Before you spend thousands of dollars with Sky Combat Ace, read this review. I strongly advise…read moreanyone considering this experience to think twice. I spent over $5,500 on what was supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime 50th birthday gift and walked away feeling that the reality fell far short of the premium image the company promotes.
I don't normally leave reviews like this, but after everything that happened, I think future customers deserve to know what my experience was actually like.
The first red flag was the pre-flight briefing. I expected some level of personal interaction, an opportunity to ask questions, and proper preparation before getting into an aerobatic aircraft. Instead, I was shown a short video and essentially left on my own. For an experience costing thousands of dollars, it felt surprisingly impersonal.
After that, photos were taken with the aircraft and pilot. When I finally received them, several were noticeably out of focus. That may sound like a small detail, but when you're paying premium prices for a premium experience, these details matter.
I also paid approximately $500 extra for the highest-level video and telemetry package. One of the telemetry displays included in the footage is the G-force indicator, which should be one of the most interesting parts of an aerobatic flight recording. Unfortunately, throughout the video, the G-meter does not appear to function correctly and never provides meaningful data. Paying extra for advanced telemetry and then receiving footage with a non-functioning G-force display was extremely disappointing.
During the flight, I became airsick and the experience had to be cut short. I fully understand that safety comes first and I do not blame the pilot for returning early. However, I did ask whether any partial refund, credit, or accommodation was available since a significant portion of the experience was not completed. The answer was simply no.
What frustrated me even more was everything that happened afterward.
I waited more than two weeks for the photos and videos I had already paid for. During that time, I had to call multiple times just to get updates. Communication was poor, and it often felt as though nobody really cared once the payment had been collected.
When the files were finally delivered, some of the download links didn't even work at first, leading to more delays and more follow-up on my end.
What bothers me most is not that mistakes happened. Any company can have delays or technical issues. What bothered me was the overall lack of attention to the customer experience from start to finish.
For more than $5,500, I expected a professional briefing, high-quality media, working telemetry, timely delivery, and responsive customer service.
Instead, I received a minimal briefing, delayed media delivery, broken download links, several unusable photos, a malfunctioning telemetry feature in a paid premium package, and little interest in addressing legitimate concerns afterward.
This was a gift for my 50th birthday. It was supposed to be one of the highlights of a milestone celebration. Instead, it became one of the most disappointing customer experiences I can remember.
Based on my experience, I cannot recommend Sky Combat Ace, especially at the price they charge.