New York
Location(s): 32 Locations Nationwide
Fighter Pilot for a Day
- 18 years of experience, 38,000 guest pilots flown, the most recognized air combat school in the world
- Fly the fully-aerobatic Marchetti SF260, a current production, Italian-built fighter aircraft
- Learn from fighter pilots who flew actual combat missions in Vietnam and Desert Storm
- You fly 90% of the time! Absolutely no experience necessary!
- Free Gift Box
- Free Returns
- Free Exchanges
booking process >>
Description:
Off we go into the wild blue yonder... Your mission: work with your instructor to outsmart, outmaneuver, and outgun your opponents over the course of six "g-pulling" dogfights. You will be manning the controls of a real, fully aerobatic, high-performance aircraft.
After attending a full briefing covering formation flight, gun sight tracking, and aerial combat maneuvers, you will don your flight suit and board the Marchetti SF260, a current production, Italian-built fighter aircraft.
Once airborne, your instructor pilot will hand the controls over to you as you engage your enemy in actual combat!
Imagine yourself scanning the skies in a real military aircraft in search of an enemy airplane. You spot the bogey at 3 o'clock, break turn hard and the fight's on. Up, down, and around. Pulling G's, making quick decisions until you out maneuver your opponent, put the gunsight pipper on them, squeeze the trigger. The enemy erupts in smoke and you roll up and away, victorious!
The first half of your aerial battle will be spent hunting your adversary attempting to get a clear shot and kill, while the second half will be spent eluding enemy fire. May the best pilot win.
Your entire flight is captured on mini digital video cassette to keep the memory alive for years to come.
Availability:
Year Round; Select Dates.
Click here for Schedule
Location(s):
32 Locations Nationwide
Essential Information:
No experience necessary. Participants should be at least 14 years old, must weigh no more than 250 pounds, and be no taller than 6'7". Please see the FAQ section for additional information.
Duration:
2.5-3 hours with 1 hour of flight time.
Maximum Participants:
1 participant and instructor per plane. Then one plane vs. one plane in a dog fight.
Spectators:
The customers and their guests may sit in on the briefing and the de-briefing. Guests may also watch their loved ones take off and land. The actual maneuvers take place about 25 miles from the airport and at an altitude that spectators on the ground could never see.
Weather Dependent:
This experience is weather dependent. Always contact the Experience provider with any questions regarding weather conditions.
What to Wear:
Wear comfortable clothing and closed toed shoes; sneakers recommended. A flight suit is provided.
Booking Information:
For this experience, it is recommended to request bookings at least 30 days in advance.
Cancellation Policy:
Prior to scheduling/booking a date for this experience, Cloud 9's standard return and exchange policy shall apply. Once you have scheduled a date and received a booking confirmation, cancellations made at least 30 days prior to the Experience will incur a cancellation fee equal to 20% of the Experience price. Failure to appear on your booked date or to cancel and rebook at least 30 days prior to your booked date will result in the loss of the value of your Experience.
What is a lifetime memory worth? Life really is the memories you make and the memories you leave.
What is a lifetime memory worth? Life really is the memories you make and the memories you leave.
"MY FLIGHT WAS THE MOST EXCITING ADVENTURE I HAVE EVER HAD! If I had a ""BucketList"" it would be #1. Snoop was my pilot, great guy, and my instructor was Bluto... had fun with them both. We did YOYO's and to celebrate the flight's end we did a complete victory roll which was awesome. I had a full crew in attendance, husband, sister, mom, daughter, 2 grandchildren, my nephew from San Francisco and 2 friends from Las Vegas. WONDERFUL WONDERFUL WONDERFUL! "
"MY FLIGHT WAS THE MOST EXCITING ADVENTURE I HAVE EVER HAD! If I had a ""BucketList"" it would be #1. Snoop was my pilot, great guy, and my instructor was Bluto... had fun with them both. We did YOYO's and to celebrate the flight's end we did a complete victory roll which was awesome. I had a full crew in attendance, husband, sister, mom, daughter, 2 grandchildren, my nephew from San Francisco and 2 friends from Las Vegas. WONDERFUL WONDERFUL WONDERFUL! "
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Do I need any flying experience?
Absolutely not! Most of our customers do not have a pilot's license, and many have never even flown in a single-engine aircraft.
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Can I do this? Will I have fun?
Absolutely! Second only to safety is our pledge for you to have FUN! FUN! FUN! It is a flying experience you will talk about and remember forever. Everyone can do it. During your flying adventure, you will be continuously coached by your instructor pilot to ensure a successful mission, and you will walk away with a unique sense of achievement that will be difficult to top.
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How safe is it?
The aircraft used in this experience are maintained in strict accordance with Federal Air Regulations and our instructors, both military and civilian, have enviable credentials. Most are former military pilots from the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps., several are graduates of Red Flag and the Navy Fighter Weapons School. The military rules of engagement establish safe minimum altitudes and distances between the Aircrafts throughout the maneuvers. Our provider's proven training techniques will put you at ease at the controls and give you the confidence to execute even the most complex air combat maneuvers for an amazing flying adventure.
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Will I suffer motion sickness while engaging in air combat?
Based on our experience, less than 10% of customers suffer from motion sickness. We attribute this low rate to the fact that you are in control of the aircraft. You are far less likely to become ill while in control than as a passenger. Secondly, you will be taught to focus on your opponent at all times; not the horizon. This will not only ensure you get the kill, it will provide a more stable reference point. Nonetheless, this is your experience. Should at any time during the flight you begin to feel uncomfortable, simply lighten up on the controls and tell your instructor. He will do what he can to make your flying adventure more enjoyable.
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What is the Itinerary?
Expect to be there 2 1/2 - 3 hours. Upon arrival you will suit up in a flight suit and attend the ground school portion of our program. You will learn safety procedures, tactics and maneuvers, rules of engagement and the physiological effects of g-force. Then you'll grab a parachute and helmet, head out to the aircraft, and climb into the cockpit alongside your instructor pilot for the actual air combat mission. Your entire experience is recorded on mini DVC and is reviewed in the post-flight de-brief. The tapes are yours to keep.
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Are spectators allowed?
The customers and their guests may sit in on the briefing and the de-briefing. Guests may also watch their loved ones take off and land. The actual maneuvers take place about 25 miles from the airport and at an altitude that spectators on the ground could never see.
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At what altitudes will we be flying?
At the very minimum (hard deck) you'll be flying at 2,500 ft (and this varies by location). However, for each engagement you'll work within a 2,000-3,000 ft flying range that typically starts around 4,000 ft.
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I wear glasses; is this still safe?
Absolutely! In fact, we have worked to tailor this experience to challenged people in the past including blind participants.
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Can I control the plane during take off and landing?
Unfortunately due insurance regulations, the instructor pilot must handle the controls during take off and landing, even if you are a certified pilot.
What is a lifetime memory worth? Life really is the memories you make and the memories you leave.
What is a lifetime memory worth? Life really is the memories you make and the memories you leave.