Every time a bell rings, an airplane pilot laughs at the implausibility of the television show Wings. Experience the friendly skies from the air instead of your TV set with today's Groupon: for $49, you get an introductory flight lesson from the New Flyers Association (a $99 value). New Flyers is based out of Ohio State University's airport.

You'll get an hour of one-on-one time with one of New Flyers' experienced flight instructors. He or she will walk you through a pre-flight inspection of the plane and explain the basics of flight and communication with birds before you embark on a 30- to 40-minute soar into the sky. During your flight, you'll master controls and tickle the underbellies of clouds while gazing down upon a Columbus you've never seen, a motley medley of building tops and automotive traveling machines. A lesson like this could happify the holidays of a cousin who insists he was a pterodactyl in a former life or a lonesome ostrich that's always lurking around your trash compactor. Instructors are available days, evenings, and weekends.