Discovery Flight · From $199
Discovery Flights in Southern California
Starting at $199. 45 minutes in the left seat with a CFI.
The cheapest, fastest, most honest way to find out if flight training is for you. You'll fly the airplane. You'll handle the controls. You'll know within an hour whether this is the career or the hobby you thought it would be.
What it is
An FAA-recognized introductory flight lesson. Counts as your first hour of dual instruction toward your Private Pilot Certificate if you continue.
You sit in the left seat (where the pilot sits). A CFI sits in the right seat with full controls. They handle taxi, takeoff communication, and landing on your first flight. You handle the airplane in cruise: turns, climbs, descents, the basics of straight-and-level flight.
Not a sightseeing tour. A working pilot lesson scaled to a beginner.
What to expect, start to finish
Before you arrive
Book online or by phone. We'll send a short pre-flight brief: what to wear (closed-toe shoes, layers, no scarves), what to bring (ID, sunglasses, motion-sickness pills if needed).
When you arrive · 30 minutes pre-flight
Meet your CFI. They'll walk you through the airplane on the ramp: how the controls work, how the engine works, how the basics of flight work. The preflight inspection, the same one every pilot does before every flight.
In the airplane · 45 to 60 minutes
The CFI handles taxi and takeoff. At cruise altitude (3,000 to 5,500 feet MSL), they hand you the controls. Gentle turns, climbs, descents. They'll point out landmarks, show you the panel, answer questions.
Most first-time fliers are stable, calm, and grinning by minute 10.
CFI handles the landing, with you on the controls for the approach so you can feel how the airplane decelerates and descends.
After landing · 15 minutes
Debrief. They'll log your time if you want a logbook. They'll answer the question every discovery flight student asks: "So what now?"
Destinations students pick most
Fly anywhere weather and the airplane's range allow. Most-requested:
- Catalina Island (KAVX) · 26 miles over open water to the "Airport in the Sky" at 1,602 feet MSL on a hilltop runway. The harbor, Avalon, the Pacific. Most popular from Riverside.
- Hollywood Sign / Griffith Park · VFR transition through LA airspace. 45-minute round trip from KRAL. The photo every new pilot wants.
- Disneyland airspace boundary · the Class D shelf at John Wayne (KSNA), park from 2,500 feet AGL. Best at sunset.
- Dana Point and the Pacific coastline · south to the coast, up the shoreline. Calm air, dramatic views.
- San Bernardino Mountains and Big Bear Lake · from Redlands, 25 minutes into mountain terrain. Best morning or evening.
- March Air Reserve Base flyby · C-17s, KC-135s, refuelers from above. Class C transition with ATC.
Pricing
| Flight Type | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery Flight (local, 30 min air time) | 60 min total | $199 |
| Extended Discovery (1 hr air, Hollywood Sign or local mountains) | 90 min total | $279 |
| Catalina Island Discovery | 2 to 2.5 hrs total | $479 |
Prices are per flight, not per person. Two adults plus a CFI in our Cessna 172s (subject to weight and balance).
Who flies a discovery flight
- Anyone considering flight training · best way to find out
- Birthday and gift purchases · gift cards available
- Aviation enthusiasts wanting a left-seat experience
- Returning pilots considering whether to restart training
What you can do after
If you want to continue, your CFI walks you through next steps that day: medical certificate, ground school, training plan, financing. No pressure.
About 65 to 75% of our discovery flight students become full training students. The ones who don't typically know it within the first 20 minutes.
FAQ
How old do I need to be?
No minimum for a discovery flight. Minimum to solo is 16. PPL is 17.
Do I need experience?
None.
Can I bring a passenger?
Yes. One adult in the back, subject to weight and balance.
Will I get motion sick?
Most people don't. We fly smooth-air windows (mornings and evenings) for discovery flights. Non-drowsy formula 30 minutes pre-flight if you're prone.
What if the weather is bad?
We reschedule, no charge. Pilot judgment is part of what we're teaching from minute one.