Fly High in San Diego

Tour options abound in Southern California. Tourists with tamer tastes may be drawn to scenic train tours or convenient hop on/hop off trolley tours, and visitors who love being active may want to hike the hills or rent a bike to explore the city. However, there is a tour option in San Diego perfect for those with an insatiable appetite for adventure and trying new things: flight tours. These tours provide a bird’s eye view of San Diego and Southern California, and some tours even let you jump into the cockpit!

The 1920s Open Cockpit Biplane Flights feature a variety of tour options for adventurous spirits. The tours take place in a classic 1920s biplane where the pilot steers the plane from the back, allowing you the seat in the front of the plane, allowing for the best views. Tour options for this activity range from the 30 minute Del Mar Run to the hour long La Jolla Coaster and the Red Baron Thrill Ride. If you are a romantic spirit as well as adventurous, the hour long Sunset Snuggler is the best option for you. Sights seen depend on which tour you choose, but some sights are the California coast, Carlsbad, Torrey Pines, San Diego Bay, and Coronado.

For those looking for a more hands-on experience, the Learn to Fly Discovery Flight is the opportunity of a lifetime. This activity allows you to jump behind the controls of a Varga VG-21. The activity includes pre-flight training, the flight, and post-flight debriefing. In total, the flight lasts approximately one hour, which allows you to learn and do much of the flying. The cockpit is set up with dual joysticks, which allow you to fly the plane in safety with the company of a trained pilot.

For an adventure experience like no other, check out the Top Dog Air Combat Flight. This experience includes a 35 to 45 minute flight and training time. This tour combines the thrill of learning how to fly the Varga VG-21 and then taking control in the air (under the supervision of a trained pilot, of course). This flight experience is unique, however, in that you will also be able to participate in air combat. Whether you are doing the activity with a friend or a fellow traveler, you can experience the thrill of air combat in a controlled environment.