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Microlight Training and Air Experience Flights
Contacting Us
Telephone (Airfield): 01620 880332
Telephone (Home): 01875 820102
Write to:
EAST OF SCOTLAND MICROLIGHTS
2 STANDPRETTY
GOREBRIDGE
MIDLOTHIAN
EH23 4QG
Email:
gordon@eosm.co.uk
jill@eosm.co.uk
gordon&jill@eosm.co.uk
George can be contacted either at the airfield, or on his mobile on 07899 706533.
East of Scotland Microlights
East of Scotland Microlights is operated by Gordon Douglas, Chief Flying Instructor with over 25 years' experience of flying microlights, and is the longest established school and club in Scotland, located at East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian.
The school
The school has two full time instructors, Gordon Douglas himself and George Kerr, and is run with help from Gordon's wife, Jill, who takes bookings etc.
Gordon started flying microlights in 1980 and set up the school at East Fortune in 1990. He has a wealth of experience of all aspects of microlighting and has taken part in various national competitions over the years. As well as being an instructor, he is an examiner, engineer, aircraft inspector and check pilot.
George started flying in 1993 as a student with the school, and has been instructing with us since 1998. George is also a check pilot and tends to do many of the engine overhauls required by members. Both instructors love what they do and hope to pass that enthusiasm on to those who train or have air experience flights with them. The school operates all year, generally seven days a week, from 10am until 6pm (last lesson 4pm), light permitting.
The East of Scotland Microlights team: Gordon, Jill and George.
The club
The club has around 100 members, a welcoming and friendly atmosphere and plenty of flying activities including fly-outs, fly-ins and competitions, as well as social events. Weather permitting, members try to go somewhere most weekends, for a pub lunch in Bute, or just a hop down to the Borders. Weekends away are planned every so often too, the island of Gigha on the west coast being a firm favourite, together with Plockton and Mull.
The school and club are situated just off the A1, about 20 miles east of Edinburgh. See the location page for detailed directions with a map showing where we're located.
What is a Microlight?
A microlight is a lightweight aeroplane capable of carrying no more than two people. There are two types of microlight; one, which looks like a conventional plane, called a fixed wing or three-axis microlight and the other type, which looks like a hang-glider over a trike and is called a flexwing or weightshift machine.
Examples of the flexwing/weightshift type machines can be seen at our gallery pages.
At East of Scotland Microlights we give air experience flights and training on the flexwing/weightshift type of aircraft. They can be flown anywhere outside controlled airspace - no radio is required (though its use is actively encouraged) - and you have the freedom of the skies (with a few sensible restrictions!). If you have a radio then you can also fly in certain areas of controlled airspace. For more information about getting your radio licence, see our learning radio page.
Microlights are great fun to fly and are often seen as far more affordable than other types of powered flying. Lessons tend to be cheaper, second-hand aircraft can be available at surprisingly low prices with no compromise on safety, and microlights can be flown from fields which would be inaccessible to larger aircraft.
Safety
Microlighting is currently the safest form of sport aviation in the UK and high standards are ensured by strict regulations laid down by our association, the British Microlight Aircraft Association (BMAA), who are accountable to the CAA.
For a lot more information on microlighting see the BMAA's website.