Header photo: Chrisgazzard / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
Hampshire is one of the busiest flying counties in southern England, and it has something for almost every kind of pilot. Popham Airfield, a grass airfield about six nautical miles south-west of Basingstoke, is home to Airbourne Aviation and Learn to Fly, two schools that teach microlight flying towards the NPPL as well as other licences.
Hampshire at a glance
- Main airfields: Popham, Blackbushe, Thruxton, Solent Airport (Daedalus), Farnborough
- What you can learn: Microlights, PPL and LAPL, modular commercial training, airline simulators
- Schools listed: 6 on AviatorFinds, plus 4 airfields
- Big event: Farnborough International Airshow, 17–21 July 2028
Jump to: Flight schools Airfields Choosing a school Events FAQs
In the north of the county, Blackbushe Airport near Yateley has a cluster of schools. Blackbushe Flight Training runs modular courses from the PPL right through to commercial licences, SEMET Aviation is a flying club teaching the PPL and LAPL, and Airline Experience offers Boeing 737 simulator sessions, including fear-of-flying and airline assessment preparation. Blackbushe’s postal address says Camberley, Surrey, but the airfield itself is in Hampshire.
Nearby Farnborough is better known for business jets and the Farnborough International Airshow, and it is also where FlightSafety International runs a learning centre where professional pilots train on simulators.
Flight schools in Hampshire
These are the flight schools and clubs in Hampshire listed on AviatorFinds, in alphabetical order. Tap a card to see contact details, location and what each one teaches.
All Hampshire flight schools All flight schools & clubs
Airfields in Hampshire
Visiting pilots and spectators can find out more about the county’s airfields below.
Choosing a flight school in Hampshire
- Think about where you want to end up. If you might fly for a living, ask about modular routes at Blackbushe. For relaxed weekend flying, a microlight or LAPL course at Popham can cost less.
- Visit before you book. Look at the aircraft, meet the instructors and ask how many students they are training at the moment.
- Ask what the price includes. Aircraft hire, instructor time, landing fees, ground school and exam fees are often charged separately.
- Start with a trial lesson. It is the easiest way to find out whether a school and an instructor suit you.
New to flying? Start with what it’s like to train for a Private Pilot Licence in the UK, how to become a private pilot: lessons learned and beginner tips and runway markings, signs and lighting explained.
Run a flying school in Hampshire that isn’t listed yet? You can add your listing here.
Aviation events in and near Hampshire
Upcoming events in Hampshire and neighbouring counties:
- 7 Feb 2027The Threshold Military Aviation Fair 2027 – Village Hotel, Swindon, UK
- 17–21 Jul 2028Farnborough International Airshow 2028 – Farnborough, Hampshire, UK
Learning to fly: guides from our blog
Frequently asked questions
Where are the flight schools in Hampshire?
Most are at two airfields: Popham, near Basingstoke, and Blackbushe, near Yateley in the north-east of the county. Farnborough has professional simulator training rather than first lessons.
Can I learn to fly a microlight in Hampshire?
Yes. Airbourne Aviation and Learn to Fly both teach microlight flying at Popham Airfield.
Which licence should I train for?
A PPL is the most flexible licence, while the LAPL and microlight NPPL suit people who mostly fly for fun in the UK. The UK Civil Aviation Authority explains each licence and its medical requirements.
Official sources
More flight school area guides
- Flight Schools in Cornwall: Newquay, Bodmin, Land’s End and gliding at Perranporth.
- Flight Schools in Devon: Exeter Airport, Dunkeswell and gliding at North Hill.
- Flight Schools in Dorset: Bournemouth Airport and the hilltop grass airfield at Compton Abbas.
- Flight Schools in London: Elstree, Biggin Hill, Redhill, Denham and more around the M25.
- Flight Schools in Scotland: Perth, Glasgow, Prestwick, Fife, Inverness and Aberdeen.
- Flight Schools in Arizona: Chandler, Falcon Field in Mesa and Stellar Airpark.
- Flight Schools in Hawaii: Honolulu, Kalaeloa, Dillingham and Kahului on Maui.
See every area on our Area Guides and Flight Schools by Area pages, or browse all flight schools, clubs and associations in the directory.