Wheelies with Wings

Almost everyone who takes to the air in a light aircraft talks about the exhilaration of flying.

For people with decreased mobility, that feeling is even more special; it provides a feeling of total liberation, of complete independence that you can't get down on mother Earth.

Knowing that you might have difficulty walking anywhere, but that you can FLY ANYWHERE opens a whole new world of adventure. If you want to learn to fly, you’ll meet a new community of enthusiasts – and maybe use it as a way of going on holiday, and seeing Australia from a different perspective.

Wheelies with Wings offers a flight training program. This includes a two-week Introduction to flying course held in Temora, NSW (5 hours drive from Sydney, 2 1/2 hours from Canberra, and 1 from Wagga Wagga).

Our purpose is to provide opportunities for people living with physical disability to participate in flying experiences. Our service aims to enable greater independence, freedom and goal achievement, as well as capacity-building skills development, and greater participation in recreation, leisure, and travel.

During the course you’ll receive ground instruction as required along with flying instruction up to a maximum of 15 hours. There are no exams and no licences required. We keep it safe, and as simple as possible! Throughout your flight experience with Wheelies you will not be allowed to fly alone. We will be right there with you from take-off to landing. You will gain useful knowledge, develop new skills and have a lot of fun. You will receive proper flying training which will be useful if you decide to continue flying or pursuing a full pilots license. The required Recreation Aviation Australia membership will be arranged prior to starting.

What to expect

Instruction by a licensed pilot (our Captain or one of his team).

Comprehensive training program provided by Merit Aviation

15 flight training hours

Certificate of Completion

Instruction for next steps to achieving independent pilots license

Cost: $5,250.00 AUD

Each participant receives:

Membership of Recreation Aviation Australia

Student Pilots License

14 day training program

Accessible accommodation

Meals

Wheelies with Wings cap and jacket

(Flights to and from Temora are not included)

Funding your experience

There are three ways to fund your flight experience:

1. Use your NDIS funds

If you are an NDIS participant, you may seek funding through your yearly NDIS plan to cover the cost of your training program. Find out more about flying and the NDIS here.

Your Capacity Building Supports budget can be used to increase Social & Community Participation. Learning to fly includes development and training to increase your skills so you can participate in community, social and recreational activities.

2. Apply for a scholarship

Wheelies With Wings offers the Suzi Duncan Scholarships for flying training courses based on a competitive selection process.

3. Self-fund

If you are self-funding you may be eligible for a partial or full scholarship. Each scholarship covers all Recreation Aviation Australia (RAA) membership, accommodation, meals, ground and flight training.