It was Mark Blake's first time in the cockpit of a microlight aircraft, alongside instructor Steve Clarehugh.
As they were taking off from Eshott Airfield near Felton, pilot Mr Clarehugh spotted his neighbour's caravan being taken and gave chase.
Three people were arrested in Morpeth and a woman was cautioned.
Mr Clarehugh and his student, who were flying in a Pegasus Quik microlight, shadowed the caravan being towed by a van from 1,500ft in the air down the A1.
They tipped off police who met the suspects with four patrol cars.
Returned undamaged
A police spokesman confirmed that three arrests were made following the chase on Saturday including a 57-year-old woman who was cautioned for handling stolen goods.
No further action was taken against two men aged 34 and 32, but the inquiry is continuing, police said.
Mr Clarehugh said: "It was very exciting - we had such a fantastic view of what was happening from up where we were. They had no idea we were tracking them.
"The student pilot I was with, and myself, just screamed with pleasure."
Chief Supt Graham Pears, area commander for Northumberland, said: "Clearly the assistance given by Mr Clarehugh and Mr Blake was excellent and they are to be commended for their actions which led to three people being arrested and the caravan being recovered by police."
The caravan was returned undamaged to its owner.
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