how much and other stuff
Hi K77,
I have a couple of points to add:
1/ hang around the airfield and make yourself useful. You will learn, and almost certainly you'll get opportunities to fly - in the back or in the front - without having to pay. It's unlikely that you'll be able to log the time, but that doesn't matter. All it is costing you is your time and a smile, and possible a pint (not for you, obviously) at the end of the day.
2/ there aren't a lot of accidents. That's why they are newsworthy.
If there were over 3000 people killed in the air (in UK) each year as there are on the roads, then
(a) no-one would fly anywhere in anything
(b) if (a) wasn't the resultant then the forums and papers wouldn't bother reporting it.
And I agree with everyone who has said that there's nothing like it. I've been flying for 27 years, the last 16 in helicopters, and I still get that boy-ish grin every time I lift off, even after 2,500 hours.
Big Ls.