WWII Biplane Flight: Arizona's Historic Adventure

Fly a WWII biplane over McDowall Mountains. Experience history, take controls, and enjoy thrilling maneuvers. Book your unique aerial adventure today.

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • McDowell Mountain Regional Park - Experience the thrill of flying in an open cockpit biplane over the stunning mountains northeast of Mesa. This adventure offers the opportunity to learn in an aircraft that is a genuine piece of history.
What's Included
  • Carbonated beverages
  • Canvas Helmet with Headphones and Microphone
Additional Information

Limited-time offer: lowest price in Arizona! Experience a beginner’s flight in a WWII training biplane. Enjoy flying in an open cockpit biplane over the McDowell Mountains. The Stearman biplane, used 80 years ago to train WWII aviation cadets, offers an authentic historical experience. The plane has only two seats, one for the operator and one for the…

Location
2745 N Greenfield Rd
North Greenfield Road
Navigate to the address. When you arrive, you will see a large hangar being constructed. Pass this hangar on the north side and turn on the small road that leads to gate 12. Upon arrival contact me and I will let you in.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(29 Ratings)
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232harleym
Apr 15, 2026
Steerman flight - It was a really cool experience to get to ride in a Steerman over Phoenix! The instructor is super nice and the flight is really fun! He lets you take controls for a little bit and do some maneuvers if you’re comfortable, but you can just ride along too if that’s what you want. I had a great time and I would definitely recommend!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Randy_a
Apr 12, 2026
Fantastic trip with history. - This was a gift from my daughter as a "bucket list" experience and it did not disappoint. Craig did a great job explaining the history and the technology of the times before the flight. I was allowed to take controls briefly to get the "feel" of the airplane. What a treat!
Review provided by Viator
Christine_j
Mar 23, 2026
Stearman flight - Amazing experience flying open cockpit over Fountain Hills, Scottsdale and Red Mountain, McDowell Mtns! Craig is an excellent pilot with Lots of information! Thank you
Review provided by Viator
Isaiah_h
Mar 20, 2026
Amazing Birthday Experience! - This biplane experience with Craig was absolutely incredible! One of those things you just have to do at least once in your life! Craig was super welcoming from the start and really made the whole experience feel special. What stood out the most was how knowledgeable he is and he shared so much fascinating history about the biplane that made the ride even more meaningful. Flying in an open cockpit? There's nothing else like it. The feeling is hard to even put into words. If you're even slightly thinking about doing this, don't hesitate, just book it. You won't regret it!
Review provided by Viator
Ajcastilla
Mar 19, 2026
Worldclass once in a lifetime informative incredible breathtaking experience - Worldclass once in a lifetime informative incredible breathtaking first time experience. Craig is a rock solid top notch pilot, plane restoration master and a patient teacher of his craft. I consider myself super lucky to have my ride today on his Stearman biplane. It is an absolutely beautiful plane and loads of fun from take off to landing. I highly recommend that you book a flight with him! Best decision I ever made.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lisa_t
Mar 10, 2026
Best Birthday of my Life! - Flying in a biplane has been on my bucket list for years, so for my 60th birthday, we drove 2 hours one way for this experience and it was time well spent. I can’t express the joy I felt flying with Craig. He is kind, patient, and skilled. His plane is immaculate and I loved every minute of it. I was so overcome with happiness I even teared up! I’ve flown in small planes all my life but it’s so different flying in an open cockpit, you can see so much more. I highly recommend this experience to anyone, we will definitely do this again, it’s my husbands turn next!
Review provided by Viator
Emily_e
Mar 4, 2026
Best Surprise Ever! - Short review: This was an awesome experience, totally worth it, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. You should absolutely book it now. Stop reading and do it. What are you waiting for?!?! Long review: My wife booked this as a surprise for Christmas. I didn't know what I was going to be doing until I arrived at the airfield. As soon as I met Craig and knew what I was about to do, I was immediately fully-cheesed and so excited that my normal ask-a-million-questions mode of operation shorted out and I just listened intently with the biggest, dumbest grin on my face. The aircraft is beautiful. Even if Craig didn't have the history of the restoration and all the photos, you'd be able to tell it was lovingly done. As a kid, I loved WW2 airplanes and had some passing awareness of these two-seater biplane models, but it was really cool to hear more about this particular model, and even more, about the path this one took to where it resides today. Very cool stuff. I wish I'd had the presence of mind to ask more questions! After giving me the history, Craig explained the parts of the aircraft, how the flight controls worked, the process we would take getting in the air (where the guest's job is to shut up and not touch anything), and gave me the run down on what maneuvers he would take us through once we got up there. Still equipped with a monster grin plastered across my face, I climbed in, followed directions on getting the harness on tight, and headset, and played with the controls a little. Craig explained he would be talking to ground control while we taxied and then air control for the first few minutes in the air (this is the part where the guest should be quiet). After waiting for a leerjet to take off and then watching the landing of a few prop planes from the flight school, it was our turn. "Seven Seven Victor cleared for takeoff" and then the throttle moved forward with a corresponding increase in racket from the 9-cylinder radial engine. I was giddy. Laughing constantly with my head on a swivel, excited to see absolutely everything around me. If you're afraid of flying because it's bumpy and you feel like you can't tell what's going on, you need to experience this. The open cockpit means you can see all around and feel, pardon the paradoxical pun, grounded the whole time. Also, every part of the flight from takeoff to landing was more gentle and smooth than most commercial flights I have ever been on. Once in the air, Craig had explained that we would need to remain mostly quiet on the comms until out of the controlled space above the airfield. Hearing the direct talk between Craig, ground control, and air control was also really interesting. As an engineer, it was fun learning how headings are communicated and observing the QA process built into these radio transmissions. When we got outside the controlled cone of airspace above the airfield, though, Craig came on the radio and gave me the run down again on how the flight controls worked. After feeling the pedal and stick movements he made for gentle, banking turns, it was my turn to give it a go. Boy, I was surprised at how much resistance the controls have once at speed in the air. But also, it doesn't take much to get a reaction from the aircraft (it's NOT like in the movies - only very small movements of the controls are needed for very significant changes in the flight of the plane!). I held it together while in my head I was screaming "THIS IS THE *#&/@ COOLEST *@#&/@ MINDBLOWING $#!+@/ I HAVE #(@&)/*!$ EVER DONE IN THE ;#?@-&/&# WORLD #?@;/@&+@*!!!!!!!!" I mean, there are no words that capture how exhilarating it was to be up in the open cockpit of a WW2 training aircraft, and be in control of it. Craig clearly has a great deal of experience coaching and guiding first time fliers. His guidance was calm, clear, and direct, making it easy to follow and instilling a sense of confidence. Although I was initially somewhat nervous, at no point did I ever doubt my complete safety and that Craig was prepared to control any situation that might arise. Not only that, but his comfort with and confidence in the plane was contagious, leaving me free to simply enjoy the experience. Gentle reminders to keep looking around for other aircraft, a little more pedal, or a little less stick, check altitude occasionally... All of these instructions were delivered calmly and clearly - as instructions, and not reprimands or urgent demands - meaning the experience was engaging and fun, without being stressful. After I did a few gentle banked turns, he asked if I wanted to go ahead with the maneuvers. Of course I went for all of what he offered up. I was particularly surprised by how significant the g-force of turns could be, even at the relatively low cruising speed of this aircraft. The weightlessness was also unique and not what I was expecting. It was actually much LESS unsettling than I thought it would be. Unlike in a car when you go over a hill, there was never any sense that any control was lost while feeling weightless. That was an entirely unique experience for me. The stall was also remarkable in that every movement was incredibly smooth and gentle. I expected there to be violent shaking like I have experienced on turbulent commercial flights. Never a bit of that, at least not that I noticed (maybe I was too busy being excited?). I was given the opportunity to do a little more flying on the way back to the airfield. This was probably the highlight for me. With confident guidance coming through the headset from behind me, I made a few gentle turns, pitched up and down, did a couple of level turns, and on command brought the aircraft down by about 700 ft in altitude. If only for a brief moment, I had the feeling that I was actually flying a plane. I WAS FLYING A #(&!@*$ PLANE!!! Not only that, but I was flying by the seat of my pants. No electronic flaps or avionics, no GPS, no hydraulics, just a stick and pedals, an altimeter, and a compass. It was a really special thing that I will always remember. Once back inside the controlled airspace, I sat intently listening to Craig's communication with the tower, and his occasional comments to me about what he was doing, locations of other aircraft, etc. the landing was as smooth as any commercial flight I've been on. Following our taxi back to the hanger, I was still grinning from ear to ear and had even MORE chance to ask questions, which Craig was happy to answer. This was truly a once in a lifetime experience. I really can't recommend this whole thing more highly. Even if it was $100 or even $150 more than my wife paid, I would still say it's absolutely worth every red cent. From learning about the airplane, to getting up in the air, to Craig being more than willing to answer every question I had, this was absolutely unforgettable. Everyone who was interested in planes as a kid should do this. Everyone who is interested in planes as an adult should do this. Anyone who considers themselves a history buff when it comes to planes, WW2, aviation, military history should do this. Heck, I'd tell anyone who just has a few free hours one afternoon that they should do it, even if they have no particular interest in WW2, flying or anything like that. The ONLY bad part about the whole experience is that I was so excited about it, I literally couldn't think. I'm normally a guy who will ask questions until I'm told that I need to stop. I'm the guy at the front of the tour group who constantly bothers the guide. I'm the one asking the zookeeper about the behaviors of whatever animal in the wild. I'm the one who asks if there are additional informational packets that I can take home. But I was just so excited about the whole thing that when Craig asked me if I had questions, I couldn't get my brain to spit anything out. In the car on the way back, of course I came up with about a million things I wish I had asked, but in the moment, I reverted to being an 11 year old boy, big eyes, big smile, big excited, looking at a plane I've only ever seen in pictures, knowing in a bit I'd get to fly in it. I can't call that a failure on the part of Craig. In fact, if anything, it just speaks to how great of an experience this was overall. I will definitely be back next time I'm in Phoenix. Sam Kloss
Review provided by Viator
Mark_v
Feb 11, 2026
Incredible Ride!! - Craig is a wonderful instructor pilot that took the time to explain about the plane’s history and operational characteristics! We then took to the sky and within minutes we were cruising over the Sonoran Desert landscape! Great experience that I would recommend to anyone looking to enjoy a ride in a piece of WW2 history!!
Review provided by Viator
Navigate236257
Feb 1, 2026
Great First Experience - My husband had his first and best experience flying in the WW2 plane. Craig the pilot was a great guide. He let my husband fly the plane for a few minutes. It was a great experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Christy_g
Jan 14, 2026
Absolutely fantastic! - Exactly as advertised Craig is great Very detailed instructions Felt very safe and comfortable I have a pilot license so this was easy
Review provided by Viator
From $279
up to 1 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).