Biplane Flight in Mesa, AZ - Easily Accessible from Scottsdale

Short review: This was an awesome experience, totally worth it, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. You should absolutely book it now. Stop reading and do it. What are you waiting for?!?! Long review: My wife booked this as a surprise for Christmas. I didn't know what I was going to be doing until I arrived at the airfield. As soon as I met Craig and knew what I was about to do, I was immediately fully-cheesed and so excited that my normal ask-a-million-questions mode of operation shorted out and I just listened intently with the biggest, dumbest grin on my face. The aircraft is beautiful. Even if Craig didn't have the history of the restoration and all the photos, you'd be able to tell it was lovingly done. As a kid, I loved WW2 airplanes and had some passing awareness of these two-seater biplane models, but it was really cool to hear more about this particular model, and even more, about the path this one took to where it resides today. Very cool stuff. I wish I'd had the presence of mind to ask more questions! After giving me the history, Craig explained the parts of the aircraft, how the flight controls worked, the process we would take getting in the air (where the guest's job is to shut up and not touch anything), and gave me the run down on what maneuvers he would take us through once we got up there. Still equipped with a monster grin plastered across my face, I climbed in, followed directions on getting the harness on tight, and headset, and played with the controls a little. Craig explained he would be talking to ground control while we taxied and then air control for the first few minutes in the air (this is the part where the guest should be quiet). After waiting for a leerjet to take off and then watching the landing of a few prop planes from the flight school, it was our turn. "Seven Seven Victor cleared for takeoff" and then the throttle moved forward with a corresponding increase in racket from the 9-cylinder radial engine. I was giddy. Laughing constantly with my head on a swivel, excited to see absolutely everything around me. If you're afraid of flying because it's bumpy and you feel like you can't tell what's going on, you need to experience this. The open cockpit means you can see all around and feel, pardon the paradoxical pun, grounded the whole time. Also, every part of the flight from takeoff to landing was more gentle and smooth than most commercial flights I have ever been on. Once in the air, Craig had explained that we would need to remain mostly quiet on the comms until out of the controlled space above the airfield. Hearing the direct talk between Craig, ground control, and air control was also really interesting. As an engineer, it was fun learning how headings are communicated and observing the QA process built into these radio transmissions. When we got outside the controlled cone of airspace above the airfield, though, Craig came on the radio and gave me the run down again on how the flight controls worked. After feeling the pedal and stick movements he made for gentle, banking turns, it was my turn to give it a go. Boy, I was surprised at how much resistance the controls have once at speed in the air. But also, it doesn't take much to get a reaction from the aircraft (it's NOT like in the movies - only very small movements of the controls are needed for very significant changes in the flight of the plane!). I held it together while in my head I was screaming "THIS IS THE *#&/@ COOLEST *@#&/@ MINDBLOWING $#!+@/ I HAVE #(@&)/*!$ EVER DONE IN THE ;#?@-&/&# WORLD #?@;/@&+@*!!!!!!!!" I mean, there are no words that capture how exhilarating it was to be up in the open cockpit of a WW2 training aircraft, and be in control of it. Craig clearly has a great deal of experience coaching and guiding first time fliers. His guidance was calm, clear, and direct, making it easy to follow and instilling a sense of confidence. Although I was initially somewhat nervous, at no point did I ever doubt my complete safety and that Craig was prepared to control any situation that might arise. Not only that, but his comfort with and confidence in the plane was contagious, leaving me free to simply enjoy the experience. Gentle reminders to keep looking around for other aircraft, a little more pedal, or a little less stick, check altitude occasionally... All of these instructions were delivered calmly and clearly - as instructions, and not reprimands or urgent demands - meaning the experience was engaging and fun, without being stressful. After I did a few gentle banked turns, he asked if I wanted to go ahead with the maneuvers. Of course I went for all of what he offered up. I was particularly surprised by how significant the g-force of turns could be, even at the relatively low cruising speed of this aircraft. The weightlessness was also unique and not what I was expecting. It was actually much LESS unsettling than I thought it would be. Unlike in a car when you go over a hill, there was never any sense that any control was lost while feeling weightless. That was an entirely unique experience for me. The stall was also remarkable in that every movement was incredibly smooth and gentle. I expected there to be violent shaking like I have experienced on turbulent commercial flights. Never a bit of that, at least not that I noticed (maybe I was too busy being excited?). I was given the opportunity to do a little more flying on the way back to the airfield. This was probably the highlight for me. With confident guidance coming through the headset from behind me, I made a few gentle turns, pitched up and down, did a couple of level turns, and on command brought the aircraft down by about 700 ft in altitude. If only for a brief moment, I had the feeling that I was actually flying a plane. I WAS FLYING A #(&!@*$ PLANE!!! Not only that, but I was flying by the seat of my pants. No electronic flaps or avionics, no GPS, no hydraulics, just a stick and pedals, an altimeter, and a compass. It was a really special thing that I will always remember. Once back inside the controlled airspace, I sat intently listening to Craig's communication with the tower, and his occasional comments to me about what he was doing, locations of other aircraft, etc. the landing was as smooth as any commercial flight I've been on. Following our taxi back to the hanger, I was still grinning from ear to ear and had even MORE chance to ask questions, which Craig was happy to answer. This was truly a once in a lifetime experience. I really can't recommend this whole thing more highly. Even if it was $100 or even $150 more than my wife paid, I would still say it's absolutely worth every red cent. From learning about the airplane, to getting up in the air, to Craig being more than willing to answer every question I had, this was absolutely unforgettable. Everyone who was interested in planes as a kid should do this. Everyone who is interested in planes as an adult should do this. Anyone who considers themselves a history buff when it comes to planes, WW2, aviation, military history should do this. Heck, I'd tell anyone who just has a few free hours one afternoon that they should do it, even if they have no particular interest in WW2, flying or anything like that. The ONLY bad part about the whole experience is that I was so excited about it, I literally couldn't think. I'm normally a guy who will ask questions until I'm told that I need to stop. I'm the guy at the front of the tour group who constantly bothers the guide. I'm the one asking the zookeeper about the behaviors of whatever animal in the wild. I'm the one who asks if there are additional informational packets that I can take home. But I was just so excited about the whole thing that when Craig asked me if I had questions, I couldn't get my brain to spit anything out. In the car on the way back, of course I came up with about a million things I wish I had asked, but in the moment, I reverted to being an 11 year old boy, big eyes, big smile, big excited, looking at a plane I've only ever seen in pictures, knowing in a bit I'd get to fly in it. I can't call that a failure on the part of Craig. In fact, if anything, it just speaks to how great of an experience this was overall. I will definitely be back next time I'm in Phoenix. Sam Kloss