Introductory biplane flight in San Diego, California

Biplane flight above the San Diego coastline

This biplane flight allows you to discover the San Diego coastline from an aircraft inspired by First World War aviation. The departure takes place from Gillespie Field, an airfield located in El Cajon used for historic flights and aviation training in the region. The introductory flight begins with a forty-five-minute ground lesson during which the instructor details the structure of the biplane, the role of the controls, and the way the aircraft reacts in San Diego’s coastal airspace. This briefing will allow you to take the controls of the airplane during the flight.

Discovering open-cockpit flying

Once ready, you climb into the open cockpit for a takeoff toward the coast. The aerial route reaches the Mission Bay area, the beaches along Pacific Beach, and the surroundings of La Jolla, areas easily identifiable from altitude. This portion of the flight also includes a pass above part of the air corridor used by the U.S. Navy, located off Point Loma, where several historic figures of military aviation carried out their first navigation training. These reference points structure the route before the phase where the instructor lets you handle the stick to feel the reaction of the biplane above the coast.

Formation flight and hands-on controls

Depending on conditions and aircraft availability, the biplane may fly in formation with other vintage airplanes, offering a direct look at navigation carried out by multiple aircraft in the same sector. The instructor then lets you take the controls to perform a few simple actions related to the biplane’s orientation. This supervised phase helps you understand the precision required to direct the aircraft while maintaining its stability. The flight continues along the coastline before preparing the descent and the return toward the airfield.

End of flight in San Diego and biplane certificate

After landing, the instructor conducts the debriefing and records your flight time on an official document. A framed certificate is given to keep a record of this introductory experience at the controls of a biplane in San Diego’s airspace. The entire activity lasts about two hours, including the ground lesson, preparation, flight, and certificate delivery.