Is free will simply an illusion...?

Do unchanging physical laws that govern the universe create a strict and rigid deterministic existence or are we led by free will within this type of physical environment? But if we had absolute free will, wouldn't we be able to transcend these laws, as for instance, to defy gravity and take flight at any moment we pleased? I generally believe that free will translates into the freedom to make choices, good or bad, for one's self. However, since humans are subject to the same laws of physics because we too are mere material beings, how can we possibly claim free will when we are bound by certain physical laws? So, my question is what is your take on the topic of free will?