I first came across Air Combat USA back in the 90's as a customer where this was as a college graduation gift. In the mid-2000s, I began flying out of Fullerton Municipal Airport as a licensed pilot where Air Combat USA was based and owned and operated by Mike "Maverick" Blackstone (Sr). I became friends with Mike (Sr) and his son Mike Jr., call sign "Rocket" who is also a Flight Instructor, acrobatic pilot, and airline pilot as well so I had an excellent view of normal operations. Sadly, Mike Sr. passed away and his son, "Rocket", took over ownership and all operations and moved to Long Beach Airport while still flight operations remain out at sea over the channel of Long Beach Harbor and Palos Verdes. As a customer, if you enjoyed watching Top Gun, or you enjoy acrobatics or simulator dog fighting, this is the real deal. You will be fitted with a flight suit and other flight gear so you look and feel the part as much as experience being a fighter pilot. You will experience a pre-flight briefing where you will be instructed on your mission, an introduction to ACM (Air Combat Maneuvering) , and meet your assigned flight instructor who will be in the aircraft with you to keep you safe while allowing you to fly as much as you are capable of. Then comes the flight and multiple engagements with another customer with a defined hard deck above the ocean. Did I mention your instructor might likely be a former fighter pilot from the Navy or other armed services branch? So you are in good hands with "Rocket" and other Air Combat USA staff. Finally, there is the debrief after landing and an inflight cockpit video if you purchase that option that you will get to view and hear your communications. Air Combat USA is the real deal and so much fun. Barf bags come with the flight if needed. After my 3 engagement of 5, I had to use it missing the 4th engagement which I lost by flying straight and level only to comeback and win my 5th engagement to splash my opponent along with the first 3 engagements. I cant recommend Air Combat USA enough. It is so far above the ultimate video game, it will be one of the highlights of you life. Perfect for birthday, holiday, anniversary, and graduation gifts for families and friends. read more

This was one of the most amazing things i've ever done,I highly recommend it to anyone that loves to flyA+++++

I got this flight for my husbands 50th and I can't say enough good things about Mike! He was so informative, friendly and put my nervous mind at ease for my husband to be flying upside down!! This bucket list item is now checked off my Husbands list and he hasn't stopped smiling since. What an amazing experience and Mike is so experienced and is clearly passionate about flying! It's worth every penny and my husband can't wait to do it again! read more

Woah. Best birthday present that I gifted myself. I can't describe how awesome it feels to pull G's in the Marchetti! Mike was very hospitable and down to earth as he taught and guided me several maneuvers such as loops, cuban eights, barrel rolls, etc. If you're looking for adventure, action, or a big adrenaline rush then i would definitely reach out to Air Combat USA. What also stands out to me is that Mike is also a former Boeing 777 pilot and has tons of flight experience. I hope to fly with Mike again soon whenever I have a special occasion coming up or have time off school/work. read more

Air Combat USA - Mike and I after the flight. Super rad experience! - Flight Instruction Near Me - Long Beach, California

Amazing time Mike was the best and made it a great time the whole time. If you have the desire this is a must do you will not regret it and worth every penny. Going back next year it was so good. read more

I'm still coming down from the adrenaline high after yesterday's flight with which my wonderful partner surprised me for my birthday. This is one of those experiences that you'll cherish for the rest of your life.  I've always thought about doing something like this but seeing videos of Blue Angel ride-alongs, or watching a news broadcast where they've suckered the cub reporter into doing a high flying piece about the local airshow, has always given me the feeling that you'd have to be a bit of a masochist to do this sort of thing. Well, not with this outfit. With Air Combat USA, you're in complete control. You dictate your level of adventure.  It all starts with a briefing. Mike, or call sign Rocket, takes you step by step on what you'll be experiencing and what you should expect. He has two top priorities, your safety and your fun. He explains that you dictate your thrill level. If , once you get up in the sky and all you can handle is cruising up and down the coast, that's all you'll do, without any judgment. You'll just have a fun time flying around in a rad vintage fighter jet.   I was very nervous once I was given the controls shortly after takeoff, but Rocket eased us into the maneuvers slowly with the intensity ramped up a little higher only if I was feeling completely comfortable. First we did a barrel roll, to the left then to the right. He checked on how I was feeling and I gave an enthusiastic thumbs up for the next stunt. It was a loop and it was more fun than any roller-coaster loop I've ever been on. Once I felt that the Gs weren't so bad, we went for another loop, faster and tighter than the last. Then on to the hammer head, straight up into the sky then falling to the left and straight towards the ocean before you pull up, feeling the g-forces pulling you into your seat. Then there was the flat spin. You know, that thing that took out Goose in Top Gun. Yeah, you learn how to fly out of those. First a 720 to the left then a 720 to the right. It was the most intense thing I've ever done in my life. Rocket checked in on me and asked if I was ready for some extra credit, but I had to call it a day. I wasn't feeling sick but I felt like one more maneuver might push me to my limit. And without a beat, Rocket suggested we play with a weapons simulator before taking a cruise down the coast and finally back to the airport. That's one thing I really enjoyed about this experience. It wasn't so much about how extreme we could get, it was about how much fun we could have, and I'll tell, it was a lot of fun.   It was impossible to not have fun. Rocket's enjoyment during the flight was infectious. At times, I wondered who was having more fun, me or him, and I loved that. I can tell that Mike really enjoys flying and he loves to share his enthusiasm with novices like me. I have never flown a plane, ever, but now I can say that I've taken a Marchetti SF - 260 to limits, in barrel rolls, hammer heads, loops and spins. And I'll never forget how fun and thrilling it was.   I'm not sure if I'll ever get the opportunity to do something like this again, but if I do, it will definitely be with Air Combat USA. read more

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Most incredible experience I've EVER had! My girlfriend knew I always dreamt of flying in a combat plane and I seriously couldn't have asked for a better gift. If you want one of the best experiences for flight acrobatics, I can't recommend Air Combat enough. Not only does the instructor take the time to educate you on the plane and the mission, they also teach you how to actually fly the plane too. It's awesome how they even tailor each flight experience to exactly what you want and/or are able to withstand with all the tricks. You will not be sorry signing up with Air Combat!! read more

I booked a flight for my son as a birthday gift with Mike from Air Combat this weekend. My son had the time of his life! Worth every penny to see him this excited! Mike is awesome and has tons of flight hours, experience & knowledge about planes. His planes are kept in excellent condition and not once was I worried about my son flying this plane with Mike by his side. My son can't stop talking about this experience! Perfect gift for anyone. Great Job Mike, see you soon. We are definitely doing this again read more

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Fantastic experience, hands down! Background: Naval Flight Surgeon with ride along time in multiple fixed wing and rotary aircraft. Rocket and Mini were professional, courteous, and most importantly SAFE during this whole experience. The planes and the briefing room were well maintained and clean, and the briefing was focused on what we needed to know. Overall experience was incredibly fun - both instructors give you plenty of room to actually maneuver the aircraft while giving advice verbally and correcting (the controls) physically to ensure you're getting the maximal interaction w/ the aircraft while staying safe. The owner/primary pilot (Rocket) is incredibly friendly and takes a lot of pride in his work and making sure you're enjoying your flight. He narrates the experience with ease and confidence which makes for a very fun video (which you get to take home at the end of the day). It's expensive, as expected, but all aviation-related stuff is pretty pricey, and operating costs are high for this kind of operation. If you can bring a buddy and share the experience together, it's that much better. Because it's a small company, they weren't as responsive to emails, phone calls, or messages, but eventually we got all the information we needed. read more

Excellent time and experience, my best friend and I did this and it was a kickass time and then some. It has been a week and I want to go do it again. read more

My husband surprised me with the acrobatic stunt plane experience. My pilot " rocket" was awesome. I got to fly the plane and then sat back as Rocket ( Mike) performed so many stunts and acrobatic moves. it was definitely a thrill. The out fit is legit , 30 years of experience and very friendly staff. Highly recommend it. read more

Air Combat USA - Flight Instruction Near Me - Long Beach, California

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as a child of the 80's, top gun is my favorite movie. EVER. not so much for the sweaty beach bromance parts...more for the toys. my life since watching that movie for the first time has been full of trying to live the lifestyle by getting my hands on and riding/driving as many motorcycles and classic porsches as humanly possible. the one experience, however, that was sorely lacking in my life was flying a combat plane. i tried just about everything i could to approximate it: commercial flights, private jets, the concorde, even sky diving were let-downs. i even tried an introductory flight lesson on a cessna 152 at santa monica airport, and it was the biggest let-down of them all. as we were flying, the instructor kept gushing about how amazing the experience was, and all i kept thinking was "this feels like riding my lawnmower." =/ anyway, fast forward to this past weekend, when my awesome wifey surprised me with a birthday-gift-of-a-lifetime at air combat USA!!! when you arrive you're greeted by the instructors. super down-to-earth guys. our lead instructor, callsign "monk," flies private aviation as his day job, and has over 17K hours logged. the other instructor, callsign "bluto," is a retired combat pilot and according to monk, a gen-u-wine war hero. =) get geared up in a flight suit that looks legitimately hard-core, and classroom instruction begins, complete with learning combat maneuvers demonstrated by die-cast models of the same planes from top gun on sticks!! it's at this stage that the realization that ***I*** would be doing the maneuvering sinks in. wait. WHAT?!? you mean this isn't just some ride-along like every other "extreme" vehicular experience???? how is it even possible that my dumb, never-flown-before a$$ is going to be allowed to FLY the plane????? are you instructors NUTS?!?!?! it was then that monk said the most mind-blowing thing i've ever heard: "there's nothing you can do up there that can hurt your instructor, or the plane." (o.O) and you know what? after flying with air combat USA, i'm starting to think he's right... the classroom portion ends with getting your similarly legitimately hard-core-looking helmet and a safety briefing on your parachute (!!!), mae west, and how to handle jump landing into water vs. land. that's when sh*t starts to get very, very real. we took off without event and flew in formation out off the coast of palos verdes where there's less air traffic. bluto, in my plane with me, actually let me fly the plane much of the way out to the dogfight area! gentle, smooth control of the stick is key. bluto handled all of the other controls, so that i could focus on not jamming my propeller into monk's lead plane. once we got out to the dogfight area, they let me do a couple leisurely practice turns before setting up for the dogfight. monk was the bogie, and i had to use what (little) i learned in class to SLAM THE PLANE ONTO IT'S EDGE, DROP ALTITUDE AND GAIN AIRSPEED, LEVEL BACK OUT AND THEN PULL THE NOSE UP TO GET A LOCK ON MONK AND FIRE!!!!!!! at least that's the way i was supposed to do it. instead, i timidly banked the plane to the right and actually lifted the nose instead of diving. basically doing the exact opposite, in slow motion. somehow, out of the goodness of his heart, monk brought his plane around so that i could shoot him, complete with cool sound effects and smoke! for the start of the second dogfight, bluto guided the stick so that i could feel more of what it SHOULD be like, and the fights were ON! 6 dogfights later, i was dripping in sweat, wicked dry mouth from trying to not puke, pulled 4+ G's, absolutely amazed that i got to do all of those incredible acrobatic combat maneuvers and that we were still alive; but knowing that both the airplane and the instructors obviously thought that what was life-alteringly cool to me was just child's play to them. and yet, surprisingly, even though i did stuff like pull the nose up so hard and fast trying to catch monk that we flew straight up, stalled to zero airspeed, flipped over, and dove straight back down to pick up airspeed...it wasn't so much scary as just sensory overload as your brain and body try to process all of the G forces and information. i was genuinely amazed that even though i had ZERO confidence in my own abilities, i had 100% confidence in the plane and instructors. it really was the most intense experience i've ever had. three days later, i'm still going over the maneuvers in my head, thinking about what i did wrong and how to improve my flying...yeah, i think i've got the bug!!! thanks wifey!!! read more

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Had a great time yesterday flying the Marchetti SF260 fighter/trainer plane with my instructor Michael "Rocket" Blackstone. Awesome staff, awesome aircraft, awesome time. Brought the whole family and they watched us take off and buzz the tower then they went and toured the Lyon Air Museum and flight simulator while we were up in the air. Great Sunday Funday. read more

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Mike and his team are the BEST!!! Came out to celebrate our 2year anniversary cuz my bf loves Top Gun. This was totally the best gift/experience ever - totally an unforgettable memory. And got to learn so much about the aircraft too! Mike was so amazing, made the entire experience fun and unintimidating. Deff would come again! read more

It was fun. As a retired airline pilot, I was very impressed with the experience of flying the Marchetti with Mike. Mike was professional and is very experienced in flying the Marchetti. Everything from the briefing for the mission to be flown to all equipment was excellent. Mike is an excellent instructor. His through briefing of the mission to be flown added to the enjoyment and safety of the flight. The photos and video of the experience is a wonderful keepsake. read more

What a ride!! I rode with Mike as my instructor, but both pilots were really awesome. I've been a pilot for 17 years but this was a totally different experience than putting around in my little Cherokee. Very intense but they make sure you're taken care of and you get to throw a really sweet airplane around the sky. Thanks guys!! read more

My father and I wanted to do something new and adventurous together. I'm a low time pilot and a fighter pilot wannabe. My father isn't a pilot but loves flight sims. We booked Aircombat and flew down to Orange County for the weekend. We had an amazing time. Mike and the rest of the staff were fantastic and very accommodating. We flew the aircraft for almost the entire time during the engagements. Rocket and Mini were excellent instructors and the video we got was terrific. Pulling 5Gs isn't something that you'll soon forget. Thanks for a memorable experience! read more

What a truly amazing experience this was! This was a 40th birthday gift from my friends and family for me to fulfill a childhood dream of flying an airplane. First off, they were able to reschedule me last minute due to an incoming rain storm. I thought that was very kind and accommodating of them. When I got there they made me feel very welcome and even more excited about the upcoming flight. After a debriefing it was time to fly! My "opponent" took off ahead of us and we followed. While we were in the air my instructor "rocket" had me go through 7 simulated dog fights and it was a blast! He always made sure I was feeling comfortable and answered all my silly questions. The feeling of flying in loops, upside down and doing barrel rolls was like no other experience in my life. I highly recommend these guys if you are up for a day of adventure like no other. Here are a few videos of what it is like to be in a dogfight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rT81y1rH4Uc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thSXVOiL094 read more

I was given "Fighter Pilot for a Day" by my wonderful wife for my b-day, and FINALLY got down to Fullerton to do the experience. Arriving at the Fullerton Airport, I found the directions were incredibly accurate, and ACUSA was easy to find. Strolling into their "lobby" (a modified hanger), I saw a comfortable setup...lots of tables to kick back, and a rather cool Extra 300 aircraft (NOT the craft we would be flying, turns out). Going into the actual waiting room, I met one of the owners, who immediately had me fill out paperwork (meaning, waiver) and offered me a cold bottle of water. After completion, I was suited up in a real flight suit (a certain part of my body was glad to see that the suits came in "long" as well as "regular"....so my voice would stay the same). I later met my wingman/opponent, and after a very detailed briefing, we received our mae wests, helment, and parachute, did some photo ops next to our planes (SIAI Marchetti SF-260's), go in, strapped in, and we roared down the runway to become fighter pilots! We flew in formation to Palos Verdes, and headed out over the Catalina Channel. On the way, we practiced a few things, such as targeting, firing...and oh yeah...flying - 'cause we WERE the guys flying the plane (go figure). After a couple of practice runs, the dogfighting commenced! Let me assure you...if you aren't a roller coaster fan (which I most assuredly am), this is SO not for you. We were twisting, inverting, diving, the works....all instantaneously....the whole goal was to get the other guy in your site and pull the trigger, whatever it took. The instructors had said in the briefing that how aggressive we wanted to be was up to us - and the plane would handle far more than we could. We easily hit four g's, and I was fine...at 5 g's, I saw black...for more than a few seconds, turns out (still won the dogfight though). :-) My wingman/opponent, alas, remarked in the briefing that he was NOT much of a roller coaster fan...and I'm afraid he didn't have nearly as good of a time as I did (that, and he did get shot repeatedly). :-) After an hour, my severely wounded wingman (having been shot down over and over and over) and I headed back to airbase. My job on the way back was to fly in formation. I learned quickly that the world is FAR FAR safer knowing that I am not a pilot. I mean, I know it was my first time and all, but DAMN that was as tough as the actual dogfighting (in a finesse way, vs raw testosterone, though). Upon return, we changed out of our drenched flight suits and watched a video of the action. This was definitely as close to the real thing as you can get, and was incredibly intense. Not for everyone, but definitely I had a great time. The ONLY ding...the marketing kit clearly states you'll take home a DVD of your experience...and what you take home is a MiniDV tape. For me, this was a minor issue, as I have a complete video editing system...but for the average person, this would be an incredibly annoying issue, trying to find someone to dupe that to a DVD, adding the appropriate music. Just a nit. Just a note to "c.p.", the instructor complaining about FP for a Day - so I can see where the activity might be a bit of a nuisance...but your statements go far beyond that - if it were as serious as you insinuate, one would think that their safety record would reflect it, and that the FAA would have been involved long ago. Not really defending ACUSA, just making a point. read more

An amazing experience for anyone interested in aerobatic flight, dog fighting, speed, g-forces, racing, roller coasters, etc! My wife bought me this amazing gift for my birthday. I had been wanting to fly Air Combat USA ever since I head about it years ago. Words cannot explain what an amazing experience I had. I've suggested Air Combat USA to every guy I know as "one thing to do before you die". Every single minute from the classroom schooling to the final landing was 100% A+ entertainment. Be aware, you have a high chance of getting air sick (bags available within close reach on board) unless you love this kind of stuff! A+++++++++++++++++++++ You have no idea what you're missing- NO, a video game is nothing like a REAL airplane! Note- It sounds like c.p. from Long Beach (see negative post below) has some sort of personal beef with Air Combat that needs to be settled outside of Yelp. read more

I have had the great pleasure to fly with Air Combat several times! It is the most amazing flying experience you can have! Its at least a 3 day adrenaline rush! I highly recommend flying with them! You will not regret it!!!!!!!!! As for any safety concerns I will tell you as a Flight Instructor and Pilot based in Fullerton they are professionals!. Safety is there number one priority. The aircraft are extremely well maintained and there pilots are among the best I know! As for the complaint by the flight instructor, their aircraft are equipped with TCAS (traffic alert systems) to provide a higher level of safety, and they operate in an area and on frequencies designated by the FAA. read more

This is sick!!! You can not even imagine how cool this is. The only way to understand is to go there and try. I can not describe my experience because it is simple impossible. Give them a call and they will do it for you!!! Cheers Mini! read more

Looooooved this! I went to their Vegas location. I really didn't get how intense it would be, as I kept thinking, "Well, there's only so much that they'll let me do as someone who has never flown before today." Oh, no! It was incredible! I was looping all around and chasing another client and doing stuff that I would never have thought possible. It felt totally safe and yet scary all at the same time. My one suggestion is to not go hungover. They were offering additional opportunities for flight, but after so many loops and turns, there was only so much my stomach could take, and I eventually had to call it quits. ;) But I will definitely be back and will get a full night's sleep beforehand in order to be ready to kick butt in the air! read more

Wow- what a Great experience! Mike is awesome. I did a air aerobatics ride with a marchetti. Wow! A lifetime experience. Will definitely do it again. read more

Air Combat USA - Flight Instruction Near Me - Long Beach, California

Bucket List Apex! 57, lost a 3 out of 5 to a feisty girl that could have been my granddaughter! This is the real deal. These pilots are nuts! So much fun you can't describe - and I raced motocross and hare scrambles for decades. That's nothing! you go as hard as you can, then they push you a little more. But all the time, they got you! I'm hooked! Not cheap, but not anything like you'll ever experience. You do a bucket list and miss this, it will haunt you forever! Plus, no matter what, you won't die! I'm pretty sure... Woohoo! Oh, but they just changed airports. They actually fly out of Long Beach Airport. Beautiful facility! Book that way. I did Redondo Beach for the weekend. I am going back! The guys are so much fun, and you'll feel safe. "Probie" doesn't hold back, and he can keep eyes on the opponent. Navy fighter pilot, I won the lotto - if puking is the jackpot! Ha ha! read more

Air Combat USA - For an old guy, one word: Rejuvenating! Five Stars - Flight Instruction Near Me - Long Beach, California

Originally scheduled to fly an Air Combat mission out of Fullerton last weekend, but Zach and Michael "Rocket" were very accommodating and substituted my mission for a Sky Thrills aerobatic ride that was unbelievable in an Extra 300L. Loops, rolls, hammerheads, inverted, negative and positive G's! It was an incredible experience at the controls under the expert guidance of Michael. Unforgettable and hope to be able to do it again very soon. Thanks guys for accommodating my schedule and making this experience one to always remember. Dave B. read more

I had a chance to go to their main location in Fullerton, CA and what can I say except: What an awesome experience!!! This absolutely made this visit to LA! I've had a fair few experiences in aviation but this is definitely above any other and I can't wait for another opportunity. The airplanes handle beautifully and from the moment I walked through the door everything ran smooth and professionally. They made sure that we were always having fun while never forgetting the serious undertone of it all. And through all of it I felt so very welcome and as part of the "gang". Amazing and just a fantastic day out with a great bunch of guys!!! If you're an aviation buff then this is an absolute MUST!!! And if you're not then, I'm sorry but, it's still a MUST!!! Mav and Smudge, I'll surely see you soon! read more

Air Combat USA - Flight Instruction Near Me - Long Beach, California

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Make sure you speak with a human before you put down a dime. Husband left deposit month advance reservations . No response

Wow! This was a gift from my wife and I have to say it was one of the best experiences of my year. We had a great time! I flew with "Mini" who was professional and hugely fun. I learned a ton but also just had an amazing experience. Definitely something I would be interested in doing again. read more

This experience was amazing!!!! Definitely a life high light of our adventures. We will do this again and again and again. The staff was WONDERFUL, "Rocket" and "Mini" were TOP NOTCH pilots. read more

Amazing and professional service. I had an amazing time and will definitely be coming back. The pilots were very nice and helpful, they made sure I felt welcomed provided me with everything I needed. They made me feel safe, and that's what my biggest concern was, so thank you for such a wonderful time!! read more

Purchased a package at the end of May. All communication cut off and they stopped taking calls. Months later, sporadic responses about flights being postponed. Refund requests for $1395 packages are not being honored. Forced to initiate a chargeback dispute with my credit card company. Civil lawsuit is next if Air Combat dares to dispute it. Beware and do not give your hard earned money to a company that will keep on postponing flights while essentially holding onto your money indefinitely. read more

Had a wonderful experience flying at Air Combat! From the preflight to the actual flying and learning basic flight maneuvers to the handling of the aircraft in space was an absolute thrill I would recommend this experience to all who would love to feel actual flying in a combat situation Way to go Mike! read more

Unfortunately as a flight instructor I have to deal with this operation on a regular basis as I am training flight students in the same airspace that Air Combat USA uses. Anytime they are maneuvering in the practice area that is commonly used by local pilots the level of safety degrades to an unacceptable level. Their pilots refuse to use standard radio and communication protocols which in turn makes it unsafe, and downright dangerous for themselves, their clients, and those of us sharing the airspace with them. They put everybody at a much higher risk of suffering a midair collision over the open ocean, which would almost certainly resulting in death for all involved. I would strongly encourage anybody considering this type of activity to look elsewhere to find a more reputable and safer operation. read more

My younger brother and I have a history of purchasing, building, acquiring, etc out of the ordinary X-mas gifts for each other. For Christmas last year, my younger brother signed me up for a 1 day session at Air Combat USA. Without a doubt, the experience was one of the most fun and thrilling I've ever had. If you seek thrills like sky diving, riding motorcycles, driving sports car, etc, I highly recommend signing up for their one day session. My brother is a US Naval Aviator and I have no personal flying experience. Anyway, he really wanted me to experience flying a high performance military aircraft, so he started researching businesses that provide such services. He contacted several businesses and was most impressed with the Air Combat USA pilots. The business is run extremely professionally, but low key and casual. I arrived and walked into their hanger and was greeted by two pilots, the owner (an ex-military pilot and engineer), and the man I was scheduled to dog fight (a butcher from Scotland). Anyway, we chatted casually for 10 minutes or so, then spend about an hour discussing flight dynamics and safety. After suiting up, we waited for an FAA inspector to complete the inspection of several of their aircraft (which passed easily, based on the post inspection conversation I observed...like I said, it's a casual place). We took off from Fullerton and flew out off the coast. Once we reached acrobatic airspace, my instructor started letting me control the plane. We performed so basic lead and follow maneuvers with the other aircraft, then had two practice dog fight. I can't even begin to explain the thrill one feels when pulling 5 or so G's while performing vertical loops and chasing and shooting down (simulated of course) your opponent. Following the first dog fight, we had 3 open dog fights, each lasting 5 to 10 minutes. I won 2/3 (hooray for me:)...). There are two minor downsides. Expect to vomit (their record is 8 times). I was fine during the dog fights, because I was so focused on the experience; however, I puked a few times during level flight immediately after dog fighting. Anyway, there are barf bags in each plane and the pilot shuts off video which you loose your lunch... Speaking of video, after you're back on the ground, you will receive a tape of the entire flight. It's just the flight footage from inside the plane (still really cool to watch), but you'll have to edit it yourself and add "Highway to the Danger Zone" type background music, if you want to impress your friends. read more

Had a wonderful day flying with Michael. It was one of the most exciting things I have ever done, and was taken care of all day while flying. I didn't have a care in the world, and being able to get some hands on stick time from take off to landing was amazing. Not to mention the flight instruction and the enthusiasm throughout. Without a doubt one of the highlights of my life. read more

Amazing experience!! Very highly recommended. The pilots are knowledgable, fun and safe. I'm a commercial pilot with some Marchetti time, however, I've never had the opportunity to push one to the edge like the ones at Air Combat. Can't wait to go back and do it again. Worth every penny! read more

We brought a bachelor party of 8 guys to Air Combat's main location in Fullerton and we had a blast! We were super impressed that it really was totally hands on, lots of flight time, and impressed at the videos they produced and gave to us on SD cards afterwards. Couldn't recommend more highly. Just a heads up that 3 guys had weak stomachs though. Not for the weak of stomach! read more

What is the perfect gift for a man? No, what is the ultimate first anniversary gift for an amazing husband who has given me everything in life? My husband and I just had our first anniversary and I wanted to come up with a unique, special gift that reflected our relationship. Surf lessons? Nah, I'm having way too much fun watching him getting his butt kicked by waves while we try to learn ourselves. A new backpack or camping gear? Still not good enough. I wanted a different kind of present altogether: an experiential gift! I closed my eyes and imagined him scouring the skies in a real military aircraft, engaging in aerial combat, and returning to base VICTORIOUS! As a wife, I was capable of making my husband's greatest dreams of being a fighter pilot come true with Air Combat USA. The price tag on the "Top Gun" experience offered by Air Combat USA in Fullerton is about $1,300, but the experience is priceless. It was a worthy gift, symbolic of our first adventure-filled year together. An amazing experience for anyone interested in aerobatic flight, dog fighting, speed, g-forces, racing, roller coasters, etc! You can see my full review at http://lesleycarter.wordpress.com/2012/01/14/if-you-can-dream-it-you-can-do-it-air-combat-usa/ read more

What should a women do for the day when in the LA area? Fly a Marchetti aerobatic plane! This was tons of fun. I was not sure about my reaction to sudden positive G forces and negative G forces. The first time I just said oh Wow. As I got used to it I liked it more and more. My combatant puked so it was not so much fun for him. If you like roller coasters this is the ultimate thrill. I discovered I am more competitive than I thought and killed my opponent 3 times and was disappointed that he got sick. I wanted to kill him again! So all the ladies out there may want to give this a whirl.. The guys love it. It is not cheap! read more