My son 13-year-old like to do a lot of adventures. So we surprised him with a Blood Pumpin thrill ride " FLY YOUR PLANE " I called him to come home right away and said that he was still GOLFING with his Dad. I just said okay then I will cancel our " THE AFTERBURNER FLIGHT ". The moment he heard it, I heard him yelling, Dad packed it up, mom called. They came home to hug me and says let's go, mom. So we arrive at the place in EL CAJON SAN DIEGO and saw a lot of planes but we were instructed to wait outside for safety reasons because there were a lot of planes coming in and out and only get in when a PILOT comes to pick us up. we CHOSE the FLIGHT called .... "AFTERBURNER FLIGHT " ... it's a flight you can "FLY YOUR PLANE", take control and Maneuver it with the supervision of course of a Highly trained Pilot. When it's my son's turn to fly, we are greeted by a very nice Pilot. The FIRST thing we did was go to the briefing room with our Pilot where we watch the Safety and Rules while Flying. I was too nervous while my son was getting ready and my son was just relaxed and have this big smile like he is so excited about it. We watch them start flying out until they just disappeared from our sight. A couple of hours later they came back and my son start talking about the different kinds of Exhibitions they did. Some examples of what they did were: *The inside loop *The outside loop *The Aileron Roll *The Tailside *Stall Turn * Falling Leaf My son was very Happy about his flight and says: "BEST EXPERIENCE to FLY a PLANE" and did "Stunts" in the air. We HIGHLY RECOMMEND this company to everyone! Also, do not ever leave this place without Purchasing your FLIGHT PHOTOS and VIDEOS. It's all worth it! read more

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OMG... what an amazing experience from start to finish. This entire team is outstanding in everything they do. From the briefing through the maneuvers, you know you're in good hands... even if they're your own in the Afterburner experience. Don't forget to add on the dogfight. You will be happy you did. read more

I'm always searching for new experiences, so for my birthday I figured flying in a stunt plane should be interesting. I chose the recon program just because I didn't want to be up there too long in case I got nauseous. My pilot was Sara "DareDevil" Velez . This girl was a badass. She made the experience fun and exciting. I can't say enough good things about how great she did. From beginning to end; she made this a great memory with her great attitude, sense of humor, and professionalism. I will definitely be recommending this to all my friends and family. Pro tip: My flight was at 1:00PM so I thought not eating anything would be a smart play and that I'd be less likely to vomit. Well I didn't vomit but the feeling after the flight when your gut has had nothing but your stomach acid swishing around; is very unpleasant. Luckily my wife could drive me home, otherwise I may have needed a couple hours to settle down before even thinking about taking the wheel. In hindsight, I probably should've laid down a bread base the morning of so that my stomach was prepped for the endeavor. Regardless, that was part of the experience as well and honestly I think it's kind of cool and funny at the same time because it made it that much more unforgettable. read more

Sky Combat Ace | San Diego - Very cool plane. - Flight Instruction Near Me - El Cajon, California

Had an absolutely amazing experience flying with this company! Absolutely worth every penny!!! The pilots were very friendly and fun. The plains are fast and looked after top notch. Very safe environment, absolutely at no point that I had felt unsafe or scared, definitely a ton of laughing. More ppl should try this! The views were amazing. I mean what's better then seeing all the beaches, flying low to water, then going over Balboa Park and next to downtown San Diego.! I am one happy gal read more

Sky Combat Ace | San Diego - Parking plane - Flight Instruction Near Me - El Cajon, California

Great experience..... definitely a bucket list item people need to try.... It diffenitly is a bit pricey so be prepared.... especially the add ons like the video... was expecting $50 and up like I spend on Nascar ride along... but these start at $299.00 to over a grand depending on what you want. So just keep in mind there is a price shock.... Other than that the pilots are wonderful. They explain everything to you.. the maneuvers you will be trying ect. The experience was totally different that was I thought... was expecting the roller coast sensation with your stomach in you troat. I did not experience this not once.... you are pulling so many G's when you do anything there is nothing like that even when you are doing a flat spin upside down tumbling to earth.... totally crazy experience..... and also my 10 year old son who is at a loss for words on his flight loved it and said he would diffenitly do it again... The only complaint I would have to if you are tall like me at 6'5" .. trying to keep your feet off pedal and knee off the throttle is a bit challenging but doable so if you are tall dont get discouraged.... also dont get scared when they go over how to jump out of plane and pull your parachute if anything goes wrong....LOL.... my wife was shaking when my son took off and watching for them to come back nervously.... lol... didn't really think she was shaking when I left.... LMAO..... Overall spend the money and do this.... read more

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Flight was cool and exciting, the instructors were awesome and friendly. But I highly recommend you do not pay for the videos, they never sent my video, my brothers video or my nephew. We paid for the 500$ video package and til this day no video. Our flight was June 10 and today is July 28. Enjoy the flight but don't get suckered into the video package. read more

Service - Goes beyond 5 stars. Nate and crew had created a welcoming experience with overview, refreshments and an open bar in their hanger. He asked what kind of intensity I wanted between 1(mellow) and 10(rollercoaster), I asked for a 12 because it should be more intense. He said that was possible :) Experience - Holy cow! The adrenaline kicked in once Tye had performed a 360 no scope... upside down in the plane. We went between -2Gs and 6Gs and with Top Gun package ($700 30minutes), he let me fly the plane to do aerobatics and try to blackout myself. As always he had my back, ready to take over just incase. I felt safe as we were performing high G maneuvers at higher altitudes. For pricing, there are numerous coupon codes (up to -20%) out there. They may cover the cost of the photo / video package. And picks or it ain't real! There's a video package ($159) that's not shown. Definitely worth! read more

Sky Combat Ace | San Diego - Hanger pics - Flight Instruction Near Me - El Cajon, California

The experience I had with this place was great. However, I honestly don't think this "flying experience" was definitely worth $1k. I purchased the "After Burner" package with BASIC aerobatic maneuvers. They advertised in the Web that the time duration for all packages will be approximately 3 HOURS long. The whole flight that I experienced was definitely only about 20 minutes at most. Which was very disappointing and almost felt scammed. Further more, we were not able to have our phones and anything thing in our personal bodies while in flight. The video package that they offer was outrageously expensive for its editing. The cheapest one was $299! Which was totally separate from the actually flight itself that was nearly $1k. T I am just very disappointed with the fact that they falsely advertised the time duration of their packages. Not worth the money if I am only going to have fun for 20 minutes. However, the people were very professional and friendly. I made this review because the company did not completely inform the customers on their website that the experience will be so quick and have falsely advertised it's duration. I think lying to your customers is very unprofessional, please fix your information. read more

Sky Combat Ace | San Diego - The photo states 3 hour approximate flight time, when it was truly only about 20-30 minutes. False advertisement. - Flight Instruction Near Me - El Cajon, California

BEST. EXPERIENCE. EVER. Tiffany and the team at SCA were an absolute joy to work with and provided me and my group of 15 with an experience we will never forget! As the coordinator of our group incentive, I was tasked with finding an exciting and motivating experience for our sales teams to achieve. After doing some research online and seeing the great reviews from their Vegas and San Diego locations, I was convinced SCA would provide the perfect activity, and my expectations were still blown away! Tiffany helped coordinate every moment of our day, from catering the lunch, to drafting the itinerary, to providing games on site for pilot downtime! Each of us experienced the TOP GUN package (plus some add-ons) which afforded us 30+ minutes of flight time filled with epic dogfights, ridiculous acrobatics and a low level bombing run! It was AMAZING! And, when we weren't in the air, there was plenty of stuff to do in the hanger (which is also AWESOME!). We enjoyed the movie TOP GUN on repeat, watched GoPro footage from the flights and munched on the snacks and drinks provided by SCA. THE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE WAS INSANE!!! It's no joke when they say, "you fly the plane"! I highly recommend this experience for everyone. The pilots are absolute pros, which helped put our nerves at ease. Tex, the founder and owner, was there to fly us around, as well. Tex and the other pilots have a TON of experience and they are absolute aerial magicians. They had us flying the plane like pros in minutes and then took over to pull off aerial stunts I'd only ever seen on TV or at the airshows! The G forces that these planes pull is stupid... just think, right now reading this you are experiencing 1 G... on a roller coaster you maybe get to 4 Gs?... I HIT 8Gs and passed out... it was EPIC! Bottom line, you have not lived until you've experienced Sky Combat Ace. I've been skydiving, base jumping, etc. I can confidently say, this is one of the coolest experiences I've ever had. In fact, I'm pursuing my pilot's license now thanks to my experience. My friends are all jealous and impressed, and I can't stop showing everyone the pictures and videos of me flying!! read more

Sky Combat Ace | San Diego - Flight Instruction Near Me - El Cajon, California

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Gave my dad the Top Gun experience for fathers day. He loved it!! I am officially his favorite daughter now. We had the whole family with us and we were able to hang out in the lounge while he was out flying. Great atmosphere for groups! They have complimentary snacks, sodas, beer and a full bar with a TV playing Top Gun...of course! Our pilot was totally professional and made the day extra special for the entire family. Excellent customer service!! Beautiful facility! Just an AMAZING experience from beginning to end! read more

Sky Combat Ace | San Diego - Pre flight - Flight Instruction Near Me - El Cajon, California

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I did the Afterburner, with added aerobatics and extended flight. Overall, the experience was about what I expected, which is GOOD thing! I had read the reviews and was pretty pumped up, and the experience did not disappoint. After arrival and signing waivers and making payment, we went over safety procedures. My pilot was Will, and he explained how to eject and how to use the parachute. He also made it clear that safety is first and we did not plan on needing the 'chutes! Getting into the plane was a trip, it is a bit tight in there. I must say that I was not uncomfortable though. Seats are actually comfy, just getting in and out is a little tricky. I was a bit nervous but figured if old geezers and teenagers can do it, so can I! Flight aerobatics and maneuvers were a BLAST. Taking the stick is pretty amazing since a very small movement of the stick can translate to some pretty high G forces. You feel very powerful! However, it is up to you, you can fly as gently as you want, and you will be getting lots of support from the pilot, encouraging you and giving feedback. We did aileron spins, loops, barrel rolls, hammerheads, tailslides, tailspins (not inverted, that is where I drew the line!), and some sort of "tumbling" maneuver that sounded scary, and was trippy. The pilot takes their cues from you though, they won't do anything more than just what you want. Anyways, then we did some sightseeing. The San Diego bay was socked in with fog, so we went flying around some mountains. I swear I could reach out and touch them at times. We did "bombing run" and the pilot really when to great lengths to make it fun and exciting. Will said he was going to land "like a fighter pilot" and did a really tight turn on a dime to put us on the runway. Total flight was around 40 minutes I think. I was just starting to feel slightly queasy, but only very slightly. Overall, it was something I will never forget. I can't wait to see the vids. Try this, and don't skim, get the extras. You won't regret it. If I get another bonus next year, I'm going again! Don't forget to eat a medium sized meal maybe 1-2 hours before you go, and drink plenty fluids. it will cut down on any stomach issues. read more

Sky Combat Ace | San Diego - Some last minute instructions! - Flight Instruction Near Me - El Cajon, California

What a great experience to gift to our dad. From start to finish the crew was warm, welcoming, and FUN! My dad had a huge smile from ear to ear. He usually gets motion sickness but even with all the maneuvers he made it without using the bag. Thank you so much "Biscuit" and "Crotch" for the great experience. Definitely recommended for any thrill seeker or anyone just looking for a great time. read more

This was a birthday gift from my wife. Totally awesome experience. My pilot was Axle and he's an ace, he was great!! Sorry I don't remember the name of the second pilot who greeted and showed us around but he was also great, instantly made us feel at home. We were treated so well, the whole experience from arrival, to orientation, to flight was perfect. Hoping to go back soon!! Thanks guys... read more

My 12 year old had a blast with Josh! Everyone was very thorough with safety precautions and I especially liked how they took as much time as needed to explain everything in detail. I highly recommend Sky Combat Ace for anybody with a high interest in planes or even for the thrill of it. My son cannot stop talking about all the super cool and fun aerobatics Josh did! Thank you so much Sky Combat Ace!!! read more

Truly a fantastic experience. Sky Combat Ace made my brothers surprise birthday party what he now calls "the best birthday of his life". Not only was the flight experience truly incredible for him (never seen him so happy climbing out of the plane), but the pilot Tex and his assistant provided a thoroughly fun and professional customer experience. I've never met someone like Tex who combines a fun laid back persona while also clearly being in the top .1 percent of pilots flying today to this degree. Somehow both fun and an extreme professional at the same time. A true master of the skies. My entire family considers ourselves fortunate simply to have met him. We will be back soon! The whole family wants to try it out now! THANKS SKY COMBAT ACE! WORTH EVERY PENNY! read more

Seriously, if you are an adrenaline junkie and you don't get motion or airsick, if you can't find a rollercoaster that thrills you enough, here is your e ticket ride. There is NOTHING MORE EXCITING OR EXHILARATING! Nothing scary about it, just pure bliss! Do this at least once in your life, but be prepared to want to do it again and again! read more

What an awesome experience! First class customer service from start to finish. Our SCA team, Tiffany and Pete, treated us like royalty. The hangar and lounge amenities spoiled us rotten. The airplanes are gorgeous, with performance handling that blew me away. The flight was incredible and Pete piloted the perfect balance of professionalism, machismo, adrenaline, and fun. Loops, rolls, spins, hammerhead, slides --- Pete flew them all then coached me through flying them myself. The time flew by almost as fast as we flew low level through the mountains on a simulated bombing run. And the followup from the video team was incredibly fast. Can't believe this kind of world-class aerobatic fun is only a short drive from downtown San Diego. I highly recommend SCA to anyone searching for an absolutely unique, heart-pounding experience! PS --- buy the video, it's a chunk of change but you'll be so glad you did read more

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Best experience of a lifetime! The pilot was very knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. I never once felt unsafe. Perfect for the adrenaline junkie! read more

Sky Combat Ace | San Diego - Beautiful! - Flight Instruction Near Me - El Cajon, California

The Top Gun experience is hands down one of the most INSANELY AWESOME things I have ever done! I was scared to go at first, but the pilots really made me feel like they knew what they were doing and they addressed all concerns before we even got to the hangar. These guys know what they're doing and they do it well! I felt like I was in good hands the whole time and they're excellent teachers. I can't tell you how great the experience was and I can't stop bragging to all my friends how awesome I felt flying. It was such an awesome feeling when I got the controls in my hands! The loops and spins were crazy and I can't believe how easily the plane handled. I actually got to do my very own barrel roll during the flight! I am definitely coming back to these guys the next time I need my adrenaline fix! SCA is the best group of pilots and trainers you could ask for! read more

If I were rating the experience you get at Sky Combat Ace, I would definitely give it 5 stars, however we were ripped off. I bought two experiences for my husband and father through viator for Christmas. I thought I was buying the air combat package which allows the flyers the combat each other in the sky, however, when we got there, Tiffany told us that no, I didn't purchase that package, but just the recon package in which the flyer is taken on a tour of the coast and then some aerobatics. Since both men wanted a chance to fly the plane we upgraded to the Top Gun experience. Tiffany was very thorough showing us exactly what they could expect for the double experience. She showed us a map and the exact route they would fly, and then explained all the aerobatics they would be able to perform. But instead of the 27 minutes in the air Tiffany said they would get, they only 15! We were very surprised when they landed 15 minutes after take off (I had taken video of the take off, it time-stamped). I tried to explain to Tex the owner that they were supposed to get BOTH packages that we paid for, but he got very defensive and rude and completely shut me down and wouldn't listen to a word I said. I tried to talk to Tiffany, but she said that Tex was the owner and was the person in charge. We were charged $466.67 for an experience we never got. Additionally, my husband gave them a $111.00 tip before we got the experience, one Tex definitely did NOT deserve. Tiffany and Scott were great but had limitation because Richard "Tex" Coe runs the show. So, to sum up, the experience is great but make sure you get the experience you pay for and don't let "Tex" rip you off! read more

Best place yet!!! Tiffany and Pete are nothing shy of AMAZING!!!! Tiffany is A*++++++ will be back again! Spend the $$ and fly and spend the $$ on the video!!!! read more

These folks are champions at giving you the time of your life. You will fly, flip, loop, roll, scream around, stall, and fall out of the sky like a plane that was shot down. Most of these maneuvers you will do yourself! There isn't anything comparable. When you are pulling 10 Gs and your eyes are blacking out, only seeing through a small peep hole of light before consciousness returns, you will know you made the right decision. read more

The flight was canceled and the best way this pilot thought to contact me was by text! BY TEXT!!! He did not try to call me. I live in California where texting and driving is ILLEGAL. Then when I called they said he had gotten a hold of me. Texting me and not getting a response in not getting a hold of me. This, in my opinion, is very unprofessional. And I'm not sure how often they service their planes if the day of the flight there is a low voltage warning so they have to cancel on you at the last minute. In conclusion be warned about Sky Combat Ace. They said they'll refund me but they didn't give me a specific date. read more

My wife gave me the Sky Combat Ace experience as birthday present. We did the dogfighting experience and squared off against each other. I have been skydiving twice and that does not even compare to the intensity of this experience. With that being said, I felt safe the entire time. Both the pilots (Tex and Sphinx) are world class instructors and have experience flying stunt planes and fighter jets in the military. The best part of the experience was going head to head with someone. The pilots get you into position and then they give you the controls for the whole entire dog fight. During this time they are constantly giving you instruction and you're able to get a feel for the planes. It honestly feels like a video game and the planes are super responsive. I would recommend getting a video as it is fun to relive some of the adrenaline filled moments of the experience. The facial expressions are priceless too! read more

The best experience of my life. "Text" aka Rick, the CEO/pilot, is extremely friendly, knows his craft, and gives you the best time of your life. I love love roller coasters, and this blew that experience right out of the park. I 100% recommend it to anyone, this is nothing like you've ever experienced! read more

This was a badass experience. Way more fun than skydiving. I fully recommend this. I would love to do it again.

WOW.....great experience, thrilling ride! Absolutely loved it. The plane and pilot are both HIGH PERFORMANCE. Going to do that again. The program is very friendly and well done. I recommend not thinking about doing it too long, just do it, you'll be glad you did. read more

I recommend this to any and everyone! Such an awesome experience, a great adrenaline rush, and overall an excellent time. Thanks sky Combat for an amazing day today!! read more

Great adventure with a truly professional staff. I flew with "Tex" and selected the popular "Top Gun" experience, which allowed me to be both passenger and pilot! I knew I was in for an exhilarating experience, but I was also presently surprised with how professional the whole operation was from start to finish. The aircraft and equipment were 'show room ready,' and the pre-flight briefing did an excellent job preparing me for the experience. Once in the plane, the building block approach made me easily forget that I was a total newbie and had me confidently doing stunts in no time! It was an excellent experience that I would recommend to anyone. (One word of advice: Be honest with your pilot about your airsickness! The staff are experts at these stunts and "Tex" did a wonderful job keeping my stomach happy as we tumbled madly through the air!) read more

Rick "Tex" is an amazing pilot and tour guide. I had signed my husband up to do the Afterburner for a surprise on his birthday, 78. When he found out what I had done, he decided that he wasn't up to going 8G's and rolling. Rick, being the great guy he is, took both of us in his private Cessna for a fantastic ride over all of San Diego, making a special effort to buzz me by my favorite mountain, "El Capitan". We still got some thrills in coming in at just 500 feet over Point Loma, La Jolla, the East county lakes, and a bit closer to the mountain. Woo Hoo!!!. I highly recommend 'TEX', Rick if you want to get your thrills or to have a beautiful ride. He does it all with graciousness. His hanger is the ultimate too!!! Thanks Rick! read more

This is as good as it gets.. Go there....fly that awesome plane... Tex and his partner are awesome.... This is not something to add to the bucket list....this experience will obliterate your bucket !!! This is a well planned out experience.. Great people, great ambiance, and incredibly gifted pilots that will make your top gun experience something you will never forget... And buy the video....you can only remembered so much... The video really brings it home....stop waiting... Get over to SCA now...my daughter and I pick one extreme experience each year when I visit..... Nothing comes close to this !! read more