Alongside actually flying the aircraft, you’ll also do something called ground school. Despite the name, it’s nothing scary — it’s just the theory bits you need to know to enjoy flying safely and confidently.

What is ground school (really)?

Ground school is just the talking, explaining, drawing-on-a-whiteboard part of learning to fly.

Flying lessons teach you how to fly. Ground school explains:

What the aircraft is doing and why

How to stay safe and legal

How to plan flights without stressing yourself out

We do it alongside your flying, so things tend to make sense naturally as you go.

How we do ground school at Red Kite Airsports?

Ground school here is pretty relaxed. There’s no big classroom or exams sprung on you out of nowhere.

Most of it happens through:

One‑to‑one chats with your instructor

Briefings before or after flights

A bit of reading or online study at home

Your instructor will guide you and say things like “Have a look at this before your next lesson” or “This will make more sense once you’ve flown it.”

You don’t need to do all the theory first — flying and learning go hand in hand.

What sort of stuff will I learn?

You’ll cover a few main subjects during your training. Don’t worry — you’re not expected to be an expert straight away.

Air Law

This is basically the rules of the sky:

Where you can fly

Where you can’t

Who has right of way

What you’re responsible for as the pilot

It sounds dull, but it’s really just about avoiding trouble and flying with confidence.

AIrcraft Technical Knowledge & Principles of Flight

This is the “how does this thing stay up?” bit:

Lift, drag, thrust, and weight

Why speed matters

What causes a stall and how to avoid it

Engine and propeller

Fuel and electrics

Instruments and controls

You’ll also learn how to do proper pre‑flight checks and spot things that don’t look right.

Weather (Meteorology)

Microlights and weather go hand in hand, so this one’s important:

Wind and turbulence

Visibility and cloud

Why some days are great for flying and others really aren’t

This helps you decide when to fly — and when to stay on the ground and have a cup of tea instead.

Navigation

Navigation is about knowing where you are and not ending up somewhere you shouldn’t:

Reading aviation maps

Planning simple trips

Avoiding controlled airspace

Timing, diversions and fuel consumption

We cover old‑school map skills and modern gadgets.

Human Performance

This one’s about you:

Tiredness and stress

Illness, medication, and alcohol

Making good decisions, especially when things don’t go perfectly

Good pilots know their limits.

Yes, there are exams — but they’re very manageable. You'll need to pass an exam in each of these subjects.

They’re usually taken here at Red Kite Airsports, and only when your instructor thinks you’re ready.

You can keep flying while you’re doing exams — you just need all five passed before your licence can be issued.

How long will it all take?

There’s no stopwatch running.

Most students:

Do a bit of study between lessons

Sit exams gradually

Finish ground school well before the end of flying training

Everyone learns at their own pace, and that’s absolutely fine.

Why bother with ground school?

Because it:

Makes flying easier and safer

Helps you relax and enjoy it more

It's the law

Gives you confidence to make your own decisions

And honestly — flying is more fun when you understand what’s going on.

Final word

Ground school isn’t there to catch you out. It’s there to help.

If something doesn’t make sense, just ask. If you’re unsure, we’ll talk it through. That’s how training works at Red Kite Airsports.

Take it step by step, enjoy the learning, and most importantly — enjoy the flying