A joy ride is a 30-minute aerial experience that lets you sit in (or fly in) one of our incredible vintage aircraft—like our WWII-era SNJ T-6 Texan or our classic Piper Super Cruiser, “Patches.” These flights give you a rare chance to experience what flying felt like in aviation’s golden era.

Yes—if you book the SNJ T-6 Texan experience, you’ll have the opportunity to take the stick and feel what it’s like to fly a real WWII training aircraft. All flying is supervised by a qualified instructor. For “Patches,” the flight is sightseeing only.

You can brag to your friends however you would like, however this is different than our discovery flights (training).

If you have a logbook and want it signed off, we'll have to make sure your flight is booked with one of our certified flight instructors, we do the logbook endorsement at no additional charge.

Absolutely. Our aircraft are meticulously maintained by Marauder Air, specializing in warbirds, radials, and vintage aircraft. All flights are conducted by highly experienced commercial pilots with extensive time in these specific airframes. Safety is always the top priority.

“Patches” is perfect for families and kids.
The aircraft can fit:

• One adult and a small child in the back, or
• Two children in the back.
  
  It’s an ideal introduction to aviation for younger flyers.

For most flights, passengers must be able to safely wear a seatbelt and follow pilot instructions. For the SNJ T-6, additional weight and mobility requirements apply—contact us for specifics.

We offer aerobatics in the T6 Texan as an option to the rider, with consent first.

Comfortable clothing, closed-toe shoes, and sunglasses are recommended. Cameras and phones are welcome for photos and video; however, if you’re flying in the T-6 Texan, we strongly recommend securing these items due to wind and aircraft vibration. Friends and family are welcome to accompany you to the hangar, but please note that there is no supervision available during your flight, and young children or siblings cannot be left unattended. Because of the distance from the hangar to the runway, there is limited visibility for filming takeoffs and landings.

Yes! Joy rides make unforgettable gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and aviation lovers of all ages.

All flights depart from our home airport in the Wild West of California, surrounded by stunning scenery and wide-open skies perfect for sightseeing.

Use the calendar under the aircraft, please specify days /times preferred and which aircraft. A member of our team will check our flight schedules and confirm. You'll receive pre-flight and arrival instructions will be sent once your booking is secured.