Not a straightforward sort of flight (6)
I believe the answer is:
spiral
'flight' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?
I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for spiral that I've seen before include "Scandalise" , "New Zealand native" , "Corkscrew shape (6)." , "Sir, pal winds in continuous loops" , "Winding curve" .)