"Once you start flying, you start thinking 'if I work for this long, how many minutes is that going to get me in the air'," the Launceston learner pilot said.

"We're trying to find every cent we can for our drug and that's flying."

Mr Grant, 18 and Damien Almond are two of about 20 students, aged between 14 and 70, who are learning to fly through the Tasmanian Aero Club.

Both fly out of Launceston Airport, but often soar all over the state, as their recreational pilot licence allow them to fly within 25 nautical miles of airports.

From Launceston, that roughly means they can fly to Batman Bridge, Deloraine, Campbell Town and out to Mathinna, behind Ben Lomond.

Both Mr Grant and Mr Almond dream of and are working towards their commercial pilot licence, with Mr Almond wanting eventually to do scenic flights or bush piloting.

Mr Grant wants to extend his skills further to work for an international airline, such as in Japan or United Arab Emirates.

Although, it isn't easy getting to that stage.

THE FIRST FLIGHT

Mr Grant's teenage drum teacher is the man who perhaps inspired the former St Patrick's College boy to become a pilot.

The drum teacher had a flight simulator in his house.

"I asked him what it was and he let me have a go," Mr Grant said. "I decided I was going to buy one and I did."

Mr Grant was 13 then and not long after went on a family holiday to New Zealand, where he was given the opportunity to fly in a Cessna 207 on the same flight path he had practised in the simulator.

"It was a magical moment and from there I knew I wanted to be a pilot," Mr Grant said.

"As soon as we got back to the caravan park (where we were staying), I was searching for flight schools . . . and I started flying later that year."

Mr Almond's started flying when he was about 12.

"I used to hang around the aero clubs and ask questions and try and get a free flight in if someone was going up," he said.

"Some of my family had been pilots.

"My Nan got up to solo stage. She had a fear of heights and wanted to conquer that, so she learnt to fly."

Mr Almond joined the Tasmanian Aero Club in 2010. Mr Grant joined the following year.

Scotch Oakburn College student Jake Cauchi scored his first flight last week - the same time as this interview - by doing work experience with the Tasmanian Aero Club.

"It's been awesome," Jake, 15, said of the week.

"I've always been interested in flying because I've got a house at Devon Hills and I always see them fly over," he said.

"I'd like to become a commercial pilot."

THE LONG HAUL

There is a saying around the aero club most people know and that's: "If it was easy, everyone would do it".

The road to becoming a pilot is a long one, especially if you want to be an airline pilot.

"You've got to put in the hours and basically spend every cent that you earn on flying," Mr Grant said.

"It's not easy. You've really got to be passionate about it to get to where you want to go."

It costs more than $100,000 for students to get to their commercial pilot licence.

To then become an airline pilot, flying international planes and the like, pilots have to obtain an Airline Transport Pilot Licence.

That licence requires 1500 hours and an additional seven exams, on top of exams for a commercial pilot.

Mr Grant worked two jobs while he was at school to help pay for his love and is now a day labourer at a fruit and vegetable warehouse.

Mr Almond is a theatre technician at the Launceston General Hospital.

Like many other aero club members, instructor Michael Steinlauf said he didn't get into flying seriously until he was older, was a qualified electrician and had owned his own business in Victoria.

"I used that (my job) to pay for flight training," Mr Steinlauf said.

Instructing for the Tasmanian Aero Club is his first official pilot job, which he started three months ago.

"I'm living my dream," he said.

"For me, it's like I don't have to work any more because what I do, I love doing.

"It's hard work, with a lot of hours and basically no money to start off with, until you get to the airlines. A GA wage is only just enough to put the food in the fridge to survive, however I think most pilots would happily fly for free if they could survive financially.

"You've still got to be on the ball because there's rules and laws and regulations and you've got to do it right, but it's a lot of fun."

THE FEELING

Mr Grant said the feeling of flying a plane was "magic".

"It's unique and that's what keeps us coming back every week.

"It's a passion plus more."

Mr Almond said "you count the days between flying".

Mr Grant added: "You sit there on the Bureau of Meteorology website looking at the weather, going 'don't change, don't change'."

However, smooth weather isn't always good.

"If you fly in smooth weather for too long, you get a bit too confident and you forget what turbulence is like," Mr Almond said.

Both men and Mr Steinlauf said the knowledge and experience that was at the aero club was phenomenal and that the club had produced a lot of success stories in the competitive industry.

"Just about every airline out there has got a pilot working for them who has come through here," Mr Steinlauf said.

"From Qantas to Cathay Pacific, to Emirates, to Air Japan."

Many Tasmanian Aero Club students have also gone on to work for the Royal Flying Doctors and Sharp Airlines.

"(Being a pilot) is an amazing job . . . you're like the golden child of the airline, so you do get that status, whether that's good or bad," Mr Steinlauf said.

"When you get there, you get the rewards and that's the fun part."

Anyone wanting to learn to fly is encouraged to visit the Tasmanian Aero Club to talk to one of the pilots.

"We would be more than happy to help with more information, and map out a path to get you in the air," Mr Steinlauf said.