with one or two seats. Some have pods under an arrow shaped wing and others have the more conventional aeroplane shape with  wings and a tail. The cheapest pilot’s licence and some of the least expensive flying is with microlights.‘Group A’ aeroplanes are conventional light aeroplanes, usually with two or four seats. Helicopters are more challenging to learn on, and more expensive to operate, but are proving increasingly popular because of their greater versatility.Other options include ballooning, hang gliding, autogyros and parascending.