Ohhh La La‼ To celebrate our 33rd anniversary my husband and I chose a helicopter tour of the…read moresierras. What an experience!! Our pilot was Dylan. Dylan is professional and thorough. We enjoyed our personal flight experience SO very much! What a thrill. Treat yourself or someone you love with this once in a life time opportunity. We picked our flight plan with a few desired sights for our hour tour. I took plenty of photographs and videos and have really enjoyed sharing them with family and friends. After our flight we walked over to the airport cafe and enjoyed a very yummy lunch! A+ experience‼

I've been working towards my private license with Sierra Air for several months and can't say…read moreenough good things about them. Chris is my instructor and he's been an amazing teacher. He finds different ways to explain things if you don't understand them, is patient, an excellent pilot and he makes it so fun! Sierra air has several helicopters and multiple instructors so it's easy to book time to fly and they work with your schedule. Plus the location is great- the canyon is near by to fly in and is beautiful and the weather in Auburn typically cooperates.

We had the absolute best experience on my discovery flight with Brett! From the moment I arrived,…read morehe made me feel completely at ease. Brett has a perfect balance of professionalism, knowledge, and enthusiasm that instantly shows his passion for aviation and teaching. He explained everything clearly before we got in the plane, walking me through what to expect and answering all my questions with patience and detail. Once in the air, he gave me just the right amount of guidance--making sure I felt safe while also letting me truly take the controls and experience what flying is all about. His calm, encouraging style made the whole flight both exciting and comfortable. What really stood out was how much Brett wanted me to enjoy the experience. He pointed out landmarks, shared tips, and celebrated every little success along the way. By the time we landed, I not only had an unforgettable memory but also a much deeper appreciation for flying. If you're even thinking about trying a discovery flight, do yourself a favor and go with Brett--you won't find a better instructor to make your first flight as fun, safe, and inspiring as possible!

Mach5 helped me check off my highest bucket list item - to get my private pilots license on…read more4/29/23. Thanks to Mach 5 I was able to get high marks from my FAA examiner. The operation is top notch from the office/operations management, aircraft maintenance, flight logistics and coordination, and instruction. I transferred from another flight school and instantly saw the Mach 5 difference and high standard. I was fortunate to get paired with David Wells who did a perfect job of helping me reach my full potential. I just had fun flying at Mach 5, David, and will continue to fly with Mach5 in the future. KAUN (Auburn Airport) location provides good vibes, valuable flight experience as it is located in the base of the foothills with access to the Sacramento valley, and up front views/access to various aircraft. There is a cafe and two breweries near by. The mechanics are amazing and provide great exposure to maintenance and repair being an open shop right next to the office. This helped with my understanding of the aircraft and its systems. The planes are very well maintained and it is very clear where each plane sits with regards to maintenance and repair. It is clear Mach 5 has the highest standards for instruction. There are numerous layers and checks within the process. I was required to complete thorough flight reviews and marks after each flight which are recorded in my file and reviewed by chief instructors. At various points in the training I had to fly with a chief instructor for sign off to the next stage. This greatly increased my confidence moving forward by having multiple people give you a green light prior to the next step. The way Mach 5 operates, David Wells taught, and all that flying out of Auburn provided made me a very confident and safe pilot as I move forward in my training. Thank you to the team at Mach 5! Special shout out to Matt Behnam as well! Thanks Matt for all the help.

Super fun! I bought…read moremy son a flight for his 14th birthday. He had never even been in a plane before, let alone flew one. Needless to say he was a bit apprehensive about his flight. When we arrived at the Airport we were greeted by our pilot and instructor Jim. He was very friendly, approachable, and knowledgeable which made my son feel at ease. After a through lesson and overview of the Cesna 187 it was time for my son take the pilots seat. I was happy to tag along. My son read the pre flight checklist from the POA and off we went. Once the plane was at altitude my son had his chance to fly. He was encouraged to bank left and right and shown how to keep the nose leval. It was very exciting to see my son flying the plane. Sadly after about 20 min it was time to land. Jim landed us safely and beautifully. It was a great experience! I don't know who liked it more me or my son? I encourage anyone who has ever wanted to fly a plane to give it a try. In addition it is a very unique and fun gift to give.Years from now my son won't remember what toys or games I buy him. However, his experience of flying a plane with JetExe will last him a lifetime. Thanks for the memories guys!

December 16, 2017…read more JetEXE Aviation hosted a Christmas party. Invites were sent out, and I RSVP, as soon as I received my invite. The function was held in the hangar. All planes were relocated outside for this event, except for 2 planes. These 2 planes were the back drop, of this function. Welcome, Introductions 630 - 700 pm Drinks & Hors d'oeuvres 630 - 730 pm Buffet - style dinner 730 - 900 pm Door prizes and Silent auction 900 - 930 pm Live band "Golden Caddilacs" 730 - 1030 pm Fund raiser for Charitable 501C3 Snehacare for abandoned children with HIV Http://snehacarehome.org Everything was set up accordingly. They had 3 bartenders, making sure everyone drinks were topped off. LOL The band was playing good music, which had a lot of people on the dance floor, including me and van. The buffet style meal was plentiful and delicious. The line for this meal seemed to flow without hiccups. It seemed Venus was in charge of this department. (she works front desk) Job well done I saw Chris (operations manager) running around and making sure things were in place, like extension cords, to make this event happen.. The silent auctions consist of paintings, trip to Mexico, etc... They also had candles for sale. Not sure up this point how this turned out. Augustine, the owner, greeted everyone, making it such a warm welcoming environment. It was nice to see people involved in aviation and being able to meet them first hand. Can't wait till next party hosted by Augustine !!

Wow. As a treat for my 14-year-old nephew I wanted to surprise him with a helicopter tour of…read moreSacramento. I had originally called one of the only other companies in town that advertises helicopter tours in Sacramento but they weren't very helpful. In fact, the guy who answered the phone at that other company was downright rude and unwilling to quote me a price. When I kept pushing him for a quote he actually hung up on me. So, I contacted Capitol Helicopter (this time by email) instead and got an extremely nice guy named Jeff Hendry. Jeff immediately responded to my email, quoting me a price and was totally open to whatever we wanted to do, whenever we wanted to do it. My nephew and I ended up choosing a 30-minute tour of downtown Sacramento on Saturday 11/7 at 10:00 AM and it was SPECTACULAR. Our pilot, Jesse, was very friendly and made the experience so fun for us. It was definitely worth every dime and I will not hesitate to do this again should the opportunity ever present itself.

I booked a tour with the help of a Group-On. It was a pleasant experience right from the start…read morescheduling the flight till the day of. The pilot was right on time and fun to interact with. Helos are maintained in pristine conditions. Too bad these machines are so expensive to fly otherwise I would definitely make these guys my go-to place for rotary aircraft flight training.

What a phenomenal experience! I surprised my husband with a Fly with Friends experience. No flights…read moreexperience needed, a pilot goes up there with you. Alexis took care of the takeoff and landing, and did an excellent job coaching my husband during the flight. I recommend this for anyone that wants to try flying and/or see the Bay Area from through new eyes'

Great experience with Alexis- he was super friendly and informative. We enjoyed our time up in the…read moreair.

My husband and I just got married and decided we wanted to do something big and awesome on our last…read moreday of our honeymoon. I did a bunch of googling of different options we could do and decided Yosemite Flight Tours was the way to go because of what they toured and the price was the best!! I emailed them, hoping we could get a last minute flight. Mark emailed me back promptly and said we could fit in a flight early morning a few days later after a storm, which was perfect for us so we did it! The process for payment with Randy at the office and everything was so so easy and simple!! And quick! No stupid gimmicks to get more money it of us, no hidden fees, no crazy paperwork or anything. I would give them a 5-star rating just on that alone but if I could give them more than 5, I would for the tour itself!! Mark was SO nice and SO knowledgeable about everything there could possible know about Yosemite and the surrounding areas... the glaciers, the fires, the landscapes, hiking, climbing, etc... he knows it all. You could tell he was passionate about what he did. It made me smile listening to him just talk nonstop about everything knowing it wasn't just a "job", it is what he loves and wants to do. He was just so awesome. Not only was Mark awesome at the tour aspect of things but also flying the plane itself. He was such a great pilot. Such a smooth takeoff, turns, landing everything. It was just all sooo perfect. Thank you Mark for everything you do. You all were amazing and I will always and forever tell everything I possibly can about you guys! Thank you!

A wonderful, unique view of Half Dome and the valley. Such a special memory. So smooth and…read moreworthwhile.

I have been wanting to do this flight over Yosemite for a few years now. My wife and I lived in…read morePine Mountain Lake (Groveland) for a few years during Covid, and I discovered Yosemite Flights on instagram (I think). I immediately was drawn to it because you can fly over Yosemite Valley and get a vantage point that would otherwise be impossible. We ended up going on Saturday morning for my wife's 35th birthday. Krystal and Jason were awesome and friendly. Krystal met us in the parking lot and walked us into the office, where we then met Jason. We chit-chatted for a few minutes then went up in the air. Both were very professional, and you could tell there was a lot of love and care in the business and the area. The flight itself was unbelievable. Jason is an excellent pilot. The takeoff, flight and landing were all very smooth. We flew over to Cherry Lake, then over to Half Dome. Jason circled Half Dome for us a couple times, then flew over Yosemite Valley back to Pine Mountain Lake. The trip was just about an hour in total. It was a truly incredible experience. It had just snowed a few days prior as well. So all the mountains were dusted with snow. Jason & Krystal were pros and very hospitable, and the trip was just simply amazing. This is definitely something I will do again, and try to recruit more people to join in on. Can't recommend this enough!

I had a great time flying with the Vintage Aircraft staff. I look forward to going up with them…read moreagain. I definitely recommend this adventure.

Mother's Day - A Birthday Extravaganza!…read more Two years ago I flew in the SNJ-4 Texan for a birthday thrill; this year my wonderful wife gave me an hour ride in Vintage Aircraft's P-51 Mustang! She's the best! If you love the sound of a WWII high performance engine, love speed and appreciate the 20 year old pilots who flew these magnificent machines during a war, the P-51 is a plane to experience. Drove to the Schellville airport on Mother's Day for my ride. Travis pulled the P-51 from it's hanger, went through it's extensive pre-flight check and fueled her up. At this point, my heart was pounding with excitement and anticipation of a ride in a P-51! I told Travis I was also taking another P-51 crew with us that day, he had a quizzed look. My mother's deceased husband was stationed in England during WWII and was assigned to a P-51 squadron as an armourer (loaded 50 cal ammo and fueled the planes for their next flight). Found a picture of Mick, the pilot, mechanic, crew chief all standing beside their assigned P-51, the GlenGaryGuy. Pilot had his wife's name "Jackie" on the other side. They all got to go for one more ride! Chris Prevost, the pilot, asked where I wanted to go? I'd done the Golden Gate Bridge, out over Marin County to Tomales Bay and back in the Texan. Chris had a suggestion - Schellville to Lake Berryessa and over into the San Joaquin Valley, up along the Vaca Range to Middletown, over to Santa Rosa, out to Bodega Bay, Tomales Bay and down to Mill Valley and Mt Tam with a ride down Miller Ave, out to the Golden Gate Bridge and back to Schellville - heck yeah, sign me up!! Travis gave me instructions on how to climb onto the plane and into the rear seat, tight but comfortable and buckled in. Thank goodness I had a hat. I'm 6'1" and just barely had head room (though I was too excited to care). Chris brought the Merlin V-1650 to life and we taxied down to the end of the runway, brought the oil temp up, closed the canopy and we rolled down the runway - full speed ahead. Pulled back and up we went - what a rush! Travis had taken my wife to a point where she could record the whole liftoff - yeah! My adrenaline rush was in high gear! I immediately thought of the young pilots who risked their lives for our freedom; here I was just on a joy ride in a plane they flew in actual combat or escorting bombers - kind of surreal. Great sidebar to the flight was being actually being able to see the devastation from all of the fires from Lake Berryessa all the way too Middletown - scorched earth. Bodega Bay to the mouth of Tomales Bay gives a real perspective how beautiful our coastal area is. Chris did a couple of sharp turns, the P-51 cut the sky like a sharp knife. I kept the headsets halfway on, wanted to "hear" the roar of the P-51's engine. Down to Mill Valley, lined up on Miller Ave and out we went to the Golden Gate Bridge. What a day! I guess I should end my story, though writing about flying in the Mustang brings back all the fun I enjoyed that day. Travis and my wife had been monitoring our flight and were ready for our landing. Again, Travis set my wife up in a location to capture the event. Thanks again to Vintage Aircraft, Chris, Travis and my wife for an epic day of flying in a P-51 Mustang.

Amazing experience with amazing staff!…read more I originally booked a helicopter ride, but was notified 24hrs beforehand that their helicopter was down. I was offered their seaplane tour as a replacement, which I took since I had plans that lined up for that day. When you first walk in, the staff warmly greets you and you go through a quick 2 min debrief with some jokes before heading on the plane. They give you plenty of opportunities to take pics before, during and after the flight. Although the seaplane tour we went in says 60min, it was a little over an hour and I enjoyed every bit of it. The pilot was pretty knowledgeable on certain landmarks and locations. The views were amazing, and being in such an intimate plane was truly a different experience - I was finally in the plane instead of being a pedestrian looking up at one. Weather really matters - so plan accordingly. Our day was so clear the pilot claimed you were able to see Lake Tahoe and Truckee's snow capped mountains! My one complaint was that the headphone instructions weren't super clear, so I couldn't talk to my partner verbally. Clean facilities, friendly and welcoming staff, and a nice long ride in the air to gaze at the Bay Area and surrounding nature - this is the place to book.

WHY WE WENT HERE: - helicopter ride…read more THE LOOK (FROM THE OUTSIDE): - located right off 101 and by the Richardson Bay - small warehouse look and can't miss the yellow helicopter on the helipad by the water THE LOOK (FROM THE INSIDE): - makes me think of the retail/office spaces where you go kayaking - restrooms and offices off the main lobby, which is like a living room HELICOPTER RIDE: - we booked the 40-minute ride but I think honestly you'd be able to see everything in the 20-minute ride - views are immaculate, especially on a nice sunny day like ours CUSTOMER SERVICE: - warm and welcoming - casual - your weight is verified prior to your excursion - safety video is shown - waivers signed - then-boyfriend, now-fiancée planned for this to be our engagement so he got the guys to help facilitate it prior to our helicopter ride - the ride itself was great but I do have vertigo and got very dizzy/nauseous 3/4 of the reservation in - after we landed we were given a mini bottle of champagne to celebrate our engagement but didn't enjoy it until days later

Regarding United Magnetos, the service is efficient. However, beware of an additional fee that is…read morenot itemized on the official invoice. That cost is upwards of 80 dollars in our case, which is simply a transaction fee for using a credit card. I wasn't able to use other means of payment.

To my knowledge, Norcal is one of the best Part 41 flight schools in Northern California…read more They have a well maintained fleet, and an exceptionally friendly and experienced crew of CFI's. I highly recommend NFC to anyone interested in beginning a career in Aviation.