Most Father's Day gifts are things. A discovery flight is an hour of his life he will talk about for the rest of it: sitting in the pilot's seat of a real airplane at Van Nuys Airport, an instructor beside him, his own hands on the controls over the Hollywood Sign, downtown Los Angeles and, on the longer flights, the coast. It is delivered by email in minutes, it is valid for five years, there are no blackout dates, and if he has ever once said "I always wanted to learn to fly," you have found the gift. This article explains which flight to choose for which kind of dad, how the gift works, and how to make the day itself go well.
Why A Discovery Flight Works As A Gift
Three reasons. It is an experience rather than an object, and the research on gifts is consistent that experiences are remembered longer and valued more. It is participatory: he is not a passenger on a tour, he is the pilot, and that is what makes the story he tells afterward his story. And it is a genuine first lesson, logged in a logbook with an instructor's signature, so if the flight lights something up, the hour already counts toward a private pilot license. Fathers who had a childhood aviation phase, who fly a lot for work and wonder what it is like up front, who have a flight simulator on the computer, or who simply never had an excuse: this is the excuse.
Which Flight To Choose
| Flight | Price | Who Flies | Choose It For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery flight, 60 minutes | $229 | Dad, solo with the instructor | The classic; a dad who would rather go alone and concentrate |
| Discovery flight for two over downtown LA, 60 minutes | $299 | Dad flies, one of you rides along | The most popular Father's Day choice; you share the day |
| Malibu coast flight for two, 90 minutes | $399 | Dad flies, one rides | The coastline: Santa Monica Bay, Point Dume, Zuma |
| Luxury Cirrus SR22 flight for two, 60 minutes | $399 | Dad flies, one rides | The dad who appreciates the machine: glass cockpit, leather, air conditioning, a parachute |
| Full-motion simulator, 60 minutes | $189 | Dad | Any weight, any weather, and a good choice for a nervous flyer |
| Open-value gift card | Any amount | He chooses | When you are not sure which flight, or want to fund lessons |
The discovery flight for two over downtown Los Angeles is the one we sell most for Father's Day, and the reason is simple: someone gets to be in the airplane with him. A son or daughter in the back seat while dad flies past Griffith Observatory is the whole point of the day for a lot of families, and it produces the photographs. If he is a solitary sort who would rather focus, the single-seat flight is the same experience without an audience. If he is a car person, a watch person, a gadget person, the Cirrus SR22 is the flight; it is the airplane that impresses people who are hard to impress.
How The Gift Works
- Buy the flight or a gift card online. Both are delivered by email within minutes, with a printable certificate. Order on the morning of Father's Day if you have to; it still arrives before brunch.
- He books his own date. The certificate has a code; he calls or books online for any day and time in the calendar. We fly seven days a week, 9 AM to 9 PM.
- It is valid for five years. Under California law our gift certificates do not expire for five years, so there is no pressure to fly this month. There are no blackout dates and no seasonal surcharges.
- Weather protection. If we cancel for weather, he reschedules at no cost. Free rescheduling up to 24 hours before for any reason.
Everything about gift cards, delivery and how the recipient books is on our gift cards page, and every flying gift we offer is collected on our gifts page.
Things To Check Before You Buy
- Weight. The airplanes have limits and they are real: 180 lb per person and 360 lb combined in the Piper Warrior, 200 lb per person and 400 lb combined in the Cirrus SR22. If he is above those, the full-motion simulator has no limit and is a genuine flight lesson, or an open-value gift card lets him choose.
- Nerves. Nervous flyers do surprisingly well at the controls; being the pilot removes most of the fear of being a passenger. If he is truly anxious, the simulator is a gentle first step.
- Health. No medical certificate is needed for a discovery flight. If he can get into the airplane and buckle the belt, he can fly.
- Age. No upper limit. Fathers and grandfathers in their seventies and eighties fly with us and tend to be the calmest people on the ramp.
- Surprise or not? Tell him. Half the value of the gift is the anticipation, and he will want to choose his own day and weather.
Making The Day Itself Good
Book a morning slot if you can; the air over Los Angeles is smoothest before the afternoon breeze, and the light is good. He should wear closed-toe shoes, bring sunglasses and a government photo ID, eat a light breakfast and skip the second coffee. Plan on two to two and a half hours at the airport for a sixty-minute flight, longer for the 90-minute coast flight. If someone rides along, they should bring a phone with a strap or a secure pocket; the photographs from the back seat are the ones that end up framed. Afterward, the logbook entry is signed in front of him, and the drive home is usually a monologue about the Hollywood Sign from 2,000 feet.
If He Wants To Keep Going
A meaningful share of the fathers who fly a discovery flight as a gift come back for a second lesson, and some go on to a license. If that happens, the gift hour is already logged and counts toward the 40-hour minimum, and if he enrolls within 24 hours of the flight the price of the flight credits toward his course. An open-value gift card can fund the next few lessons, which is the follow-up gift for the birthday after Father's Day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is A Discovery Flight A Good Father's Day Gift?
For a dad who has ever been curious about flying, it is one of the best there is: he flies the airplane himself with an instructor beside him, the hour is logged, and it is delivered by email with five years to use it.
Which Discovery Flight Should I Buy For Father's Day?
The discovery flight for two over downtown LA, $299, is the most popular because a family member rides along. The Cirrus SR22 flight, $399, suits a dad who loves machines. The single-seat 60-minute flight, $229, suits a dad who wants to concentrate.
Does The Flight Gift Expire?
Not for five years, with no blackout dates.
Can I Buy A Discovery Flight Gift At The Last Minute?
Yes. Delivery is by email within minutes, any day of the year.
What If Dad Cannot Fly On The Day?
He books whichever day suits him within five years, and rescheduling is free up to 24 hours before. Weather cancellations cost nothing.
Give Him The Controls
Book the discovery flight for two and be in the airplane with him, or choose any flight from the gifts page and have the certificate in his inbox within minutes. If you are thinking bigger, from a first lesson to a full private pilot course, book a free consultation and we will help you plan it. Questions any day, 9 AM to 9 PM, at (818) 330-1318.