Located in Warner Springs, California, Sky Sailing offers beautiful views of Warner Springs, Santa Ysabel, Ranchita, Lake Henshaw, the Palomar Observatory and even Borrego Springs. Driving by passing by it every week never gets tiresome, especially when you get to see the seasons changing out here, absolutely amazing every time. I forgot i dropped off something at the office, lady at the counter was friendly and helpful. read more

I wanted to do something exciting with my husband. We've done sky diving twice in the past and after doing some skimming, came across gliding. I was familiar with the Torrey Pines Gliderport but didn't know that Warner Springs had an area for sailplanes/gliders. A glider is a fixed-wing aircraft that is supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against its lifting surfaces, and whose free flight does not depend on an engine. Normally a sailplane relies on rising air to maintain altitude. So we made a date out of it. We booked our flight at 10AM on Saturday, September 16th. On the drive there, we were a bit apprehensive as the mountains were cloudy and it was somewhat drizzling, but after exiting and we reached Warner Springs it was bright and sunny. As we were parking, we saw a view of several sailplanes/gliders. Walking inside, we were immediately welcomed by one of their staff - Piper. Piper was a big dark brown golden retriever with flashes of golden, SUPER friendly, and immediately went on her tummy for rubs. The interior was decorated with cloths with notations of those completed their first flight of flying. There was an area for kids to play in, some bar stools around, and a seating area right next to the bathroom. They also had a cat strolling around, doing its own thing. The bathroom had a wall of interesting tidbits, so be careful if you go in! You may be in there for a while reading them. We got checked in and the kind lady (possibly Donna?) working the desk let us know that Garret will be with us in a few minutes as he was finishing up another flight. We saw a few people fly their first plane out or were taking lessons. While we were waiting, Piper kept us company with asks for pats. When it was our turn, the lady gave us a camera for Garret/his colleague (whose name I forgot) to hook on to the plane, and we walked on out to go on our 30 minute flight. For our reservation purchase, it is for the ride and also for an SD card for the memory of the flight. If you were flying just on your own, you get the opportunity of flying the sailplane under the supervision of the pilot in the front. Since there was two of us, they had to take the controls out from the back. Our pilot, Garret, helped us get into our seating space, and buckled us in, as well as giving us instructions on where we can get air during the ride. We were a cozy squeeze in the back, while Garret was in the front. His colleague helped to ensure we were towed by a plane ahead. It was an amazing view, and a bit surreal to have flown up. Garret and my husband conversed, and he asked a lot of questions. We had minor turbulence. My husband got to disconnect us from the other plane and we were gliding in the air. I did end up bringing a gift to the ground, as I had just a banana for breakfast - which was probably too acidic for the ride. Garret also checked that I was comfortable before he brought us on a fast loop dive (which I've only seen in movies), it was something else to actually experience it. We had the opportunity of flying with Garret Willat. Garret represented the US Open Class team in 2008 and 2010 and the Club Class team in 2014. And he has won 3 US National Championships. I would recommend that if you're looking to do, and you're not afraid of heights/rides, check out Sky Sailing. And for food, check out Jeremy's on a Hill! They have a reservation system and I would suggest that you get food if you had nothing left in your body if you also bought back a gift. Or just Julian after, super close! read more

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For my wife's birthday, I booked her a flight with Sky Sailing -- she couldn't have been more surprised and thrilled -- Bill the pilot was fantastic and treated her to a flight she'll remember for a lifetime -- HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!! read more

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I had never been in a glider before, but Jenna at Sky Sailing made it unforgettable. She's not only an incredible pilot -- she's passionate, confident, and has a Master's in Aeronautical Engineering! From takeoff to touchdown, she made me feel completely at ease and turned my first flight into pure joy. If you've ever wondered what it feels like to soar silently over the hills, this is the place and Jenna is the pilot. Highly recommended! read more

I learned how to fly and land a glider plane at this place. Very patient instructor. Achieved weightlessness during flight.

I had an amazing 30-minute flight with Jon Y. He had a wealth of knowledge about the area. This was my first glider ride, and I felt at ease immediately with his knowledge of the glider. It was a great day to glide with the birds in the thermals. I had an amazing time. This is a must-do if you are in the area. read more

Still the best spot to earn your glider rating or hone your skills. For out-of-towners I suggest flying into San Diego and renting a car. read more

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I should have said in my last review: Heavy winds cancelled my flight. The staff handled my refund quickly and professionally. Will definitely come back the next time I'm staying at nearby Harrah's Casino. read more

Very Disappointed My son came in from out of town so we went here for a couple of glider rides. The rides were fantastic, but they don't seem to know what they are doing when it comes to using a GoPro. On my flight to GoPro died halfway through the flight, and on my son's ride they never even turned it on. When I called them to talk about it I was told that the Manager Kathy would call me back but I never heard back from them. A memorable moment with nothing to show of it, very disappointed! read more

Sky Sailing - Tours Near Me - Warner Springs, California

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For a ride or full lessons this is an amazing business. My son took ten days of lessons and it cemented his love for flying. The team treated him like family. What a wonderful group to work with. Thank you Bret, Karen, Keith, Bill, Garret, Ben and Patrick! read more

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Treated my parents to a glider flight for my dad's birthday. It was a little tight for two grown adults, and the flight was fast, but my parents still loved it. The check in process was quick, the pilot was great, and the views were amazing. They also had nice facilities for spectators. It was a fun and unique experience! read more

I have driven past this airport numerous times and always told myself to stop and see what it's about. I purchased a birthday gift for my daughter to have a 40 minute flight in their introductory sail plane tour. It was a bargain. Not only was it a bargain but the experience was terrific. Without a reservation we had no problem arranging for a flight on a Sunday afternoon. The people there were incredibly attentive and professional. Our pilot Dimitry was fantastic. Both of my children went up and both of them couldn't wait to ask me to take them again. The entire flight was recorded on a memory card from outside the plane and surprisingly it was included with the package...no additional nickle and dime games. I wish I went sooner. I will be going back. read more

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I really had no expectations when coming to Sky Sailing. I thought, "oh this might be a nice, dainty little flight in a little, tiny gliderplane." MAN, this was FUN!! Thank you, Living Social! Our pilot, John, was so friendly and welcoming... and he showed us a good time. What I thought was going to be a smooth sail turned into an in-flight roller coaster! It was a blast! Not sure my stomach could have handled an hour but the 20 minute flight was awesome! Not only was the flight fun and enjoyable, there's also a go-pro camera stuck to one side of the wing that takes pictures every 10 seconds.. and this is free of charge! Who doesn't love free documentation??! Thanks for an awesome flight, John! read more

Fun! So I wonder if Gliding will become more popular or a hot date event after seeing "Fifty Shades of Grey". The movie is terrible, but the gliding was great! To be honest, I didn't know gliders were a thing or even existed until I watched the movie. Afterwards I decided to look up the closes place I could go for a ride in a glider, and off I went! Sky Sailing is featured on a third party site cloud9living.com, you can buy tickets there, but I noticed that there wasn't a lot of options and I think it didn't specify length of flight. Then I went to the website on the yelp page, skysailing.com. They have more options there with a more thorough description but I think you can only pay through PayPal, so I just called them directly. Buying directly over the phone was fine. They said I would receive a package in the mail but I still hadn't received anything 2 weeks later when I just went for my flight. They are pretty easy going about changing times and dates for weather, they suggest to call the day before your flight to ask them what they think the weather will be like for the next day and if it would be better to reschedule. Notes: - Take an anti-nausea medicine if you get motion sickness. I took Dramamine before I went as a precaution but I got very very drowsy from that mid flight, so that was a bummer. - If it's calmer weather and therefore a smoother flight, you might not be able to do as much thrill-seeking swoops or spins. - If doing the 2 person rider, it is very cozy in the back, be prepared to be sitting almost on top of one another. - Views would change with season. I thought right now was a perfect time to go on the glider. It's early spring so the landscape is lush and green and while gliding by No Name Mountain there was still some snow on the top that made for a pretty view. I could imagine during the summer for the landscape to be very dry and not to be as picturesque. - As another reviewer mentioned, you can bring you own GoPro to clip to the wing of the glider or they will put their own GoPro and give you the SD card when you leave. I was actually happily surprised when they gave me the SD card as I didn't read about that in the package description so I don't know if it's included in all flights or not. Personally I would do it again, it's a fun experience and I would compare it to a helicopter ride. read more

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I didn't personally go on Sky Gliding, but my fiance did. It was part of my anniversary gifts to him. He chose the 30-minutes ride on a high performance glider which is supposed to be more comfortable and quieter. The cost was $170.00. The staff were very nice. They are open 7 days a week from 9:00am until dusk. You'll need reservation during weekdays, but not on weekends. The glider was towed by another airplane. At some point it is detached and you basically just glide in the sky. The instructor was very nice and asked if my fiance had any 'special' request. He said 'No, just the basic ride'. Too bad, because I saw someone else did the flip and turn. Wouldn't that have been a cool stunt? LOL! My fiance really enjoyed it. So if you are not afraid of height and want some excitement, this might just be your kind of thrill. read more

Sky Sailing - Picture copied from website - high performance glider - Tours Near Me - Warner Springs, California

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Got this as a graduation gift for my boyfriend and I. We did the 30 mins flight for 2, and we definitely got our money's worth! Our pilot was awesome, funny, and has had a lot of experience flying which made me feel very comfortable! He explained everything during the flight and was great at keeping up the conversation 9,000ft in the air. If you are planning a ride for 2, just keep in mind that the back seat is very small and you will be extremely squished but it's all worth it. They even give you the SD card for the go pro attached to the wing which had hundreds of photos! I definitely recommend for anyone seeking thrill that doesn't require jumping out of a plane. THANK YOU SKY SAILING TEAM FOR A MEMORABLE MOMENT! read more

Sky Sailing - Beautiful, unreal views! - Tours Near Me - Warner Springs, California

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Best spot of full-scale sailplane soaring in San Diego area, best instructors as well. read more

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Wow. What a great experience. Took the 30 minute ride. What a great time. I imagine this is the closest I'll ever feel what it's like when a bird flies. One more item off my bucket list. This is a great group of people. read more

We had a wonderful time taking our children on an adventure of a lifetime! It was so exciting and very thrilling. From take off to landing our children loved it. Our son is 4 and daughter 2. We figured it would be a fun little ride through the sky since we were staying nearby on vacation. I purchased the flight tix over the phone prior and booked the flight. It was a very easy process and convenient that they also had the flight tours to purchase online as well. Our flight instruction/pilot was an ex-marine flyer of F4 within his military background. Which made my husband and I feel incredibly safe. His nam was Bill. He was so sweet with our children and made the rides so fun for them. It was definitely a memorable experience that we will remember for the rest of our lives. Thank you! read more

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Had an amazing time out today. I took my first sailplane ride with Ben. After checking in, I was in the cockpit within less than 10 minutes, and we were towed out just a minute later. It was a nice smooth take off. We were towed up 3000 feet, and then we continued to circle a bit to gain altitude. I think we got up to around 12,000 feet (9000 feet above ground). It was crazy hot today. I think around 110 degrees when I got to the field. But it nice and cozy in the cockpit with the air stream coming in. Ben was a super chill guy. We went pretty far in all major directions. It was definitely one of those things that I didnt want to end. I enjoyed it so much that I actually think Ill eventually work on my glider transition rating through sky sailing inc. It was an all around great day, and a great time. I highly recommend them, and especially Ben. Thanks guys! read more

My experience with Sky Sailing is a bit different than others but it's one I will forever be grateful for. While driving to Temecula with a friend, we had a tire blowout 45 minutes away that caused our vehicle to aggressively fishtail across the road. We were lucky to not have rolled over, yet we miraculously stopped in the Sky Sailing parking lot. A kind staff member graciously ran to our rescue, got tools from the shop and assisted us in assessing damage, changing the tire and ensuring we were safe in getting to our destination. A regret I have is that I didn't get his name, but his act of kindness is what allowed me and my friend to sleep peacefully that night. Thank you Sky Sailing! read more

We had a great experience today. Our pilot Dave was great. He was very friendly and explained how everything worked and gave us a great ride. Highly recommend. read more

Sky Sailing - Tours Near Me - Warner Springs, California

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Got a flight ticket for my husbands 49TH Birthday, it was on his Bucket list. Everyone is awesome there, Scott was my husbands pilot he was very friendly and gave great direction to my husband. My husband totally enjoyed his experience, mission accomplished The only complaint I have is, for a short ride of 20 minutes @ $155, I would think the 20 minutes wouldn't start until the tow plane got them up in the air and released the sailplane. The countdown started on the ground, doesn't seem fair nor enough time to really thoroughly enjoy the ride. But i highly recommend this place for sure though, Awesome customer service. read more

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We thoroughly enjoyed our ride in this cool aluminum glider with Ryan as our pilot. We felt very safe and knew we were in capable hands. We didn't get to ride as long as we had hoped because the weather wasn't cooperating, but we had a great experience on the ride. This is one of the coolest things we have done in our lifetime. We plan on returning for another flying experience. We loved the SD card with photos from our flight which was in the GoPro camera attached to the right wing. We didn't know that came with the package and were so happy to have our flight documented this way. Amazing experience!!! read more

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For my birthday my husband and daughter kidnapped me and wouldn't tell me where we were going. We live at the coast and it took us about 2 hours as we drove east...I had no idea what they were up to. We finally arrive at the glider place in Warner Springs. My stomach did flips...I was nervous but super excited. I've always said I had wanted to try flying in a glider and they remembered!! Instead of getting me stuff for my birthday my husband gave me a memory to cherish forever!! My pilot was Ted. He was great and explained everything to me before it happened which really helped because it can get a little scary if you don't know what to expect. We were up for about an hour and made it all the way to 8500 feet. We were so high we could see Catalina in the distance! What a thrill. Ted asked me if I wanted to use the controls to fly the glider, but I was too scared. (He later told me his 4 year old daughter had gone up earlier that day and she used the controls to fly the glider...thanks Ted!) Then near the end of the flight he asked if i wanted to do any tricks or acrobatics, something like that...I said 'sure, why not? you only live once, right?' Holy cow. He immediately took the glider into a nose dive that sent my guts to my throat! After that we came up and did a figure eight in the sky, over and over, down and up and round and round. I couldn't tell the ground from the sky and at one point I recall him saying 'we're pushing about 2G's now' and i believed him because my neck was to my chest and I couldn't move! it was crazy!! What a great experience it was. I will never forget my 42nd birthday as long as I live. read more

No engine, no problem! My pilot is the best as they come and a true professional I think his name was Travis. The experience was unreal. Felt safe the entire glide. We got up to 8000 feet and soar for 40 mins. I even got to fly the glider, which was awesome! The aerobatic was insane but totally worth the experience. Got the high performance glider which I'm glad I did since it was such a smooth ride. The staff was friendly and made me feel super comfortable. If I had the funds, this would be something I would do all the time! Great experience, go check this place out!!! read more

Took my ex on a glider (back in happier times), for her birthday. This was an awesome experience. I've been flying in small single-engine land planes for years...but always with the propeller going. Just hearing the "WHOOSHhhhhhh" of air going around the fuselage is quite an experience. Our pilot - an older gent who had quite a bit of experience - was friendly and a blast. After disengaging the tether from the tow plane he took us up near Mt. Palomar, caught a few thermals and just rode them all around. A couple of barrel-rolls and flips...and i was a fan! It's MUCH more fun to do a flip in a glider...without having to deal with the wake turbulence from a 747 or '57. Pricing was reasonable too - about $160 - 180 if i remember right. We even got a hat (which got lost in all the moves since). Good idea to take some food & water along - it's a bit of a trek to get to. But if you can wait - drive a bit further into the town of Julian and pick practically any small eatery that serves apple pie...and you'll be in heaven. read more

I came here to celebrate a birthday and surprise my girlfriend with her first sky sailing adventure. I opted for the longest flight "Palomar Mountain Mile High Flight" for 2 people and is advertised as lasting 35-40 minutes. Unfortunately our flight only lasted a measly 25 minutes. I paid extra for the video gopro in the cockpit and could see the timer of how long it had been running. I definitely dont feel like we got our money's worth in terms of flight time. The pilot of our sailplane was somewhat friendly and pointed out landmarks for us but otherwise didn't really seem too interested. We flew by the mountain first then came back around towards the runway, on the way back he asked if we wanted to do some acrobatic moves like a stall, which were pretty fun. The views definitely were worthwhile but I just wish we could have seen more. read more

Through Cloud 9, my mom bought my fiance and I a glider flight for 2. Our pilot was Steve -- he was great! He walked us through everything in the plane, the controls, the thermals and how he moves through the air. It was a ton of fun! You get towed up by another plane, which brings you to your altitude before your glider is disconnected and on its own ... soaring about, just using the air. They mount a camera on the wing, aimed at the cockpit, which takes pictures every 10 seconds. With our package, we got the memory card for free! That was a huge bonus! Highly recommend Sky Sailing! It's fun! read more

Always wanted to try this. Was NOT disappointed. My pilot, Collin, was very professional, knowledgeable and made the whole flight a very fun experience. Couldn't have asked for a better day. I would highly recommend. read more

Great Place for Introduction to Gliding, and having fun if you like flying in the sky and feeling free. I didn't know if I liked Flying on Gliders, Until I got on the planes, My Wife and I did the two seaters, which I don't recommend (I am fat though) because you might get claustrophobic, which I did. I was nauseated and didn't go the second time up. BUt my Wife, Enjoyed it very well, as she went up and was able to fly and control the glider. She said it was a wonderful experience. Definitely Well worth the try, It's about 100-200 per flight which is about the same price for sky diving or Hot Air Ballons......... Great Service, and wonderful people. ONLY Knockabout this place is that it's in Warner Springs, that's a little biit farther than RAMONA. And Ramona is pretty FAR...... read more

I had a great first time experience in a glider today thanks to Sky Sailing and George (my pilot). The weather was spectacular which made the flight time go by that much faster. Being a solo passenger, George allowed me to take the controls for a little bit and soar like an eagle in the skies above Warner Springs. Incredible views of Lake Henshaw, Palomar mountain, and hot springs mountain. Looking forward to trying it again. Maybe go full aerobatic next time. read more

Fantastic. Pierce, John Henry, Erica, Scott and Brett; what a great bunch of people. We'll worth the money and drive. Thank you for making my birthday so special. Laura read more

Got to go for a 2 hour ride with a friend when he rented an aircraft from here and it was an amazing experience. Family owned, independent business just staying with the simple formula of every day operations out in the desert. Two tow planes fired up for the morning launches: paid passengers, rentals, privately owned gliders cued up for their ride up into the sky... the whole scene was easy going, gentle, and consistent: sort of like the actual sport of soaring! Other than watching an F-18 buzz the trees below us at one point, it was a very serene 2 hours...with no engine! I have skydiving, private flying, and military flying experience, and this form of flying was actually the most beautiful, and seems to capture the "ethos" of flying, if that makes sense. This experience is well worth the money, but a note of caution: if you're prone to motion sickness, take some dramamine or marazine beforehand, and drink quite a bit of water before your flight: sitting in the back without the controls on a blustery day can take it out of you! A beautiful, perfect day, and I think the staff that runs the place is just great! read more

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First things first the people are great, they were the best part about this experience. Very passionate nice people, my flight instructor was kind and helpful. I loved the people, they earned all three stars. I paid for a 30 minute experience, which was $210 with tax. I was only in the air for about 12 minutes and it was mainly because my flight instructor (as she stated) pulled the line too early and couldn't find the lift she previously noted. We were probably 2000ft AGL or less for most of the experience, which can be cool for about 10 seconds especially in the middle of nowhere, but I was told we could be stuck in a thermal and be in the air for even longer than the promised time doing laps around the pattern and being pretty high up there. I also barely got to fly, flew for literally 5 seconds because we were so low. To summarize I drove 90 minutes for a 12 minute experience for $210. read more

What a spectacular experience!! Since I was a kid, I have always wanted to earn my glider rating. I found the Sky Sailing site online, gave them a call, and was booked for the Super Aerobatic Flight the next day. All of the staff were very friendly and my wife and I really enjoyed the laid back atmosphere. My instructor was Garrett, and I found him to be very professional and skilled. Before the flight, I asked him if I could fly alot before we started the aerobatic maneuvers. I was able to fly far more than I had hoped for. We had some seriously awesome conditions that day, so I definitely felt I got my money's worth in stick and overall flight time. I totally recommend this family owned business if you're considering lessons. I'd be down there every weekend if I didn't live 3 hours away. Thanks again Sky Sailing for an EPIC and unforgettable experience!!! read more

I took my boyfriend here for his birthday. Wanted to do something really adventurous for his 35th. They sell many dif. glider/sail plane flights ranging from 25-45 min, 1 or 2 person, etc. Originally I was going to book the 2 person glider so we could experience it together, but that one couldn't go upside down. I ended up booking 2 separate aerobatic flights ($180 each, 20-25 min) through email. Garret helped coordinate everything on email and booked everything for me. He was really helpful! All their rides include a GoPro video free of charge, but it is NOT included on the aerobatic flights which I did not know. We ended up having to pay $25 each for that which I guess isn't a bad price, but felt a bit annoyed since their website didn't state that it was excluded in the price for aerobatic flights. Anyway, i went into it feeling a bit nervous and wondering what I got myself into. the plane has no engine and we're going to do flips and stalls in it!?! So we get there and we're greeted by a lady at the desk. She wasn't rude or friendly..just neutral. I was expecting someone more enthusiastic and friendly since I was spending a lot of money. Also, i was nervous especially after she handed me a sheet with instructions for the parachute and what to do in case of emergency. A lot to read and absorb in a short amount of time. After all the paperwork was done, we were set to go. Our planes were set to go up at the same time. What I didn't know was that our planes were going to mimick each other on the tricks. Our pilots told us that this was only the second time in history that they've been able to do that and they were super stocked about it. Everyone at the airport ended up watching our flights which I wish someone had filmed. During the whole flight, I could see my bf's plane in front and what they were doing. We would do loops together, stalls, rolls, etc. So awesome! like the movies! The G forces were crazy and my whole body could not move. Stomach felt a little queasy but not too bad. Garret pre-warned me not to come on a full or completely empty stomach. before we did the tricks, the pilot also let me take the controls which was cool but nerve-racking. I was scared I would do the wrong thing and we would just crash or something which of course, didn't happen. the whole ride actually felt pretty safe and no parachute was needed! The landing was surprisingly super smooth and not choppy at all. my pilot also told me that the plane i was in is the same one that they fly for the Miramar Air Show in October. So cool! This was a very fun experience and my bf and i both had a great time! It's definitely something ppl should do once but i recommend getting the aerobatic one if you can handle it! the regular flight would have probably been too boring for us (we've both skydived and he's bungee jumped before). The only thing that sucked was it felt really really short, but they do offer a longer aerobatic ride i think for $225/pp. read more

I tried the Aerobatic ride with Boyd on March 25th. I've gone tandem skydiving before so I thought this adventure can't be scarier than that. It wasn't but it came very close! Boyd did all kinds of stunts I can't even. recall what was going on. I was just screaming my head off the entire time!!! Thank you, Sky Sailing!! I had the most amazing and unforgettable time. read more

Wife gave me a glider ride for my Bday, used it in December with my daughter and we had a BLAST. The pilot was fantastic, the people in the office were extremely friendly and we had a blast. It's worth the drive to get out there and see what they have to offer. Friendly, fun, and will most definitely be going back! read more

This was my first experience Sky Sailing in a glider. This experience was amazing. My husband and I went in a two passenger plane- it was perfect for us. We are rather small people to begin with so the two passenger plane was perfect for us! Ryan- our pilot is very experienced- he did a lot of cool maneuvers and really gave us a thrill! This was definitely worth the price! :) I am certainly going to recommend this place to my friends. read more