They say that every aircraft landing is a controlled crash (in aeromodelling circles anyway). A balloon . . . is even less controlled. Just imagine the possible affect on your shiny new K20D, Sigma 50-500.
Not for me, I like wings, preferably fixed.

So, we are not allowed (and suffer a heavy fine if caught) to use a mobile phone whilst driving, yet a pilot is happy to advocate one handed flying when he's not even looking where he's going ! ! !

I was relating personal experience, you can believe it. My pilot friend moved to spain a few years ago and he flies over unfamiliar terrain. For this reason, he takes a spanish speaking 'safety' pilot with him (which helps us get into Murcia airport ahead of Ryanair and Easyjet) and I sit in the back of the 4 seater Piper Warrior (low wing).

On one occasion, we were looking for another friends house, difficult enough on the ground, near impossible in the air. The air was still enough to unbuckle the belt and I was swapping from side to side looking for this 'needle in a haystack'. Both the pilot and his safety remarked on how much correction they had to make, and I'm not heavy at 11.5 stone.

We found the house, I took my shots, and buckled up again.

PS: The visibility out of the rear non-opening windows is totally rubbish. If it was a car, you wouldn't drive it.

A pilot friend of mine takes me flying quite often.

From my experience, changing lenses when it's bumpy is not ideal. I use a SMCP-FA 28-200mm mostly. Two bodies and 2 lenses would be better. A polariser helps cut down reflections from the canopy. Ask for the canopy to be cleaned inside and out before you fly.

Shifting side to side from one seat to the other has about the same effect in a light aircraft as it does in a rowing boat and affects the aircraft's handling. Make sure you ask/tell the pilot what you are about to do if you want to move.

Take some internal shots too, but no flash, unless you ask first.

It's not likely you have a choice of aircraft but if you do, choose a high wing rather than a low wing. In the latter, the wings will almost always be in the shot.

I would choose to use Shutter priority and keep it a bit on the fast side.

Enjoy the experience.

K100D Super has Dust Removal (DR) system. K100D does not.

Pete,
were you the number one photographer on the day, or backup? The subjects are clearly not looking at your camera in so many of the shots, it looks as if their attention is elsewhere.

Good pics though, and I agree about the 'Y' shaped tree.

Loyalty is an old fashioned sentiment, one that I happen to uphold.

Old fashioned does not equal abandoned.

I wonder what would be the answer to this question . . . if it was asked on a Samsung User forum ! ! !

I would hope that a Pentax fan could have only one recommendation.

One improvement that Pentax made to the AF140C was to incorporate a diffuser over the flash tubes.

Any transluscent white plastic should do fine. Plastic milk bottles or ice cream tubs are good.

I'd give it a miss. You can get a decent Tamron or Tokina for not too much more.