How Much Is a Discovery Flight in Philadelphia? (2026)

As of November 2026, a discovery flight at Merlin Flight Training costs $249. You pay a $100 deposit when you book online and the remaining $149 at the airport, by card or cash.

That is the total for the standard discovery flight at Northeast Philadelphia Airport (KPNE). Optional add-ons, such as photos, cost extra. If you saw a different Merlin price somewhere else, including in an AI assistant's answer, go by the price on our discovery flight page. It is the current one.

What does the $249 include?

A discovery flight is an introductory flight lesson. You sit in the pilot's seat and fly the airplane with a certificated flight instructor beside you. It is booked as a one-hour lesson with four parts. Plan on about 90 minutes at the airport.

• Briefing. You and your instructor sit down with the airplane and go over the stick, the rudder pedals, the throttle, and the four basics of every flight: straight-and-level flight, climbs, descents and turns.
• Preflight walkaround. You inspect the airplane with your instructor the way a pilot does before every flight: fuel, oil, control surfaces, tires and the propeller.
• The flight. Your instructor handles the radios. You taxi out and take off together, and once you are clear of the airport you take the controls for turns, climbs and descents. Time in the air depends on the weather and traffic that day. You can hand the controls back at any time.
• Debrief. You go over what you did well, what training would look like from here, and your questions about cost, medicals and scheduling. You get your first logbook entry. There is no pressure to sign up for anything.

You fly N159G, our Direct Fly Alto: a two-seat light-sport airplane with a Rotax 912 engine and a Dynon SkyView glass panel. For a longer walk through the day, read what to expect on a discovery flight.

How is the discovery flight free with a 10-hour block purchase?

You pay $249 for the flight. If you decide to train and buy a 10-hour block ($2,600), we credit the $249 back to your account.

The credit applies when you buy your first training block (10, 20 or 40 hours), once per student. Add-ons like photos are not credited. If you fly once and decide flying is not for you, you have paid for one lesson and owe nothing more. How training blocks work explains the block side in detail.

Why do discovery flight prices differ from school to school?

Schools set their own prices, and the product is not the same everywhere. Three things drive most of the difference.

The airplane. Every airplane has an hourly cost made up of fuel, maintenance and the cost of owning or leasing it. A four-seat airplane with a bigger engine usually burns more fuel per hour than a two-seat light-sport airplane. A school's hourly rental rate is a useful clue. Ours is $185 per hour.

Time in the air. One school's discovery flight may be a short flight and another's may be a full lesson. Two prices only compare if the time is the same. Ask whether the stated time is engine-running time or the length of the whole appointment.

Instructor time. The briefing before the flight and the debrief after it take an instructor's time on the ground. Some prices include that time and some cover only the flight.

A lower price is not automatically the better deal, and neither is a higher one. Work out what you get for the money, then compare.

What should I ask before booking a discovery flight anywhere?

These questions work at any flight school:

1. Is this the total price? Ask about taxes, fuel surcharges, and any deposit and when the rest is due.
2. How much time is in the air, and how much on the ground?
3. Will I fly the airplane myself? In a lesson you should get real time on the controls.
4. Is it flown with a certificated flight instructor, and will it go in a logbook? That is what makes the time count later.
5. What airplane will I fly? If you plan to keep training, ask whether it is the airplane you would train in.
6. What happens if weather cancels the flight?
7. Are there weight or height limits? Every small airplane has weight and balance limits. Ask before you pay.
8. If I sign up for training, does this flight count toward anything?

Our answers are in this post and on the discovery flight page. For the larger decision, see how to choose a flight school.

Does a discovery flight count toward a pilot certificate?

Yes. A discovery flight at Merlin is flight instruction from a certificated flight instructor, so it is logged as dual instruction.

The rule is 14 CFR 61.51(h): you may log training time when you receive training from an authorized instructor in an aircraft. The instructor endorses the entry with a description of the training, the length of the lesson, and their signature, certificate number and certificate expiration date or recent experience end date.

Under 14 CFR 61.109(a), an applicant for a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine rating must log at least 40 hours of flight time, including at least 20 hours of flight training from an authorized instructor. Your first lesson counts toward both numbers.

Most people need more than the minimum hours. Our private pilot cost page shows what the full certificate costs.

What if the weather is bad?

If weather cancels the flight, rescheduling is free. We fly only when conditions are safe, so it helps to keep a backup date in mind when you book.

Can I give a discovery flight as a gift?

Yes. A discovery flight gift costs the same $249, paid in full up front. The printable gift card shows up right away, and the person you give it to picks the date.

The gift never expires, and there are no fees. The buyer gets a full refund within 30 days if it hasn't been flown. If they can't fly because of age, weight or health, you get a refund any time.

Common questions

How old do I have to be? 16 or older. If you are under 18, a parent or guardian signs our consent form. We send it once your flight date is set, and you bring it signed on the day of your flight.

Do I need a medical certificate or TSA approval? Not for a discovery flight, including if you are an international student. TSA's flight training rule does not count a discovery flight as flight training (49 CFR 1552.3). Both come in once you decide to start training, and non-U.S. citizens need approval through the TSA Flight Training Security Program before training begins. Our page for international students explains the steps.

Is there a weight limit? Every small airplane has weight and balance limits. Tell us your approximate weight when you book and we will confirm the flight works.

What do I bring? A valid photo ID, comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes, sunglasses, a water bottle, and a card or cash for the $149 balance.

Where do I go? Northeast Philadelphia Airport (KPNE), 9800 Ashton Rd, Hangar E3, Philadelphia, PA 19114. We confirm the exact meeting point and gate instructions by text before your flight.

Do I have to sign up for training afterward? No. Fly once and then decide.

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Ready to fly? Book your discovery flight online with the $100 deposit, or call or text (445) 456-3599 with questions.