There are few freedoms as liberating as being able to fly, which is why humans spent millennia inventing the airplane and why penguins are so very, very bitter. Exceed evolutionary shortcomings with this Groupon.

Choose from Three Options

$145 for two 1-hour introductory flights (a $378 value)

During a preflight briefing, an instructor introduces participants to the inner workings and controls of a Cessna 172. After manning the aircraft for takeoff, the seasoned pilot passes the controls to students so they can get hands-on experience performing basic flight maneuvers as they soar over wooded landscapes and rivers (fuel fees of up to $45 not included). During the briefing and flight, pilots field questions related to physics and the principles of flight, such as ascending, descending, turning, and navigating.

$689 for 10 hours of flight in a Cessna 182 (a $1,150 value)

Already-licensed pilots needing a refresher can slip into the cockpit with an instructor, honing basic maneuvers and more advanced techniques. They may also use their flight time for recreational purposes, such as self-guided tours and special trips. Fuel costs are not included (currently $18/month).

$2,999 for 50 hours of flight in a Cessna 172 (a $4,450 value)

Over the course of six to nine months, aspiring pilots glide through the skies and master the concepts of flight, applying their time toward an FAA pilot certification. After 20 hours with a certified flight instructor, students can be cleared to fly solo. Though not included in this deal, customers can supplement their flight with the Jeppesen Part 141 textbook system, which supplants the traditional system of trial and error. Fuel costs are not included (currently $18/month).

A.T.C. Flight Training Center

A.T.C. Flight Training Center has guided fledgling pilots through the skies with FAA-certified instruction since 1991, emphasizing good judgment, quick decision making, and practical skill. With approval from the Secret Service and FBI, and permission slips signed by their mothers, the seasoned instructors teach their flight courses in an airborne classroom high above the Potomac River. They lay out a clear path for students to earn FAA private-pilot certification through classroom lectures, hands-on flight instruction, and the Jeppesen ground and flight syllabus. Flight lessons aboard the center's two Cessna 172 planes cover basic flight techniques, such as fending off territorial weather balloons, before moving on to jaunts to other airports, night flying, and more advanced skills. 

Already experienced pilots can instead embark on leisurely trips in a Cessna 182, outfitted with GPS navigation and autopilot. At the center's shop, staffers further outfit pilots with headsets, charts, and approach plates, as well as ASA training materials, aviation books, and films about flight.