Life and the Law
Oh dear!
Whatever the subject the barrack room lawyers chime in.
An 'Air Experience' flight is a valid lesson. End. We all need to start somewhere. The content must always be appropiate to the student. A mix and match is normal for must syllabus exercises. Aviation Authorities around the world are quite able of understanding that. A Flying Instructor is a trained, qualified and tested professional person so why on earth would any authority choose to proscecute with regard to the content of any Trial Lesson.
I introduce the Air (get them to think of water, everyone has played with plastic ducks and things in the bath) - most people have never thought much about the air and wonder how we can swim (sorry, fly) aloft in "nothing", we MUST be defying the Gods and will come a cropper someday. No wonder they are full of fear!
I explain weight (Gravity). Most have put little thought to that either and cannot understand how anything can go up in the way we do in an aeroplane for they know that they find it so difficult to go up and cannot even jump their own height.
I explain the Bernoulli effect. Most think that we ride on an invisible mystic wave like a childs very unstable Kite. I use a spoon in the flowing water from a tap in order that they both see and feel the effect and strength of lift. If you don't know this one try it. Having done this i'm able, very simply, to explain using the model, how the flaps; Elevator, Rudder and ailerons by changing the shape (like the two sides of the spoon) alter the amount and direction of lift produced at different parts of the aeroplane causing pitch, roll and yaw around the aircraft centre of gravity (don't forget to explain that too!).
I then explain how they will use each control to fly the aeroplane themselves later and then answer any questions.
I always invite family and friends into the briefing room to participate. Most find it entertaining and whatever their reasons for attending all will have learnt so much more than they knew before they arrived - value for money.
If people look bored then revise your presentation for the future. Don't patronise by leaving things out!
Total time; 20 minutes