(818) 290-8249 · Open 9 AM–9 PM, 7 Days a Week · ★★★★★ 4.9 · 500+ Reviews · Van Nuys Airport
A discovery flight is a real introductory flight lesson where the recipient sits in the pilot's seat and takes the controls with a certified flight instructor beside them. From Van Nuys Airport, options start at $229, and gift certificates are available. This guide covers which flight to choose, how gifting works and how to make the day unforgettable.
This is not a sightseeing ride. After the instructor handles the busy moments, the recipient takes the controls over Los Angeles.
Cessna 162 for one person ($229), Piper Warrior for two ($299), Turbo Cirrus SR22T ($399) and multi-engine Seminole ($499).
Buy a gift certificate online from our discovery flight page, or call (818) 290-8249 for help choosing.
If the recipient enrolls within 24 hours, 100% of the discovery flight fee is credited toward training.
We are open 9 AM to 9 PM, seven days a week, so the recipient can pick a time that suits them.
Time flown with an instructor can be logged as flight training, a nice keepsake and a first entry in a pilot logbook.
A discovery flight is the best way to find out whether flying is something a person wants to pursue, and it is also one of the most memorable gifts you can give someone in Los Angeles. The recipient meets a certified flight instructor at our location in the Main Terminal at Van Nuys Airport, 7900 Balboa Blvd. The instructor starts with a short briefing on how the airplane flies and what will happen in the air, then walks them through the preflight inspection.
Once airborne, the instructor handles the radio work with the Van Nuys control tower and the busier moments, then hands over the controls. The recipient gets to climb, turn and level off themselves, feeling how the airplane responds. After landing, there is time for questions and a conversation about what it would take to earn a pilot license.
Because it is a real lesson with an authorized instructor, the time can be logged in a pilot logbook. If the recipient later decides to train, that entry is the first page of their flying story. The route on the day is chosen by the instructor based on weather and air traffic, and Los Angeles offers some of the most spectacular scenery in the country to fly over.
We offer four discovery flight options. Each is a hands-on introductory flight with an instructor; the difference is the airplane and how many people can come along.
If you are not sure, the Cessna 162 is the classic first flight, and the Warrior is the way to go if two people want to share it. Want to know more about each aircraft? Visit our fleet page.
Flying makes sense for almost any milestone. Here are some of the most popular reasons people give a discovery flight in Los Angeles:
Giving a discovery flight is straightforward:
Gift certificates can be purchased from the "Buy As A Gift Certificate" option on our discovery flight page. When the recipient is ready, they call us to choose a date and time. Encourage them to schedule early in the season they want to fly, as weekends are popular.
When booking, the recipient should share their approximate height and weight, and those of any companion for the Warrior flight. Every small airplane has weight and balance limits, and the instructor plans each flight around them. It is a routine part of aviation, not a judgment, and sharing it in advance avoids disappointment on the day.
Here is a bonus that makes the gift even better: if the recipient decides to keep going and enrolls within 24 hours of the flight, 100% of the discovery flight fee is credited toward their training. Your gift can literally become the first payment on a pilot license.
A little preparation helps the recipient get the most out of the experience. Share this checklist along with the gift:
Nervous flyers are welcome too. Many people discover that being at the controls, with an instructor explaining everything, feels very different from riding in the back of an airliner. The instructor sets the pace, and the recipient can hand back the controls at any time.
Many pilots trace their career or lifelong hobby back to a single introductory flight. If the recipient lands wanting more, here is where they can go from there:
Financing is available through Stratus Financial with terms up to 15 years, plus in-house payment plans. Our pilot license cost guide is a good next read for anyone thinking seriously about it.
Call us to choose the right discovery flight and set up a gift certificate. We are open 9 AM to 9 PM, seven days a week, at Van Nuys Airport.
Real students, real first flights, real ratings — straight from Google and Yelp.
The fastest way to know if the left seat is for you is to stand on the flight line. Book a free consultation — or reach us whichever way you like.
Tour the school, meet your instructors, sit in the cockpit, and leave with a personal training plan and exact pricing. Your Discovery Flight fee is credited toward training when you enroll within 24 hours.
One minute, a few details, fast answers from a real person on our team.
