Discovery Flight

Experience the thrill of Flying an Airplane — no experience needed!
Starting at only $149 - Book Now

Take the pilot’s seat and fly the plane yourself, guided by a certified instructor. Feel the thrill of takeoff and the freedom of the open sky in your first real flying lesson. Book your discovery flight today and start your journey as a pilot.

Your Discovery Flight Lesson - How it Works

  • Meet & Prepare
    ‍
    Meet your instructor, tour the plane, and review the preflight checklist.
  • Take the Pilot’s Seat
    ‍
    Get in the captain’s seat and prep for takeoff.
  • Fly the Plane
    ‍
    Take off and fly the plane yourself, guided by your instructor.
  • Land & Debrief
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    Land, debrief, and log your flight time. (counts towards pilot certifications)
Book Your Flight
Discovery Flight Gift Certificate
*The appointment with your FAA certificated instructor includes aircraft flying time (various options available)

Get started with our discovery flight lesson and continue to get your pilot certificates

Take the first step towards your flying career with our exciting Discovery Flight Lesson!

Let Them Soar - Gift Certificate

Gift the Discovery of Flight Today!

Our Discovery Flight Lesson Gift Certificates make the perfect present for aspiring pilots. Give someone the chance to soar through the skies and experience the thrill of flying. The start of a rewarding career path!

100% Safety Rating

You are flying with the Best
FAA Certified, 28+ years experience Teaching.

Starts at Only $249

An unforgettable experience awaits your loved ones, at a great price!

Discovery Flight Q&A

Discover the excitement of flying with our introductory Discovery Flight Lessons tailored for you.

Does the discovery flight count towards my pilot hours?

Your flight instructor will give you a starter pilot logbook free of charge. The instructor pilot will log this flight and sign the entry including a FAA certificate number which is required to log this flight towards your experience requirements.

What can do to prepare for the Discovery Flight?

It is really optional to prepare for the flight. No prior experience is required. We provide a free pamphlet with flight training information if you should want to study ahead. Please inquire, it’s free!

Will I get to actually control the aircraft?

Yes! The goal is to have you control the aircraft at least about 80 percent of the flight duration. The flight instructor will help you with the take off and the landing but you should expect to pretty much do all the flying once airborne!

Can I take pictures?

Most definitely! You can take pictures while airborne, just coordinate with the flight instructor. Selfies? Sure! Picture of the airplane? Sure!

Can I sign up if I like it?

You can sign up with us anytime! Flight training is paid as you go, there is no need for advance payments. Once you have established a set schedule we will help you make a plan to complete the training efficiently.

Is this a real flight lesson?

Booking a discovery flight is easy! You can schedule your lesson online or by contacting our office. Gift certificates are also available for a unique present.

Do I need TSA authorization?

No! In case you are not a US citizen, the US government agency TSA allows us to fly one flight lesson with you without additional processing. You will need the TSA authorization for the second lesson, it’s easy to get, so no worries!

Which time of day is best?

Any time during daylight hours, any day, weekends, holidays. We are very flexible and you can arrange a discovery flight to suit your requirements.

What our students say

Read genuine testimonials from our students, sharing their experiences and achievements with California Flight School.

"For my first time flying, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience... fantastic instructor, explaining everything throughout with the right amount…"

Julian Vasquez
Aspiring Pilot

Explore our complete range of Flight School Courses

Explore our flight training programs, from Commercial Aviation courses to Instrument Ratings, or even start with a Discovery Flight.

FAQs

Flight School Additional Information

The cost of your flight school training is affected by a lot of factors

Factors that influence your flight training cost:
‍
‍
- The airplane you choose to learn to fly in
‍
- The number of instruction hours you require
‍
- Your study habits and natural aptitude (this affects how many
instruction hours you’ll need)
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- Our use of flight simulators, which help reduce your total flight training cost
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- Your chosen time frame — learning to fly in a shorter period is often more efficient and cost-effective
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- Please keep in mind: your progress, completion time, and overall cost depend greatly on your talent, enthusiasm, and how consistently you study.

Knowledge Test

The FAA computer multiple choice testing fee for each of the flight academy tests is currently is $175, paid directly to the test center. You will prepare for the exams using our online video based ground school. The tests consists of 60 questions and you will have plenty of time to complete it.

Starting the Flight Academy

You can start with us anytime. Our flight academy offers training with "pay as you go", there is no need for advance payments. Once you have established a set schedule we will help you make a plan to complete the training efficiently.

TSA Authorization

In case you are not a US citizen, the US government agency TSA requires additional processing. Please let us know if this applies and we can help you with this.

Medical Exam

You will want to go for a first class medical exam to make sure there are no obstacles in the way. The FAA publishes a list of approved aviation medical examiners. You won't need this certification right away but it is wise to get this done early in the training.

Training Times

Any time during daylight hours, any day, weekends, holidays. We are very flexible and you can arrange a schedule to suit your requirements. If you consider accelerating your training schedule to several times per week or even every day, you need to accelerate your study effort accordingly.

Final Flight Test

The final FAA flight test fee is currently $1000, paid directly to your friendly FAA examiner. Your flight instructor will prepare you for this exam which consists of a ground (oral) and flight portion.

Flight School Books & Equipment

Our online video training package is $299 including the online ground school and online test prep software. Misc. equipment, manuals and charts about another $150. We recommend getting this kit right away and start preparing for your lessons.

Still have questions?

We would be delighted to answer them!