Aerobatic Flight Over LA
Loops, rolls and inverted flight in a Pitts S-2B biplane.
The Experience
This is the airshow seat. You fly in a Pitts S-2B, the two-seat biplane that has defined competition aerobatics for decades, while an FAA-certified aerobatic instructor flies every maneuver. No flying experience is needed. You choose the intensity, from a few gentle rolls to a full sequence, and between maneuvers you get Los Angeles from angles a scenic flight never shows you.
Your flight starts on the ground at Van Nuys. Your instructor walks you through the plan for the sequence, the G-forces you can expect, how you'll talk to each other over the headset, and the hand signal that brings the airplane straight back to level flight whenever you want a break. You'll look over the Pitts up close, then settle into the tandem cockpit, buckle a snug five-point harness and put on a noise-canceling headset.
Takeoff in a Pitts is short and quick. The airplane climbs out over the San Fernando Valley to a safe practice altitude, and before each maneuver your instructor tells you exactly what's coming. Loops push you firmly into the seat. Aileron rolls spin the horizon around the canopy. Hammerheads climb straight up, pivot and point back at the ground. Your instructor stays in command the whole time, so this is a passenger ride rather than a lesson, and you can ask for more or ask to ease off at any point.
Why a Pitts? Curtis Pitts designed his Special in the 1940s to out-roll everything else in the sky, and it still does. The S-2B has a 260-horsepower engine, a top speed around 200 mph and a fuel and oil system built to keep running upside down. Opportunities to fly in one are rare, which makes it a favorite bucket-list gift.
When you're not upside down, the route can take in the Hollywood Sign, Griffith Observatory, Downtown LA, the Santa Monica Pier and the Venice Beach shoreline, depending on airspace and weather. Some guests mix calm sightseeing with short bursts of aerobatics; others want a nonstop sequence. Either way, the flight is built around you.
Possible maneuvers
- Loops: full vertical circles
- Aileron rolls: a quick 360° turn around the airplane's long axis
- Hammerheads: a vertical climb, a pivot at the top and a dive back down
- Inverted flight: sustained upside-down flying
- Tail slides: the airplane slows to a stop pointing up and slides backward
- Immelmann turns: a classic dogfight maneuver
- A custom sequence at the pace you choose
What's included
- Safety briefing and walk-around of the Pitts S-2B
- Five-point harness, noise-canceling headset and a parachute for everyone on board, as federal rules require for aerobatics
- An FAA-certified aerobatic instructor flying every maneuver
- Aerobatics plus views of LA's landmarks when airspace allows
- Debrief after landing
- Optional cockpit-mounted video package
Before you book
- No pilot license or flying experience needed.
- Typical maximum passenger weight is 220 lb (100 kg), because of aircraft limits. Call us to confirm before booking.
- Minimum age is usually 16. Guests under 18 need a parent or guardian to sign the waiver.
- If you have a recent injury, an inner-ear condition, heart concerns or another medical issue, check with your doctor first. We're happy to talk it through before you book.
- Phones and cameras stay on the ground. Loose items aren't safe during high-G maneuvers, so choose the mounted video package to record your flight.
- Eat lightly 2–3 hours before, drink water, skip alcohol that day, and wear close-fitting layers and closed-toe shoes. Bring a government-issued photo ID.
Questions about this flight
Do I need any flying experience?
No. Your instructor handles the takeoff, every maneuver and the landing. You just need to fit the harness safely and bring a sense of adventure.
What do the G-forces feel like?
On a typical passenger sequence you'll feel about +3 to +4 G in the pulls, as if you briefly weighed three or four times as much, plus short moments of lightness in other maneuvers. It's strong but over quickly, and you can ask your instructor to level off at any time.
Do I wear a parachute?
Yes. Federal rules require everyone on board to wear a parachute during intentional aerobatics, and your briefing covers how it and the harness work.
Can I bring my phone?
No. Loose items aren't safe during aerobatics. Add the video package and a mounted camera records the whole flight for you.
What if the weather is bad?
Safety comes first. If the weather doesn't allow a safe flight, you get a full refund. We make that call on the morning of your flight.
Aircraft
- Pitts S-2B Biplane — Ultimate adrenaline rush, pure aerobatics.