Hands On Introductory Flight Lesson San Diego

Learn to Fly and Take the Controls of a Cessna 172 Over Stunning Southern California

(22 ratings)
Price for 1 Participant

Hands On Introductory Flight Lesson San Diego

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About This Experience Gift

Take the Controls and Learn to Fly a Cessna 172
No Experience Necessary for this Introductory Flying Lesson
Soar Over the Scenic San Diego Landscape and California Coastline

Strap into the Pilot's seat of a Cessna 172 as you learn to fly a plane! Throughout this thrilling experience gift, you will have the chance to admire the stunning coastal vistas of Southern California as you learn to operate a light aircraft during this San Diego Flying Lesson.

The fun begins at the Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport. Here you will meet your flight Instructor who will guide you through this hands-on piloting experience. Prior to take-off, you will receive a ground lesson on the use of the aircraft's controls and go through the pre-flight safety check for the Cessna. Once aloft, the Certified Flight Instructor will direct you on the use of the plane's controls for approximately one hour as you take the yoke. Plus, you may even share this airborne adventure with a friend, inviting them to ride along and taking in the breathtaking views from the back seat.

This is San Diego Flight Lesson is an amazing way to enjoy birds-eye views of Southern California and experience the thrill of flying a light aircraft!

Where to Go for Flying Lessons in San Diego

San Diego, California

Group Size and Spectator Info

Participants
The Hands On Introductory Flight Lesson San Diego Experience Certificate is for one participant.

Guests
You may invite one guest to join you to ride along in the plane for the experience at no additional cost. The total combined weight of the participant and their guest may not exceed 340lbs. Guests must be a minimum of 10 years of age.

When can you book Hands On Introductory Flight Lesson San Diego

OPEN Additional Dates Coming Soon CURRENTLY CLOSED

Additional Dates Coming Soon

The San Diego Introductory Flight Lesson is offered seven days a week year-round, subject to availability. Reservations are scheduled between 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM.

How Long Is The Hands On Introductory Flight Lesson San Diego

The San Diego Hands-On Introductory Flight Lesson has 30 minutes of ground instruction followed by a 45 to 60 minute flight, and a total duration of approximately 2 hours.

Does Weather Impact Flying Lessons

The Hands-On Introductory Flight Lesson may be rescheduled due to high winds, heavy rain, fog or other inclement weather.

What to Wear for Flying Lessons

Dress comfortably, flat rubber-soled shoes and layers are recommended for this adventure. Open-toed shoes are not permitted.

What To Know Before You Go

Your flight will take place in a Cessna 172. Participants must be over the age of 14 years old. Participation is limited to individuals weighing less than 250lbs and a maximum combined weight of 340lbs for participants and their guest. Please consult your doctor prior to participation if diabetic or are not in good health.

All flight Instructors are fully FAA Certified.

Participants are required to sign a Liability Release Form prior to flight.

ITEM/SKU NUMBER: 02BL50100A

Inquire about this Experience

Reservation And Cancelation Policy

All changes to reservations for the Hands On Scenic Flight Lesson San Diego Experience require fourteen (14) days advance notice.

Xperience Certificates® cannot be exchanged once a reservation for the experience has been made.

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Certificates are valid for one year from the date of purchase. After 12 months from the date of issue, the redeemer will be responsible for any price increase for the activity (if there is one at the time of redemption).
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Hands-On Flight San Diego Customer Reviews

Average Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Amazing Experience

That's awesome and the instructor was great!! Highly recommend it!!
JRC - San Diego
Verified Xperience Days Participant
Highly Recommend!

Experience from start to finish was fantastic. The instructor was efficient in delivering instruction, very hands on approach. Be ready for a lot of information but in a supportive environment. Flight time was incredible and it really gives you an appreciation for being a “pilot”.
JR - San diego
Verified Xperience Days Participant
A great experience!!!

I purchased an introductory flight lesson for my 14 year old son. He and I both loved every minute. The pre-flight instruction with Bruce was very detailed, and the flight itself was fantastic! I highly recommend Bruce and the whole experience!
Juan C Bosque - San Diego
Verified Xperience Days Participant
A Gift from My Son

My son bought me the flight lesson earlier this year and I was finally able to schedule the opportunity. The way I read the description and what I received were much different. I thought it would be 15-20 minutes of mostly safety instructions; an hour flight during which I'd get to take the yoke a couple times as we flew down the San Diego coast to the Mexico border. Not even close to the reality! Prior to heading out to the plane we did the mandatory paperwork and was asked if I wanted to go inland towards the desert; North County; or down towards Mexico and the San Diego Bay. I was told what each would entail so I could make an educated decision. I went with the North County since it would allow me to see the coast during the afternoon and get a great view/scenery. We headed out for a full flight briefing on the trainer from the outside in explaining what the different things did; how they operated; and how to control them. We then went through the gauges and to say my head spun was an understatement. It was like my first time behind the wheel of a car 30+ years ago.

I cannot recommend enough the experience. The plane is a trainer plane; it isn't some luxury ride with large wide seats; and depending on your size/frame can feel a bit constricting (which was a bit of how I felt). The sky was tranquil but unfortunately with all the fires in Ventura/Santa Barbara; North County; and in TJ there was quite a bit of smoke in the air which took away from the views but like the wind conditions nothing to be done there. Making the most of the flight I'd tell you to tighten the seatbelt and shoulder harness to their strongest settings so when you begin to bank and make turns you feel held in-place.

Ultimately this was a tremendous day that well exceeded what I was expecting. The views we fantastic and it gave me a better appreciation of the San Diego area with a memorable experience! I only hope you enjoy this as much as I did.
Daniel Ware - San Diego
Verified Xperience Days Participant
Great Lesson

The instructor was extremely thorough, and really knew everything possible about the airplane. The flying was great and I plan to have more lessons.
Joe Parks - San Diego
Verified Xperience Days Participant
Excellent first flight experience

Bruce is the best instructor I could have gotten. I really enjoyed the educational and fun experience with the intro flight. I appreciated the fact that he took the flying instruction part seriously and showed me how to really fly the plane, while making it a fun memorable experience. Am seriously thinking about putting in more time to learning to fly now.
Pauline Lim - San Diego
Verified Xperience Days Participant
Far exceeded expectations!!

I was given this experience as a birthday gift and was thoroughly impressed. What I got from the experience far exceeded my expectations. This experience is a real introductory flying lesson, and not just a scenic flight where you get to steer a bit.

You spend over an hour on the ground learning how all the controls and instruments work in order to fly a plane. Once you've got that down, you go out onto the runway and go through it again in an actual plane. Once that's done, you board and take off.

Once in the air you get to practically do each of the main things you just learnt on the ground. Turning, changing speed, changing elevation, etc. Then once you have done each one on their own, you get to take full control and do them altogether.

The instructor was brilliant. Very cool calm and collected as you would hope from a flying instructor.

If I was staying in San Diego, I would want to continue with more lessons. Altogether a brilliant experience.

And a plus is you get to take someone with you in the plane to share the experience with.
Luke - San Diego (Montgomery Field)
Verified Xperience Days Participant
Introductory Flight Lesson in San Diego

What I received was way more than I had expected, which was GREAT!!!! I did not realize I was receiving a full blown flight lesson... Great experience!!!
David Dion - San Diego
Verified Xperience Days Participant
Introductory Flight Lesson

It was great. Spent time on the ground first learning about the controls etc, then up into the air. I was nervous, but felt confident in the experienced instructor to keep us safe. Would highly recommend to others interested in exploring the option of learning to fly!
Shana Frederickson - San Diego
Verified Xperience Days Participant
Hands-On Flight Lesson

Bruce is amazing! I had a wonderful time.
Ofelia Chernock - Montgomery Field Airport
Verified Xperience Days Participant
San Diego Flight Lesson

An exceptional day and experience. My assigned Flight instructor Bruce E. was very thorough and had a very systematic learning process that made sense. He was clear and concise our afternoon on the ground and in the air was a delight. We were fortunate to have a clear day over the San Diego coast and spent 50-60 minutes in the air. Most of that time was spent teaching me turns, assents, descents, and learning the behavior of the airplane. A wonderful day - I would recommend Experience Days to anyone as a gift or otherwise. Also seek out Bruce E. for instruction too - He was obviously very experienced, nice, and made the day fun. Thanks
John Holm - Montgomery Field
Verified Xperience Days Participant
Great First Flight Lesson

I had such a great time on my first flight lesson. I've always wanted to do this and I'm so happy I was finally able to do it. Great great instruction, awesome teacher, amazing overall experience. Would definitely recommend this to any aviation enthusiast!
Damien Micallef - Los Angeles
Verified Xperience Days Participant
Introductory Flight

I had my first introductory flight and thought it was amazing. My instructor went into detail about the controls on the ground before take off, and then more while in the air. I was able to pilot the plane by myself for a short while. Great experience and highly recommended.
Andrew Helin - San Diego
Verified Xperience Days Participant
San Diego Flight Lesson

A great trip. My instructor was super clear and methodical, and introduced the controls to me (in the air) one at a time, which was great. The time slipped by very fast, but in fact we went over time a little. Can't rate this highly enough.
RSP - San Diego
Verified Xperience Days Participant
WOW

How cool was that!?! Not only going up in an airplane and taking control, but actually getting taught what you're doing! Makes sense, but I thought I'd just be given a small amount of control. Not so much - an hour of instruction on the ground, and logical steps in the air building up to taking full control. Amazing!
Eric Henninger - Orange CA
Verified Xperience Days Participant
San Diego Intro Flight Lesson

I'm hooked! I had a great time and I learned a ton. Bruce is a very experienced and patient instructor. Be careful, this is a gateway lesson... next thing you know your selling your car to pay for the full pilot license training... just kidding (sort of, haha).
Tim - San Diego
Verified Xperience Days Participant
Hands On Intro-Flight

My fiance bought this for me for Christmas and we went on Valentines Day. The instructor was very professional, which was reassuring for me as the student and my fiance as the passenger. The instruction was a little fasted paced, but that's to be expected. Once we were in the air, the lesson paid off and steps taken to assume full command made sense. The aircraft was very stable and could have flown itself which was comforting for when I made slight mistakes. This was a very rewarding experience that gave me a lot of insight as to how I'd like to further my instruction in flying.
Corey - San Diego
Verified Xperience Days Participant
Flight Lesson

Absolutely the BEST flight instructor I could have hoped for. Just THE BEST! The entire experiance was fabulous and I only wish he was in my city to continue on with him. my instructor has earned his gold medal in patience and professionalism. Fabulous fabulous experience!!!
Laurea - Edmonton
Verified Xperience Days Participant
Hands on Intro Flight

This was an experience my fiance will never forget. All he could tell me was 'It's easy but scary at the same time. It's like driving a car but different.' He loved it. One of the best experience he has had through out his life. I would recommend this to everybody who is not afraid of heights.
Becky Moua - Garden Grove
Verified Xperience Days Participant
Introductory Flight Lesson

The entire experience was amazing. The instructor, Bruce, was very extremely knowledgeable and polite. He not only made the flight interesting but fun at the same time. This was worth every minute and should be something anyone somewhat interested should try out.
Ajay Yadav - San Diego
Verified Xperience Days Participant
Hands-On Flight Lesson

WOW...What can I say, but WOW... Truly a great experience. The instruction session was comprehensive and real-world and the flight was incredible! Recommend this Experience to anyone, but especially those even remotely interested in learning to fly. This will definitely push those who are sitting on the fence (like me) over the edge and into full time flight training. Excellent service all around. WELL DONE!
Tim D'Angelo - San Diego
Verified Xperience Days Participant
Experience Days San Diego Flight Lesson

The instructor was very patient and professional along with all the staff at the facility. I actually learned A LOT! The log book with an hour clocked in given to me at the end of the flight was a plus. Overall this was a great experience I will never forget. Anyone remotely interested in flying or who just wants to try something new should definitely check this out!
Phillip - Euless TX
Verified Xperience Days Participant
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Questions about Hands-On Flight San Diego

Question: My husband does not have any piloting experience, but knows he is interested in learning to fly. Is this lesson something that would be benifical for someone like him? I am trying to research this as a birthday gift. Also will students be given information about where they can further their flying education and what the costs may be?

Answer: Yes, the Hands-On Introductory Flight Lesson San Diego is the perfect introduction to flying. No experience is required and participants may choose to sign up for additional lessons if they are interested in learning more or obtaining their private pilot's license.
Question: I eventually want to get a private pilot's license. Do you have any special offers or packages for that?

Answer: Unfortunately Experience Days does not offer any packages that allow you to obtain your private pilots license. We offer introductory lessons only. However, if you take an introductory flight lesson and decide that you would like to pursue getting your pilots license, you would be able to apply that flight time to your logged training hours. You would also be able to arrange further training directly with the flight school.
Question: I'd like to purchase the San Diego Introductory Flight for my wife's birthday. It says that the certificate is only valid for one person, but then says that you can invite a guest. I just want to make sure that I can tag along on the flight. I don't want to miss seeing my wife in the cockpit!

Answer: Only one person will be able to take the controls during this experience, but they may invite a passenger to ride along in the backseat at no extra cost. The only restriction is the combined weight of both passengers must be less than 340lbs.
Question: My wife just gave me a certificate for the flight lesson for my birthday. How much actual flight time will I get?

Answer: The San Diego Introductory Flight lesson consists of 30 minutes of ground instruction followed by 45 to 60 minutes of actual flight time. Flight time is defined by the FAA as "Chocks Away to Chocks Under", meaning that taxi, take-off and landing is included in the flight time.
Question: The weight limit says 340lbs combined but 250lbs per individual. I weigh 270lbs but will not be bringing a passenger. How strict are they about the weight limits?

Answer: The weight limits are put in place by the FAA for safety reasons and they are very strict about them. Passengers cannot be more than 250 lbs.
Question: Does the person have to have any previous experience or even have the intention of continuing training or can it just be for a once off experience?

Answer: No experience is required for the Hands On Introductory Flight Lesson San Diego and the participant does not need to have any intention of continuing with flight training.
Question: I saw there’s an age limit for the participant but is there an age limit for the guest? I want to book this for my husband and was wondering if my 11 year old son could accompany him

Answer: Guests of the participant should be over the age of 10 and weight a minimum of 50lbs. If the guest is under age, they will need to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Question: Hi there! My boyfriend is 6'6. Is there a height limit to the flight lesson?

Answer: We do not recommend this experience for individuals taller than 6'2".
Question: What is included in the Hands-On Introductory Flight Lesson?

Answer: The Hands-On Introductory Flight Lesson includes a pre-flight briefing, a hands-on experience with basic flight maneuvers, and the opportunity to take the controls of the aircraft under the guidance of a certified flight instructor.
Question: Is there an age limit for participants?

Answer: Participants must be at least 16 years old to take the flight lesson, and those under 18 will need to have a parent or guardian sign a waiver.
Question: Do I need prior flying experience to participate?

Answer: No prior flying experience is required! This introductory lesson is designed for beginners and those looking to experience flying for the first time.
Question: How long is the flight lesson?

Answer: The Hands-On Introductory Flight Lesson typically lasts about 1.5 to 2 hours, including both ground instruction and flight time.
Question: What if the weather is bad on the day of my lesson?

Answer: Safety is our top priority. If the weather conditions are unsuitable for flying, your instructor will work with you to reschedule your lesson for a later date.
Question: What should I wear for my flight lesson?

Answer: We recommend wearing comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes. It's best to dress in layers as the temperature can vary with altitude.
Question: Can I take a guest with me to watch the flight lesson?

Answer: Yes, you can bring a guest to watch the lesson! Just let your instructor know in advance, and they will accommodate the extra person.
Question: How do I book a flight lesson as a gift?

Answer: You can purchase a gift certificate for the Hands-On Introductory Flight Lesson directly on the Experience Days website. This certificate can be redeemed by the recipient at their convenience.
Question: Is there a weight limit for the flight lesson?

Answer: Yes, please check with the flight school as some aircraft may have specific weight limits. It's always best to confirm in advance.
Question: What if I need to cancel or reschedule my lesson?

Answer: You can typically reschedule or cancel your lesson by contacting the flight school directly. Please check their specific policy for any cancellation fees or time restrictions.

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