Well. That was WELL worth the money. I honestly thought it was a steal of a deal if you ask me. Mike and his team were more than I could have asked for - in so many ways. His training, explaining and safety prep was comforting. He obviously knows his stuff and has been doing this for a very very long time. Just the interaction and education would have been enough for me - throw in the multiple 5-gs and every maneuver that plane was capable of - FIVE STARS from me!! I WILL BE DOING THIS AGAIN!! Thank you for making me feel alive, it was such a blessing. Ps. Girls, this isn't only for guys. Get out there and DO IT!!!!! We all know you want to read more

SkyThrills! - Flight Instruction Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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Skythrills provided such an AWESOME and exciting experience!!!! I initially thought it was a bit too expensive for a couple of minutes in the air but it was totally worth it! How often do you have the opportunity to board a small open hangar craft and feel the wind blow by you as you soar over the world beneath you?! Not often at all. Mike was our pilot. He must be one of the friendliest guys I've ever encountered in quite some time. He gave us some nifty leather caps and a mic set so we could talk and hear from each other throughout the flight. You can tell Mike really gets a kick out of the joy others experience through flying with him. What I appreciated the most about this experience was how the plane was constructed. The biplane allowed my girlfriend and I to experience the whole flight together. I hiiiighly recommend giving Skythrills a try. Treat yo self!!!!!! read more

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It was thrilling and easy and I can't wait to go again! My awesome brother bought me the "Intro Thrill Ride" for my 40th birthday. Because of a busy schedule, I finally got to taking it nearly 9 months later. When I called SkyThrills to schedule, my delay in booking wasn't a problem. I was pleasantly surprised to have the owner and pilot, Michael Blackstone, personally work on getting me scheduled. The facility and hangar are nice. They have it setup with tables and chairs to be comfortable for guests as they fill out paperwork and wait for their turn to fly. The gear and safety briefing rooms are also themed and comfortable. After putting on a jumpsuit, I was led into the safety briefing room and my family was allowed to join me. The safety briefing is necessary and helpful. Michael and his crew did a great job of making sure I was comfortable, understood instructions, and had fun. Michael was especially good at giving clear and encouraging instructions while flying. I liked that he gauged my level of comfort and ability and gave me more control doing the acrobatics. It sounds like he loves his job (and why wouldn't he?). I had a great time and look forward to returning for more acrobatics and the vintage plane dog fights! read more

SkyThrills! - Michael and I in front of the Pitts S-2C after our acrobatics flight! - Flight Instruction Near Me - Santa Ana, California

This is the best bday gift ever...**smiLe** Thank you my lovely wife Zz........ Love U This was an awesome flight. Nothing to compare with my regular flight training. Mike (the instructor) was excellent and well trained. Just simply followed his instructions, so easy to perform all these tricks and turns. Will definitely fly again with Mike... read more

SkyThrills! - The best bday gift ever according to my husband **smiLe** - Flight Instruction Near Me - Santa Ana, California

I had an incredible experience flying with Mini. I was briefed with Tiny for about 25 minutes, he's a genius at breaking down what was gonna happen, what I would feel, and how to understand the flight. Once I was suited up I used my call sign Bronco and flew away with one of the most passionate stunt piolet I've ever met call sign Mini. We did absolutely everything in the book to stunting. There was no limit true TOP GUN feeling. I would recommend anyone and everyone considering it to do it. Once in a lifetime time experience worth every penny. True professional and once done I was greeted my Rocket and Tiny for an Epic picture with Mini and myself "Bronco" read more

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If you're hesitant about doing this because of the cost, don't be, it was worth it. The experience was amazing!! I remember watching Top Gun as a kid and this felt like I was in the movie. Mike and Veronica were great. Mike took me up in the Marchetti SF-260 for the World Aerobatic Champion ride or the Extreme Thrill Ride, not sure which one, but honestly, if you don't know flying, probably wouldn't know the difference... Mike is so passionate about flying, that it makes the whole experience even better. He's already a commercial pilot, so he really doesn't need to do this on the side, but he does this to give back and introduce average citizens to flying. I'm from Long Beach, so them operating in Long Beach airport was so convenient for me. Once you book online, you should call to verify, they had to reschedule me, but really no big deal, worth the wait. They typically fly only weekends. So about the experience: Once at their location (which is a building connected to a hanger), you sign in, get in a jump suit, Mike goes over safety instructions, some basics of flying and physics for people that have never flown before, and then you're off. Mike and Veronica were more than willing to take pictures for you in the plane. I recommend getting the video, it's recorded in HD, and there's so many views that Mike seamlessly cycles through as you're up in the air, the video came out great! Once in the air, Mike trust you to take control and has you do most of the maneuvers until you get it right, his hands are off the controls...He is crazy. Imagine being in a roller coaster, that you're in control of, we did so many flips, turns, rolls, etc. It was incredible. The view of the coast, Long Beach, CSULB pyramid, the sky were all memorable. I honestly did get a little motion sickness towards the latter part of the flight, but held it in because I was having a blast. To just get a taste of what real stunt pilots do in the air was truly awesome. I could go on and on about how much I loved this experience, it is a must do. You won't regret it!! I don't carry cash, but I wish I did, cause I would have tipped him, but hopefully this great review will do! Thanks Mike and Veronica!! read more

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Make sure you get a call confirming your booking. Really hate to be that person to give a low rating but booked this for myself as a birthday treat and when I arrived was told that my booking couldn't be found and that the pilot had gone home even though I'd already been charged. The staff were apologetic but coming from LA, the Uber charges were significant. That + the disappointment = not what you want for your birthday read more

I needed something that would be unforgettable for my boyfriends 30th. SKYTHRILLS WAS IT! My boyfriend had the time of his life and he's still talking about it. The amazing pilot, Mike, flew James up in the Marchetti because the Pitts was still in the shop for maintenance. This was basically an upgrade so we were incredibly lucky on this!! Mike let James fly the plane 90% of the time doing back flips, barrel rolls, hammerhead, and stuff (sorry I don't know the names of the things they did) and there was a GOPRO that filmed the entire flight! Everyone should buy the $25 video, it is so worth it. When I watched the video, I couldn't believe what I was watching and want to do it myself next time! Mike was incredibly professional and he's been flying since he was 8! I don't even know what I've been doing since I was 8, nothing. You can feel his love for flying by the way he talks about it. Thank you so much for everything Mike! This gift honestly can't go wrong and it's for everyone. It's life changing. And if they have to reschedule your flight due to bad weather, don't worry it's not the end of the world because it'll all be worth it at the end!! read more

One of the most astounding experiences you will ever have, if you're up for it. I'll try almost anything once. The first time I saw a video of this, I knew I had to do it. A milestone birthday seemed like as good a time as any, so with an extra set of diapers we headed out. I'm mildly afraid of heights and I get nauseous spinning around quickly, so this adventure presented some difficulties. As a precaution, I visited Mike and his staff before the flight to ease my fears. My wife thought I was crazy before our visit, but Mike is the most calming guy you could ever hope to meet. He put any and all skepticism to rest, so much so that she was ready to try it as well. There are multiple options to choose from, but I ultimately chose e 45 minute flight with about 25 minutes of acrobatics. There are also different planes to choose for your flight. I chose the Pitts, which is the fastest and most responsive but there are slightly slower options. It's difficult to find words to describe the experience. For me it was sensory overload. I remember the look on my daughters face her first trip to Disneyland, like there was too much going on to take it all in. I felt exactly like that. Exhilarated, scared, overwhelmed, awed. It was like nothing I'd ever experienced. Barrel Rolls and loops were my favorite, as was inverted flight. The Hammerhead was rough for me, the spins about did me in but for rougher and tougher than me, I'm sure they're great. The DVD that comes with the flight is essential. Though some of the flight was blurry in my memory even immediately after touchdown, watching playback I remembered all of it as clear as day. Being able to experience something that people train years for, is unbelievable. Like skydiving and bungee jumping, this is an unforgettable memory. Highly recommended. Worth every penny. Glad I brought those diapers. read more

I booked an "ULTIMATE THRILL RIDE" for my husband's 50th birthday -- it was nothing short of AWESOME. After an intense pre-flight instruction session, Mike took my husband up in a Pitts S-2C (teeny little stunt plane) and for the next 35 minutes, my husband (!!) had the controls of the plane and executed a series of acrobatic stunts! They pulled 4.5G's! Yes, he hurled. It did not diminish the awesomeness of the afternoon one bit, and he said he would jump at the chance to do it again, hurling and all. A quote from my husband: "These are the moments that make the rest of life's trials seem small and insignificant. I have very vivid memories from the entire experience and won't ever need the video to recall them - although the best part about the video is being able to share them with others." read more

I received as a gift the Astronaut Adventure ride. Well, it was just amazing!! I am not a pilot but I've been fliying as aircrewman in the military with any kind of helos and aircraft, I got bumpy rides but this one was just AWESOME! You basically, with no experience, take control of a high performance acrobatic biplane and do loops, rolls, spins, hammerheads, upside down aerobatics. The instructor just takes off and land, the rest is to you. It was an incredible experience, even if I almost puked!! Expect to vomit, go light with food before to go. Mike the instructor is a very experienced airline and stunt pilot, very skillful and a very pleasant person, it was a joy to ride with him. Thanks!! read more

PHENOMENAL!!!! I treated myself (an average chick) to this adventure for my 30th bday after checking out the website www.skythrills.com and I was not disappointed. I've done skydiving, tarzan swing, zip-lining in costa rica, canyoneering,etc, but this experience was one of my favorite (and craziest). I had NO experience flying, but Mike, the instructor, was amazing, guiding me every step of the way through THE ULTIMATE THRILL RIDE-EXTREME on the PittsS-2C stunt plane. Couldn't ask for a better instructor! After take-off, he gave me full control of the plane....I was SO nervous, but after flying through some clouds, I got the hang of it. I felt okay doing a couple of stunts, but I was really nervous about messing up the hammerhead. Not to fear, Mike took over. If I was ever uncomfortable with anything, I just let Mike know and problem solved- I simply enjoyed the ride. THANKS AGAIN, MIke! In a nutshell, I LOVED it all! Never felt nauseous and enjoyed the feeling of all the maneuvers. I would do this again in a heartbeat. It would also make a great and unforgettable gift (I will be keeping it in mind for a special occasion). DVD is included to cherish the memory! This experience really is a SKY THRILL! If you can get through the emergency procedures during the breifing, you are set to go. Personally, I think that was the scariest part if it all...the rest was just pure FUN in the sky! I can't get over it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

How do you put into words something that leaves you speechless. I have done a lot of thrilling and exciting things in my life, but nothing really compares to spending an hour flying an acrobatic Pitts airplane over Long Beach harbor. Mike is the best and pushes you to be your best up there. He starts out slow and increases the difficulty of the stunts as you become accustomed to the plane. I don't think I will ever forget the inverted flat spin. Looking out the top of the canopy and seeing the water rush towards you at 1000 feet per minute is AWESOME. I'm definitely hooked and will be back in the sky with Mike soon. read more

When my wife asked what I wanted to do for my 28th birthday I told her I want to fly in a stunt plane. She made it happen. Mike and Joker are excellent pilots! They briefed us on all the aerial maneuvers we would do and made sure we felt comfortable the whole time. The flight itself was nothing short of exhilarating! The maneuvers were smooth and executed with precision. If you have a gopro BRING IT! The Waco plane has a mount attached! I got stunning photos!! Live life on the edge! Push your limits and shatter your comfort zone! Go flying with SKYTHRILLS! read more

I can write a five hundred line review but it would also be possible to sum up the experience in one word: AMAZING!!! We flew each of their planes and whatever you expect you should multiply by 10. Its tough to say too much here because as Mike our pilot said, "my job is your safety first and for you to have fun, your job is to enjoy this experience". Mike is amazing and is the consummate host, focused on safety and providing an amazing experience. Everyone at Skythrills is fantastic. Its an incredible experience! read more

Biplane with Mike was the best! Surprised my girlfriend with the sunset ride over Malibu and the Hollywood sign. Was better than both of us ever expected! Plane ride was amazingly smooth. Mike takes you over all the awesome LA sites. You can even open google maps and see what you're flying over! If you're up for it he'll even do a few maneuvers! Sky Thrills office is beautiful and is right on the flight line. You can walk around the other planes and see take offs and landings. ***Make sure to bring cameras!!! The plane ride is so smooth that you can snap amazing shots over LA! read more

Did the 30 minute acrobatic flight that my gf got me for my birthday. It was AMAZING. I was able to pull 5Gs in the red/white Pitts plane but vomited afterwards once I got out of the plane. It's pretty taxing on your body. I don't recommend having a large breakfast/brunch before your flight, it's likely to come out... Mike was simply the nicest and best pilot you could be in the air with. He's relaxed, talks you through all the maneuvers and genuinely cares about your safety and welfare. He's had tremendous amount of experience and is just really fun to work with. On top of being a great pilot, he's also a great guy; 10/10 would beer with. All in all, expect to be there at the facility for about 1.5-2 hours and if Mike's your pilot, consider yourself lucky! Would definitely do this again. read more

This was great he helped me make my boyfriend's bday surprise that much more exciting!!! Thanks again

Add this to your bucket list for sure:D Off the charts awesome! read more

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Just had an amazing flight! So much fun! These guys are great! I'm totally experienced and had a blast. Also flew with a first timer and he felt completely safe and had a blast too. Mike is the best. Thanks guys! See you again soon! read more

Even with a TFR that affected inbound/outbound traffic, Mike was professional and eager to get us flying. Had a blast in the Pitts. Can't say enough good things about Mike. He's very good at making you feel comfortable regardless of your skill level. Mike loves to fly and it shows. Thank you Mike and Sky Thrills for an awesome hour of flying!! read more

SkyThrills! - Ready to go flying in the Pitts. - Flight Instruction Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Simply amazing. There is nothing like controlling an aircraft in the open sky. The Sky Thrills instructor was great. His confidence and experience put me at ease. If given the chance, I would do it again! read more

I bought flight for my boyfriend for his 41 birthday. Michael sent me beautiful gift certificate and was able to answer all my questions. He also rescheduled our flight day without any additional fees. On the day of the flight Michael and his crew met us like friends. We received a comprehensive brief on safety and instructions. My boyfriend had 30 min acrobatic flight on Extra 300. Hi did flips, barrel rolls, hammerhead and it was incredible! Michael explained everything and then made sure that my boyfriend had fun. Michael was awesome, professional and loves his job, he is flying since he was 8!!! Entire flight was recorded on GoPro, it was nice surprise! After our flight my boyfriend said that it was most adventurous experience in his life. I will Definitely recommend Michael and Sky Thrills to my friends! read more

SkyThrills! - Flight Instruction Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Mike is awesome! Never met anyone so passionate about their work like him! I had a great experience flying w/ Mike on the open cockpit WACO on my bday. I bought the ultimate thrill deluxe package. It was an anazing experience. However, I recommend to go with the adventure ride for those who are flying for the first time & is most likely to get motion sickness. read more

SkyThrills! - Flight Instruction Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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I did the 35min stunt ride in the Pitts. The whole experience was awesome and I even got to do the maneuvers myself (with pilot on dual controls also helping so its really safe)! You go up with the owner, Mike, who is the friendliest guy, has lots of experience, and is super passionate about flying. Mike explained everything we were going to do, and then made sure I had fun! We did barrel rolls, flips, hammerhead, flying upside down - it was so cool! I pulled 5Gs! He adds a lot of nice special touches, like a free DVD video recording of your flight, and making sure you get lots of cool pictures with the plane. We flew in from San Francisco just for this and it was totally worth it! read more

WOW.....WOW....WOW....WOW. This was AMAZING. We did the barnstorming special and it does not disappoint. Erika and Dad absolutely loved it. Mike is very kool and will definitely come back. Bi-planes rule..! read more

SkyThrills! - Flight Instruction Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Unforgettable experience! I took to the skies on my birthday and it was INCREDIBLE! I learned how to fly a plane with Rocket and he was extremely supportive, very much hands off, and patient. Flying a plane in 3D space is unique because you can maneuver your way up/down and side-to-side. I wasn't accustomed to the seating arrangement initially since I sat in the back and my instructor sat up front. Also, I didn't steer with a wheel, but with a stick lever to maneuver the small plane. You just look out the window off to your sides and steer away. We flew over the ocean and saw Knott's Berry Farm at a distance. I had the tendency to want to point the nose of the plane downward because I wasn't accustomed to it being above eye level, but once you get the hang of it, it's amazing. Rocket made my birthday experience a memorable one. We did dips and I was lifted off my seat a couple times. Try this if you dare! Since it was my first time flying, I didn't partake in the flips and turns, but will look into it for future birthdays! read more

Great first time flying, book your tour here you will be amazed, incredible staff very nice. read more

SkyThrills! - WACO!!!! - Flight Instruction Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Whether you have never been in a plane or are a current fighter pilot, I guarantee you will not be disappointed. Mike Blackstone let's you take the stick of a high performance S2C Pitts Special stunt plane from just after takeoff to just before landing. Mike operates a first class operation and provides everything you need including the flight suit, helmet and DVD of the flight to share with your friends. I loved it so much I'm going back up in two days. Great thrill ride or advanced training for any pilot. read more

This. Was. Awesome. If you're thinking about doing this, just do it. It's one of the best life-changing experiences I've ever done. Mike is a great instructor and really goes out of his way to take care of you. This was my first time flying a plane and doing aerobatics. Never felt in danger. Definitely going back for more... read more

AMAZING!!!! I had the best time ever! Definitely worth every penny and more! You will NOT regret doing this. Michael gives you a thorough briefing beforehand, and therefore you feel well prepared and safe as Michael is a VERY experienced pilot. EXTREMELY friendly, personable and professional staff. HIGHLY recommend! read more

WHAT AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE! Mike flew my 8 year old & I around Fullerton during their open house & we had a blast! My son loved it and says he wants to be a pilot now! The new facility is very cool & has a great theme & feel to it! Can't wait to go up again! read more

AWESOME!!!!!!! I can't say enough how amazing this gift was. I had planned to take my bf skydiving for his 40th bday, something REALLY memorable. When I went online to look for a skydiving place in SoCal, SkyThrills came up...what's this??? I clicked, read reviews, looked at pictures and was sold! I made a call and spoke to Mike the owner. He was so welcoming and forthcoming with as much info as he could possibly give me. I hadn't even gone yet and my experience with SkyThrills was awesome! I booked my flight for September 14th. My bf had no idea what I had planned. When we arrived at the hanger, Mike's yellow, open cockpit bi-plan Waco was sitting in the shade waiting for us. We were fitted for our jumpsuits then headed into the briefing room where we went over safety rules, what do to and what to excect while we were in the air. We then strapped on our parachutes and boarded the plane. My palms were a bit sweaty but we were both very excited. Take off was a breeze and we headed for the Pacific Ocean. Mike was sure to point out things to look at on the groud below as we communicated over our head sets. Finally, what we waited for...once we were over the Pacific and at a high enough altitude (I think it was 15000 ft) it was time to do some aerobatics!! BOOYA!!! Mike talked us through some barrel rolls, loops, Hammerheads and another trick that I forgot the name of. OH MY GOD!!!! It was the bomb!!! I can't put into words how amazing, awesome, wonderful etc. etc. etc. it was!!!!!!! Mike was always sure to see how we were doing. He said he wanted the experience to be Thrilling and not terrifying! If you ever get the chance to head to SoCal look up Mike and SkyThrills and he will show you the time of your life! My boyfriend said he will never forget his 40th birthday! Thanks to Mike for making his special day even more special! You are awesome and I wish you all the best with SkyThrills! read more

Not enough stars to rate this experience!! Out of body experience. The best!!! Mike was awesome, professional, and loves what he does. read more

SkyThrills! - Flight Instruction Near Me - Santa Ana, California

My husband used weeks of persuasion to make me go try fly a small plane, and when I finally did it was one of the greatest thing I have ever experienced in my entire life. Michael Blackstone (Call sign Rocket) is an awesome teacher, pilot and human being, he makes you feel completely comfortable in the plane, Just seconds after takeoff Rocket gives you complete control of the plane and calmly talks you trough flying it on your own, after like 10 seconds I was so focused on flying the plane that I forgot all about being nervous. we went up above the clouds, and Michael showed me how to gently fly trough and around clouds, and also he taught me how to touch a cloud, and that was truly an amazing experience. If you are anxious or scared of flying in a small plane, or even in a general, I highly recommend that you go fly with Rocket (Michael Blackstone) he will show you how it all works, and after the ride you will get a really good idea about how unbelievable easy and safe flying planes really is. BTW. the planes and facilities are really well kept, it seems like they are hysterical about safety and keeping the place clean and professional, the business is much bigger then I expected, and all the staff is friendly, we came early and got to hang out and touch all of the planes, I think they around 10 planes and they all look brand new :o) Rocket have flown planes since he was a kid, and he is also a airline jet pilot. read more

If you've EVER dreamt of flying a plane (not flying IN a plane, but actually flying it yourself), then this is the place you wanna go to. You need 0 experience or technical knowledge beforehand. You'll get a detailed briefing, and after takeoff, you get to fly the plane and do all the aerobatics that you can handle! You'll also get a DVD of your entire flight to show off to all your friends. Now, if that isn't too cool for school, I don't know what is! Secondly, Mike is a thorough professional. He answered all our questions over email/phone very politely and in detail. We knew exactly what to expect before we went in. Mike's instructions and briefing were excellent. He'll guide you through the entire flight, and actually encourage you to do aerobatics with the kind of enthusiasm that you get from a buddy who's letting you test drive his brand new car. Mike and his dad Mike Sr. also spent tons of time chatting with us about all things aviation...their passion about flight was clearly evident and contagious! We left with a big smile on our faces, and can't wait until we go back. One of those experiences where I wish Yelp had more stars to give! read more

Over the weekend, I just redeemed the voucher my wife had purchased as my Christmas present. We rode on the biplane. Michael was the best pilot ever, and was very passionate about his flying. I'm definitely going to do this again, when my dad comes down to visit. I was thinking that the plane was going to do loops and spins, but maybe I was just supposed to ask for the special tricks. I'm certainly going to ask Michael to give me the right of my life next time. I highly recommend sky thrills, it's a ton of fun and the price was Super reasonable. I'll refer all my friends to this company and hope that their business does very well. Thank you very much Michael. read more

Surprised my bf with the ultimate thrill ride for his bday and our 2yr anni. At first he was nervous but in the end he loved it. He told me michael made him feel very comfortable bc he was very knowledgeable and super passionate about flying planes. Booking the appointment was so easy. Payment was done over the internet and every else we communicated through text. Great customer service and experience! Highly rec! read more

My girlfriend and I had a great time on their Bi-Plane flight. Took us out over the ocean in Long Beach, where Mike our pilot, did loops, rolls, etc. It's like a roller coaster ride on an open cockpit plane. Saw a huge school of dolphins chasing a school of fish. Too cool for words. You gotta try it. Most fun you'll ever have. read more

I wish I could give this experience more stars than five. I have done some pretty incredible things in this world and I have to say that my time at Sky Thrills and Air Combat in Long Beach takes the cake! For starters, the staff is incredibly welcoming and friendly and the facility is top notch. Mike, Mini, Arian and Veronica made the experience an absolute blast. As for the flight, not even once did I feel unsafe or sick. Mini knew exactly how far to push it to get that adrenaline rush without the nausea. I have wanted to get my pilots license for a long time and after my experience at Sky Thrills and Air Combat, I am waiting no longer. Don't hesitate, just go and experience this unforgettable time for yourself! read more