I'm An airline pilot and I took my son here for his first flying lesson last week. They took great care of him. The business is located inside Signature Flight Support at Van Nuys, so it's a very nice facility. They have chilled bottled water, coffee, hit chocolate, popcorn. He flew a well maintained Cirrus SR-20. The experience was amazing and seemed like a wonderful place to train. Highly recommend this business. read more

Had an awesome time today , first time flying on a small plane. Big shout out to our instructor Chris Fusser , real knowledgeable and experienced. I would definitely go back and request Chris. Thank you Mach 1 Aviation and Chris Fusser for the awesome experience. read more

Mach 1 Aviation - Flight Instruction Near Me - Van Nuys, California

Over a year ago I met Christopher Fussner on a discovery flight and was immediately interested in training with him. He had a great deal of experience not only with Cirrus but in other planes and training methods including tailwheels, upset recovery, multi-engine, and ground training that other instructors I had worked with in the past didn't demonstrate. When he left the company we'd met at, I was not hesitant at all to follow him to Mach 1 for these reasons. Mach 1 and their pi has been nothing short of excellent to me, having a lovely lineup of Cirrus aircraft, including SR-20 G3's, G6, and SR-22T G6 which are all nicely maintained and a pleasure to fly. If you are someone reading these reviews looking for a place to study flight at a top notch level at Van Nuys, I cannot recommend them and Chris enough. read more

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I can't say enough amazing things about my first flight in a Cirrus with Chris. From the moment we met, I had a sense we would get along, and it quickly became clear that he'd be the right instructor to help me earn my instrument rating. Chris did a fantastic job breaking down the basics of flying a Cirrus, and once we were in the air, I knew my passion for flying had grown even stronger--not just because of the aircraft but because of Chris's enthusiasm and commitment to teaching. He doesn't sugarcoat anything and leaves no detail unexplained, which is exactly what I need at this point in my flying career. I'm excited to continue flying with him and to build hours in a Cirrus. read more

I've been flying with Mach 1 for about 6 months and I can honestly say they are the best rental and instruction outfit I've trained in. I'm a 400 hr private and instrument rated pilot who took a multi-decade flying break but came back to Mach 1 to re-train and regain my currency. I've been flying with Chris as my CFI and he has been superb. His knowledge of flying and the Cirrus fleet is superb, his attitude and demeanor are exceptional. I can't recommend Mach 1 and Chris highly enough... Mach 1 also runs very smoothly. Online reservations, very helpful front office (shout out to Jacob who I see nearly every weekend), well maintained fleet and very professional across the board. read more

Had a work event at Mach 1 and it was a great experience. It was my first time flying in a smaller plane but they made it easy and fun. I flew with Chris and he was very accommodating and experienced. I would definitely recommend Mach 1 if you are thinking about going flying; ask for Chris! read more

Nothing but great things to say about Mach1 and the entire team. I've been flying with Charlie for over a year now and he is truly a great instructor. Their Cirrus fleet is well maintained and readily available to rent. Mach1 gets the job done. read more

Mach 1 Aviation - Flight Instruction Near Me - Van Nuys, California

Great experience all around. Everyone was helpful and nice. Dillon was a great instructor and made the experience better. Looking forward to hopefully doing this more. read more

In a single word, this flight school would be "quality." The location they operate from? Quality. The airplanes they train out of? Quality. The instructors? I can only speak for the one I trained with but his knowledge of each plane, the way he conveyed information simply yet in detail, the expertise in which he both handled the plane and transferred that skill to me over my time with him: peak quality. An absolute joy flying here. read more

After an intro fight in a Cessna 172 last March, I spent months researching my options for the best flight school to obtain my private pilot's license. My research led me to Mach 1 Aviation where I began my training in September of 2019. My experience so far confirms that I made the right choice in flying with Mach 1 Aviation. A large part of the reason why I chose Mach 1 was safety. Every time I go up, I know that safety is the number 1 priority. Throughout my training, I've never felt that my safety was compromised in any way. The planes are properly maintained and the level of instruction reflects their commitment to safety. My current instructor, Alex, is a consummate professional and has really helped me along my path to becoming a pilot. I just completed my first solo flight and couldn't be happier with the way things are progressing. I'm confident that the skills I'm learning and information I'm receiving will help me be the safest pilot I can be. And most importantly, I'm having a great time while learning. If you're looking for top notch instruction, especially in Cirrus aircraft, look no further than Mach 1 Aviation! read more

Mach 1 Aviation - Flight Instruction Near Me - Van Nuys, California

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I have been flying with Charlie and Mach 1 for over a year now. Charlie is an absolutely fantastic instructor. I have learned so much from him and each flight I still learn something new. I cannot recommend Charlie and Mach 1 highly enough. It's been an awesome experience. read more

It's been a life-long dream to learn to fly. I selected Mach 1 for the aircraft they use (Cirrus) and the safety features of that airplane. I could not be happier. My experience at Mach 1 could not be better. Well maintained aircraft, well organized procedures, and outstanding instructors. I am working with Jazmine, and she is a truly awesome instructor. She is not only an excellent pilot, but she is also very patient, knowledgeable, reassuring, and professional. Every lesson with Jazmine has been a good experience and I feel very confident, capable, and safe flying with Jazmine. Mach 1 is an excellent place to learn to fly, and you could not ask for a better (or nicer) instructor than Jazmine. Thank you! read more

This company is absolutely the BEST! Jason and his team go above and beyond for your safety and always make your trip an amazing experience. Susan is so polite, funny and helpful. Nothing but comfort and safety!! I highly recommend them!!! read more

I met Jason Price and the Mach One crew when they first opened up at Van Nuys around 2005? I was a part of a leased group of a 2004 Cirrus SR-22 with OurPlane that was hangered in same building as Mach One, flew with Jason and a few of his instructors and rented a few of his airplanes over a bunch of years. I have been renting airplanes at Van Nuys and many other places for about 37 years, and Jason and Mach One are up there as one if the best operations I have experienced in all those years! read more

I live in colorado but visit the la area multiple times a year. I am a private pilot building hours and fly 172's. I went through the whole checkout process but of course about a month or 2 later they got rid of them. They must have known this was happening and still took me through the process only for my money. This was after a whole debacle teying to fly a cirrus and their instructor basically saying he couldnt do the full check out because of other personal plans even though i had the time booked with him for 2 weeks in advance. This flight school is why all of the "top ten flight school scam" videos are made on youtube. DONT TRUST THEM. On the other hand the instructor i flew with and got checked out in the 172s with was really nice and cool. I think he is a teacher in camarillo? I liked his teaching methods but be careful with the flight school itself! read more

Alex and the team at Mach 1 Aviation set a high standard for what a flight school and flight instruction should be. Well maintained aircraft, thorough instruction, and a great location make Mach 1 a perfect fit up at their home base in VNY. I look forward to continuing my pursuit of aviation with Mach 1 and highly recommend them for anyone either just getting started or further along in their pilot experience. Big shout out for their awesome Cirrus fleet! read more

Maybe it's good for flight training but they seemed to lack to lack the aircraft rental culture. The instructor that chatted with me seemed to not even bother to take his dark shades off, and had a real shitty attitude. Basically it's an overpriced flight school(that will end up costing you lots of money getting whatever license you are trying to get) not an aircraft rental place. Anyhow ppl are different, it's just my opinion, it may suite you well. Some flight schools and aircraft rental places forget that FAA issues a damn license and they are not in charge setting their own own requirements on what planes a certified pilot can fly, as far as hey can demonstrate their flying skills and knowledge of the airplane and systems. If the manufacturer feels like their airplane requires mandatory training to be flown(which cirrus should), it should be certified as a plane requiring a type rating otherwise if you want to mandate a training do it at your expense and offer it to your customers. Positive thing is their location, but again, all the other things killed it. read more

I wanted to give my aviation enthusiast son his first flight in a general aviation aircraft for his birthday. Katie at Mach1 couldn't have been lovelier setting it all up, and Alex gave the prefect introduciton to flying. My son was at the controls probably 90% of the flight and even performed several touch-and-go landings with some minimal help from Alex. When calling around I was surprised how many flight schools showed lukewarm interest at best to get our business. Not so at Mach1, they treated us just as well as if we had just committed to a full $20k flight training program. Thank you for a great morning in N872WT! read more

I have around 400 hours flight time but all in traditional round gauge aircraft. I used Alex at Mach1 to help me complete the Cirrus SR22 transition, IPC and a flight review that was due. Alex is a true professional, driven and trains to standards above and beyond the regs which is the way it should be. I had some tough questions he could always answer and is very knowledgeable. He is very open minded to teaching and learning and was extremely adaptable to my own fluid schedule. I'll be continuing my training with him towards a commercial and multi engine ticket. It's a great location with lots of ground and maintenance support and great safe fleet. read more

I contacted Mach1 for flight school information and Susie was so helpful in getting all my questioned answered. She responded to a chat then called me. After doing a intro flight, she sent a follow up on my experience. That is rare these days. I can't wait to start my schooling to get my license. I would join today but need to wait until the beginning of the year. read more

When it was time to upgrade to glass cockpits and luxury aircraft, Mach 1 Aviation was my obvious choice. The cool thing about this operation is that it's a boutique family run business located inside one of the most prestigious FBO chains in the country and on Van Nuys Aiport which is one of the most busiest GA airports in the country. This combination gives you the best of both worlds, personalized customer service (they truly care about you) and world class FBO treatment along with awesome ramp personell. I got my private pilot's license at Mach 1 in 2009 and I loved every second of the journey....yes, the Cirrus SR-20 is an expensive aircraft to train in, but you get what you pay for, luxury, reliability, safety and most important, a lot of fun. After all, this is a luxury business, you might as well go all out if you really want to train in a cool airplane. Over time, they've expanded and catered to a clientele that is looking for more affordable solutions, by providing a line of single engine Cessnas that range from under $100 to the mid buck fifty. Pretty good price for the latter since it comes with a glass cockpit. Good instructors, good service, good establishment...and the best part of all.....once you get your license, if you wanna show up at 3AM and fly one of their airplanes......you can, because the FBO is open all around the clock. Just make sure you have an account on file and you're good to go! Ruben Garay Private Pilot read more

Stopped by more or less at RANDOM I was driving around Van Nuys airport looking for a flight school. I am in what might be called the early stage of selecting a flight school to begin obtaining my pilots' license. Anyways - back to my visit with Dave at Mach 1 Aviation? I walked up without an appointment and found him staffing a counter on the 2nd floor. I thought my visit might be 5-10 minutes tops to gain some idea of the basics for getting a license through them. I ended up chatting with Dave for perhaps an hour? He was a wealth of information + he walked me out to an aircraft to get a look inside. I found it to be mildly exciting and very helpful in beginning to define what I want to do in planning the process of obtaining my pilots' license. Dave explained quite a bit and seemed more then competent. He commented how he began flying at 14 (15?). My oldest daughter is 14 so I want her to maybe start her lessons somewhat soon - within a year more or less? Myself I want to get going sooner. Anyways - the facility there was rather nice looking - and it seemed appealing. I suspect the alternative CFI schools I'll find elsewhere are mostly beneath Mach 1 on the food chain. One of my friends who flies remarked the Cirrus training here sounded superior due to their predicted higher standards as a factory authorized flight training provider for their Cirrus aircraft. I have an oddball sense of logic in formulating where and how I'll go about this + my pilot friends are nudging me a certain way for superior quality in training but in slower aircraft? So I bestow 4 stars on Mach 1 with Dave only because I have not paid for a flight or lessons with them and Dave yet? However I was impressed very FAVORABLY with Dave,the CFI. I am going to check out a few other flight schools and sit down to dinner with my flying friends to formulate a bit of a plan for how I'll want to go about this. At the moment I think Mach 1 is expected to hold the high ground in this matter! If I end up flying with Mach 1 and Dave I predict I'll update this review to 5 stars.... something for down the road, eh? read more

Mach 1 is a truly amazing and professional flying school. I have flown all over with many different instructors from Florida to NY to here in California. Jason the owner and his instructors have an extremely high level of competence but they also make the experience fun. In addition, I love flying out of Van Nuys it's a lot safer statistically than Santa Monica. The aircraft is really nice at Mach 1. They are the only pros around teaching in the Cirrus. I wouldn't go anywhere else. read more

Been renting aircraft here for some time and taking occasional instruction. Recently went up with an instructor who tried to charge me for extra ground school that was not done. After speaking with 3 people and offering irrefutable proof that there was no ground school done, they still did not credit the charge. The person who called me said the instructor indicated the charge was for "paperwork" done after the flight. This is patently false on its face. I was there at the desk merely closing out my flight for maybe 2 minutes, if that. The instructor appeared to make up anything after the fact to justify the extra charge. I've had a couple of these instances in recent past with this company. Bills were padded on the back end with "ground school" when absolutely none was done and I had to call them on it and have it credited. Used to be a good place and didn't have problems here for a long time, but it seems recently there are instructors that are more focused on getting paid every dime possible. I originally trained at VNFC when it was around, and they always made good judgement calls with respect to conditions. It seems over the past year or two here you could have rough conditions and some instructors will aggressively push you to go up. The fact there's almost no other aircraft taking off or flying in the area and high winds should be a dead giveaway to make a no go call and no one should be pushed to do otherwise. I've charged back the last overcharge with my CC company and am actively looking at other places to rent aircraft. I would strongly suggest looking at your options in the area, but if you do currently go here or intend to, be sure to thoroughly check your invoices. read more

Have been lucky enough to get ratings at some of the best flight schools in the country (Riddle, Flight Safety) and Mach 1 meets, if not exceeds, the quality of instruction at these places. Their instructors (particular shout out to Alex) are remarkable and they have me on track and feeling good about my upcoming Commercial exams. Best fleet that I know of in the area - C152 up to to SR22, all very well maintained. Would recommend Mach 1 to anyone seeking to begin or continue their flight training. read more

I could not have had a better experience. The instructors are enthusiastic, knowledgable and incredibly talented. The aircrafts are immaculate and all fairly new, and the office manager/flight dispatcher Sarah was extremely helpful. I miss going there. read more

Very clean and professional. The planes are in great shape, my instructor has been amazing and it's been a great opportunity to fly with them. read more

As an aviation professional I highly recommend Mach 1 Aviation for any of your training needs. Alex Gornakov is a wonderful instructor and always challenges you to be a better pilot and professional. Their facilities are located within Signature Flight Support (west) at Van Nuys airport, and they are very accommodating to any of your needs. Their fleet of aircraft are well maintained and all have some of the most updated avionics systems. If you are looking for above average flight training in the Valley look no further than Mach 1 Aviation! read more

I haven't gone flying yet but needed to write a review because these people have been so helpful answering so many questions. I've talked to everyone from the Chief Flight Instructor to COO. She just spent over an hour with me answering questions outlined in the AOPA book for how to find the right school. They've helped me sort through the different between the Part 61 and Part 141 program and whether the Cessna or Cirrus was the right fit, and surprisingly they were encouraging me to go with the less expensive option. They also encouraged me to talk to some other schools which is my next step in the process, but I feel like that will lead back here but wanted to write a review now because just the help they've already provided has been amazing. read more

An excellent place if you are interested in renting a plane. I got back into flying after eleven years, took my flight review from Kent Yarnell, and was thoroughly satisfied with both his thoroughness and professionalism. In addition to an excellent staff, the two 172s have state-of-the-art G1000 avionics and are well-maintained. They use an online scheduler, which really streamlines the process and is a great way to plan one's training. I would highly recommend this FBO to anyone looking to re-enter flying after being away for an extended time. read more

For Adrian's birthday, I wanted to do something truly memorable. He mentioned he'd always wanted to fly a plane, so... flying lessons! After a brief Google search, I found a few companies at the Van Nuys airport. Honestly, I chose this company because of its nice website (lame!). But, I'm happy I did. I emailed and got a quick response. Ended up picking up the gift certificate and pamphlet from the person who ended up giving the lesson (Jason). Friendly, knowledgeable person. We scheduled the day of the lesson. I purchased a 1/2 hour Discovery flight for $99. This is how I presented the gift. Feel free to use this method because it's pretty freaking awesome: Morning of his birthday, we got into the car and I had him open a gift bag with a card and blindfold. Drove the 20 minutes to the airport with him "in the dark" about the lesson. When we get there, I place the pamphlet in his lap and tell him to remove his blindfold. (My recommendation -- keep the radio ON because you could hear the airplanes from inside the car.) He saw it and was thrilled... but he didn't think he'd actually FLY the plan that day. We get inside check in with the receptionist. End up waiting 30 minutes past the appointment time (if you get bored, there are TV monitors, free coffee, tea, and hot cocoa, popcorn, and Otis Spunkmeyer cookies!) until Jason seemed to be finished with his appointment. I was a bit annoyed at this point, until he turned to me and asked if I was going up in the plane. I had no idea I'd get to go up too! Of course I said yes! We also marveled at the millions of dollars of jets all around us. We saw the cute Cirrus SR20 that we'd be flying that day. I brought my camera and took a picture of EVERYTHING -- Adrian in front of the plane, next to it, in the pilot's seat, with and without the headset, etc. Jason, our pilot, gave us a quick safety debrief (in the case he become incapacitated) which scared both of us, but was purely informational. Be patient as the pilot clears with the tower your take-off. But as soon as you get clearance, Jason clearly explains how to use the controls and will let you take-off if you want! Adrian opted to do so, and took us smoothly into the air. We from Van Nuys to Simi Valley and then north past Regan Library. It was so beautiful! For the most part, Adrian had control of the plan, with Jason there in case something happened. Depending on how adventurous you are, you can have as little or as much control of the plane you want. The pilot then did a fun 60 degree turn and pulled up hard on the plane, which felt like being on a roller coaster. We squealed with delight. Adrian really enjoyed the gift and I am satisfied with the experience. It was well worth the money. Just a bit annoyed with the start time, but all in all, a great gift and experience. Jason was very professional, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable about the planes and would recommend him to friends. We'll probably go back to him for Adrian's pilot training. read more

I had been looking for a place to take my wife flying for a sunset cruise near the ocean. I was recommended this place from a friend who had recently booked a trip through them. He had nothing but positive things to say about Mach 1. So I ended up connecting with Jason who was both patient and accommodating with question after question. I ended up booking their Cirrus SR22. On flight day Jason walked us through his pre-flight checks and educated us on what to do if anything were to go wrong. I was relieved to know that the Cirrus had a parachute that could be deployed in case of emergency. It was also really neat to walk out to the tarmac and see all the other planes - including some much larger ones - just a few feet away. It was evident that Jason had a rich background in aviation as he would point out the names and models of various aircraft taking off in the distance. And he happily answered many of our random questions on the spot. The condition of the facility and planes appeared first rate. The SR22 was spotless inside and out. And their other plane - the Cessna 172 - appeared to be in great shape. Though I did not get a chance to peak inside. One thing I really appreciated about this flight - and the one thing my wife will never forget - is that he allowed her to take over the controls. Jason is a certified instructor and has been doing so for a decade. And it definitely showed in his interactions. Additionally, he was more than willing to take several passes over landmarks to ensure we could take some very memorable photos. I have a heavy background in Customer Service (Disney) and can easily distinguish between those who do their job for money vs. those who do it for passion. Jason is definitely the latter. Professional, knowledgeable and personable. I highly recommend both him and Mach 1. read more

Please stay away!!! I had a horrible experience with them. I have been paying hourly with Mach1 for the past year. The promise was that I would get my pilot's license in 40 to 50 hours of flight time, I logged more that 120 hours and they told me today that I will not be ready for the check ride for at least another 20 hours. I do not think someone who is 32 years old, with two different engineering degrees would need this much flight training, I am paying a good premium for my flight training and would certainly expected to be done by now. read more

Decided to actually finish my private pilot training and was looking around for a school. I have about 65 hours in a Cessna but was thinking about finishing in a Cirrus. That is what attracted me to Mach 1. After talking with a couple friends who fly they talked me out of the Cirrus for now and convinced me to finish on the Cessna. My first lesson didn't happen. The student from the day before left the master switch on and the battery was dead. Not the fault of the school. So I had a choice to go home or fly. So we went and got the keys to an SR20 and took a nice stroll though the skies over So Cal. The Cirrus was amazing but not really something that I am ready to convert to. I scheduled another flight with Jason and he might be one of the most knowledgeable CFIs I have ever flown with. He pointed out some really important bad habits that I have that only a real professional would know. We were up for almost 2 hours and it felt great. I was pretty rusty but it is like riding a bike. My first power off stall was great. I slammed the yoke in a little hard and we were diving at a 75 degree angle. Their planes are the newest fleet at KVNY. It was my first time flying with an all glass cockpit and it was so much nicer than I could have ever imagine. Everything is clean and well maintained. Tanks were full and ready so there wasn't much time wasted. Looking forward to my next appointment tomorrow. Going to take one of the triplets who has never been in a plane before. I think I am more excited than him! read more

I got my PPL ticket at Fly Mach 1 Aviation. This is the best flight school in the LA/Ventura area. Before Fly Mach 1 I cycled through at least seven flight instructors as a student. I started at a different school at Van Nuys in a Cessna 172. My initial instructor quit. Then I bounced around a few of the school's newbie CFIs. I moved to a Cirrus school which no longer exists and was left high and dry just post solo. I felt that school was just cashing in on my instruction hours they went belly up. I found Fly Mach 1 owner Jason Price. He salvaged a bad situation and helped me get my private pilot license. I'm sure Fly Mach 1 Aviation would recognize this review. I'd be happy to speak in detail with anyone who is considering Fly Mach 1 Aviation. They can get you in touch with me via email. You couldn't ask for a better school, aircraft, facility and staff. I have the picture, adventures and lifelong memories to prove it. Fly safe! read more