Days Out NI
Air sports Newtownards

Ulster Flying Club

Take the controls of a light aircraft over Strangford Lough on a trial flying lesson.

1 photo
Open to allBook as a one-off — no membership needed
Check pricesBook ahead
NewtownardsNewtownards Airport, on the shores of Str…
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Club & schoolWhat it is
Check pricesCost
No fixed ageLimits
Open to allAccess
Book aheadEssential

Ulster Flying Club — Take the controls of a light aircraft over Strangford Lough on a trial flying lesson.

  • What you can do: Book a trial flying lesson — pre-flight brief plus a hands-on circuit in a Cessna 172 or Ikarus C42 microlight; full PPL training also available.
  • Who can go: Book as a one-off — no membership needed.
  • Age, weight & health: No fixed age limit; under-14s flying without an adult must call first; passengers over 83kg (13st) must call first due to aircraft limits.
  • Weather: Weather-dependent — call about an hour before; flights can be cancelled at short notice.
  • Booking: Essential — buy the lesson/voucher then phone 028 9181 3327 to book a slot.
  • Cost: Varies by aircraft and flight length — not confirmed here; check the club's current prices.
Plan your visit

Take the controls over the lough

A trial lesson starts on the ground with a pre-flight brief, your instructor showing you around the outside and inside of the aircraft and how the controls work. Then you go up — in a four-seat Cessna 172 or the two-seat Ikarus C42 microlight — and fly a circuit over the shores of Strangford Lough. It's hands-on: you get to handle the controls under the instructor's guidance, not just sit as a passenger. Anyone can book one as a one-off without joining the club, and if you're caught by it the lesson counts toward full PPL training, which the club also runs.

Trial flying lesson Cessna 172 or C42 microlight Open to the public — book ahead Weather-dependent Over 83kg? Call first Strangford Lough circuit
Good to know before you go:

Flying here runs on the weather, so slots move at short notice — take the reschedule, it’s part of the sport. Some of the sites and clubs listed on Days Out NI are for members and qualified pilots rather than walk-in visitors, so check what’s on offer before you set off. And check the age, weight and health limits before you book: they’re set by the aircraft, not by anyone being fussy.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 📱A bookingAlmost everything up here runs on a slot you’ve arranged ahead — clubs included.
  • 🧥Warm layersIt’s colder up there than it is on the ground, and colder again waiting on the airfield.
  • 🗓️A flexible dayFlights move with the wind. Keep the day loose and you’ll enjoy it far more.
  • 📷A cameraThe view is the whole point — coast, lough and mountain, all in one lap.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Type
club & school (also sells trial flights to the public)
What you can do
Book a trial flying lesson — pre-flight brief plus a hands-on circuit in a Cessna 172 or Ikarus C42 microlight; full PPL training also available
Public access
Book as a one-off — no membership needed
Age / weight / health limits
No fixed age limit; under-14s flying without an adult must call first; passengers over 83kg (13st) must call first due to aircraft limits
Booking
Essential — buy the lesson/voucher then phone 028 9181 3327 to book a slot
Weather
Weather-dependent — call about an hour before; flights can be cancelled at short notice
Cost
Varies by aircraft and flight length — not confirmed here; check the club's current prices
Location / airfield / site
Newtownards Airport, on the shores of Strangford Lough, about a mile from Newtownards town
Parking
On-site, £2 for the day, beside the runway
Address
Ulster Flying Club, 61 Portaferry Road, Newtownards, BT23 8SG
Questions

Before you go

Can anyone go, or is it members only?
Book as a one-off — no membership needed
What actually happens on the day?
Book a trial flying lesson — pre-flight brief plus a hands-on circuit in a Cessna 172 or Ikarus C42 microlight; full PPL training also available
Are there age or weight limits?
No fixed age limit; under-14s flying without an adult must call first; passengers over 83kg (13st) must call first due to aircraft limits
Do I need to book?
Essential — buy the lesson/voucher then phone 028 9181 3327 to book a slot
What happens if the weather turns?
Weather-dependent — call about an hour before; flights can be cancelled at short notice
Getting there

Ulster Flying Club is at Ulster Flying Club, 61 Portaferry Road, Newtownards, BT23 8SG. On-site, £2 for the day, beside the runway. Tap below for directions.

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Nearby

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The story

About it

Founded in 1961, the Ulster Flying Club has grown into one of the largest flying organisations in Ireland and Northern Ireland's largest flying school. It operates from Newtownards Airport on the shores of Strangford Lough, with a fleet of light aircraft and microlights covering everything from a first trial lesson through to full PPL training.

The airfield is a busy general-aviation base hosting microlights, helicopters and light aircraft, and the on-site Cloud9 restaurant is open to members, visitors and the public seven days a week with a view over the runway.