Incredible Experience with Next Gen Flight Academy! I had an absolute blast during my flying lesson at Next Gen Flight Academy in Riverside! Taking to the skies in a Cessna was an unforgettable experience from takeoff to landing. A massive shoutout to our instructor, Grant, who made the entire experience top-notch. He was professional, super knowledgeable, and extremely patient, making me feel confident and comfortable behind the controls the whole time. Whether you're looking to start your pilot's license journey or just want an amazing introductory flight experience, I couldn't recommend Next Gen Flight Academy and Grant highly enough. 5 stars all the way! read more

You won't be disappointed by Next Gen Flight Academy from start to finish . Stephen was amazing getting me scheduled for flights for my grandson Joseph and his dad Jose. The front. Caitlin the from desk was awesome and the instructor Grant WoW what can I say he put my grandson at ease. Greatest gift ever for that someone special. read more

This flight academy is fantastic! My 12 year son got to do his first discovery flight, and he was smiling ear to ear the whole time. The pilot Grant was fantastic, patient, kind, smart, and truly loves his job. He made flying so much fun. My son's friend and I even got to be passengers and experience the whole flight with them. It was the best experience ever! Every kid and adult should do this at least once. Worth every penny! It was the smoothest flight I have ever been on. Literally felt like I was dreaming how easily we took off and flew around Lake Perris. Light as a feather and a joyous experience. Can't wait to do it again and again!! Praise God for NextGen Flight Academy! read more

Buyer Beware - Undisclosed Expiration Fees I purchased a Groupon for two discovery flights for $180.20. I later learned it expired on 11/8/25. Groupon's fine print states the amount paid remains redeemable after expiration. As of 1/9/26, the company's current price is $100 per flight (the original Groupon price was $93.60 each). When I called the number ending in 1110, I offered to use my credit and pay the difference. Instead, I was told there is an undisclosed expiration fee of $70 per voucher, totaling $140, charged for no reason other than expiration. They refused to apply my paid credit unless I paid this fee. This results in a $140 loss, despite the flight costing $100 today. This policy was never disclosed upfront and feels punitive and misleading. Due to this experience, my wife will not pursue her PPL with this company. If transparency matters to you, proceed with caution. read more

If you like getting robbed and having Amanda tell you there's nothing you can do about then this is the place come to. Absolutely a complete joke. We had a flight scheduled for 12pm as a birthday gift. The company assured us that the weather was great for that day and that we would be able to go. An hour before our flight, they called and said we couldn't go out for our flight because the clouds were too low. We watched as planes took off and landed for about an hour. I explained to Amanda the manager that we were very disappointed that we didn't get to fly but we would appreciate a refund. In a few words or less she pretty much said "kick rocks" we already have your money so you can go pound sand....... completely unethical to not offer a refund when the issues comes from them. Would not recommend this clown company to anyone. Go to chino or corona, much nicer and more friendly staff. read more

I got the introduction to flying package where they give you a quick tutorial on a very realistic simulator for about 10 to 15 minutes and then take you up into the air on one of their planes (in my case, the Cessna 172). My instructor was Nick, and he was absolutely wonderful. He was very supportive and congenial, taking his time to thoroughly and efficiently explain the basics. He was very encouraging and always made me feel safe. Part of the package had me actually take off, climb to about 2500 to 3000 ft and learn some basic maneuvers like a steep turn and going weightless by pulling up then pulling out on the throttle and diving - it was so exhilerating. The whole time Nick sat next to me keeping an eye on the millions of other things to keep us safe like monitoring air traffic for other nearby planes, handling the fuel mixture, and taking control of the plane when necessary. I have to say, it's got me interested at this point to going for a license. But if you're anyone who's ever wondered about what it's like to fly, I can't recommend NextGen (and more specifically instructor Nick) - it's a great price for the experience of a lifetime. read more

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I got a Groupon deal for a 30min intro to flight lesson, and the experience and duration definitely exceeded my expectations! Dave was my pilot/instructor, and we started the lesson with 15mins in the simulator, where he went over the process and all the instruments thoroughly and explained the process clearly. After the simulator, we were ready for a real life flight! The first plane, a 172h, he intended on using needed to be refueled, but to minimize the wait time he quickly arranged a different plane for us. Once we got into the plane, he maneuvered on the runway, and when we were ready to take off, I got to take the controls to get us in air. We flew towards Lake Matthew and the views were so beautiful! While we were above the lake, Dave demonstrated slow flight, stalling, and some roller coaster fun where I got to feel the sensation of zero gravity! After a loop around the lake, we headed back towards the airport where Dave did the landing. Overall it was a great experience, longer and more hands-on than I imagined. Dave was a great instructor, he made sure the experience was smooth, educational, and exciting. Definitely recommend trying this adventure! read more

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Highly recommend!! My son 16, did his 1st logged flight lesson with Instructor Eric Staff from 1st contact was awesome. Great planes, all staff interactions were stellar, it was a beautiful day to fly. We felt totally comfortable going up with Eric in the Piper Archer & we even checked to see if my son 6'5, got in a 172.. he does!! Ha! If you are looking for an honest school to get your hours for PPL this is a great location. Thank Eric & staff!! read more

Thanks to Devon and the crew at NextGen for making our grandsons dreams of flight come true. Great customer focus and experience. read more

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After taking a lesson in NYC, I wanted to try again in Cali. This place did not disappoint at all but instead exceeded NYC's flight lesson. My friend and I took a lesson with Dawson, he's a awesome instructor and I want to go back again just to train with him. The breakdown: Cost- $100 (per person) - 5 stars (10 stars if possible!!) Planes- 4 stars Instructor- 5 stars Overall experience- priceless- 5 stars Dawson was extremely informative and attentive to everyone's needs, wants, questions, and skill levels. He was welcoming and open about his own path in aviation. We needed the day sunny day in June, flying over the a lake, making lots of donuts in the air, and flying nearby California dessert mountains. It was a beautiful way to end our Cali trip. Fast forward to September. The breakdown: Cost- $100 (per person) - 5 stars (10 stars if possible!!) Planes- 4 stars Instructor- 3 stars Overall experience- priceless- 3 stars New job, new path, more perks. Another friend and I decided to hop on a plane and go to Cali to take a flight class. I immediately recommended this place! We literally booked tickets just to come here, that's it. Once we arrived we were the last ones there. Took a class with another instructor who was leaving to become a SkyWest Pilot. He was informative but did not let fly the plane as much as Dawson did. We had very minimal control of the plane. Despite this, we flew directly over mountains, the lake and even landed in the nearby airport, changed seats, and returned to land in the airplane's home airport again. Overall my friend loved it! I had a good time and would take another plane ride across the country to fly a plane again with a great instructor and amazing views. read more

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Great Experience & well recommended . Fast paced learning to fly the plane. Friendly environment. read more

NextGen Aviation Academy - Flight Planes - Flight Instruction Near Me - Riverside, California

Thank you so much for the first time flight instruction. I really appreciate it. Awesome and memorable experience. Totally recommend. read more

NextGen Aviation Academy - Flight Instruction Near Me - Riverside, California

After mistakingly purchasing a lesson at this airport, I requested a refund so that I could purchase a lesson for my husband at the airport closest to our house. They would not refund me for the lesson I purchased. I realize that the website does state no refunds, but in admitting my mistake, I would think that they would not want to take my money. Buyer beware. read more

What a great time! Fantastic birthday or holiday present idea if you have an adventurous person in your life that needs a different and unique, show stopping gift. Thank you! read more

NextGen Aviation Academy - Pic with instructor - Flight Instruction Near Me - Riverside, California

Incredible company to work with. Bought the groupon for my son who is starting his PPL work. Annika was awesome to work with. Highly recommend. Office staff is also very responsive!! read more

NextGen Aviation Academy - Flight Instruction Near Me - Riverside, California

Incredible experience with my dad and I for Father's Day !! Great pricing and we got a free guest. My dad's been wanting to fly his whole life and he's dedicated to getting his license after this class! Definitely a riverside hidden gem, highly suggest bringing a friend or family member for a great time Ryan is an awesome instructor, super friendly and knowledgeable! read more

My grandson loved it and he learned a lot. He's moved to Seattle, but when he returns for a visit during the holidays, he usually asks for a flight lesson for Christmas. My daughter-in-law's parents always try to make it so. So we'll see you again soon! read more

Best experience ever!! Definitely recommend doing this if you ever wanted to fly. My instructor and Co-pilot was Robert and he was great!! Very informative, and super cool dude. I recommend bringing som Ray Ban aviators for the complete experience. Can't wait to ride the air again!! read more

NextGen Aviation Academy - What a beautiful sight! - Flight Instruction Near Me - Riverside, California

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What an amazing experience. It was the perfect birthday gift for my fiancé and I got to fly with them. Anika was very knowledgeable and I highly recommend requesting her. Thank you Nextgen!!!! read more

My boyfriend has been super interested in attending classes to become a pilot and this was the perfect experience for him. We purchased a group on for the simulator and 30minute in flight experience. We were lucky enough to fly with the owner! He was very informative and took the time to answer all of our questions. We would definitely do this again read more

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I purchased a demo for $99. My daughter and I had an opportunity to fly from Riverside to the Hollywood sign. I travel quite a bit for work but never experienced a small plane. Julieanne and enjoyed the view and the beauty of flying. I think everyone should give it a try. Cole was our pilot and instructor. He was very professional and made the experience enjoyable. Julieanne had an opportunity to take control of the yoke for a true feeling of flying. I would highly recommend NextGen. You can take a date to Catalina and have lunch there and fly back. Look!! The Hollywood sign behind me. :) Anyone interested in a career in aviation, there will be a shortage of pilots. You can only expect pay to increase... read more

NextGen Aviation Academy - Flight Instruction Near Me - Riverside, California

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How does one get the best bang for their time and money spent? NextGen! The most up to date aviation flight school I have seen to date (and I have been around the country). A well maintained and run establishment. From say one I got an amazing welcoming vibe and it has not changed just because they feel comfortable. Beautiful facilities with lots of information, and a computer for the students /pilots. On site literature /equipment for purchase. Beautiful retro plane waiting area With complimentary soda/water and snacks. Aircrafts are maintained to perfection with all up to date paperwork available at the time of each rental. Financial assistance options for those who may need. Probably the best block rates I have seen EVER! NextGen should definitely be your first stop. read more

Do it!!! If you are thinking about getting your pilot license here is your spot. Over the Summer I decided I was going to learn to fly. It's been a lifetime goal and now it's time . Every single person here is awesome. The girls answering the phones and scheduling the flights are very informative. My flight instructor (Cole) is a bad ass! He is great at building confidence and making you feel comfortable flying the airplane. Every time I go up I feel like I learn more and gain a little more confidence. Cole is a awesome flight instructor but not the only one. I've met some of the other flight instructors and they all seem very cool. I would love to fly with any of them. The process of becoming a student pilot is very simple. 1 sign up with NextGen and get your introduction flight 2 Flight instructor get you all the information you need to get your student pilots license. Signing up on FAA websight and doctor information for physical. (Easy physical) 3 fly every chance you get because you're hooked! You pay for the plane rental and your instructors time. I've spent more money renting a jet ski than I do on a flight lesson. At the time of this review I'm currently about 7 flights in with NextGen. I haven't soloed yet and I can't wait until my skills and confidence are at the point where I can solo! I have no doubt the Cole and everyone at NextGen will help me reach my goal and pass it. If you want to learn to fly, don't hesitate! Just call NextGen and do it. It's that simple. Thanks NextGen for opening my eyes to a whole new world of awesomeness!!! Can't wait to fly with you again soon, hopefully next week . read more

I had a amazing experience with greatest CFI Dave !! He was very kind and delicate, and made me calm when I was nervous, Thank you for your professional flight. I'll visit again next time read more

Corey was an outstanding instructor! I recommend you trying to come to this location in Cali

We've had great experiences every time we have come here. We've flown twice with Anthony and couldn't be more happy. They're professional, friendly, knowledgeable, and a pleasure to deal with. read more

I did a comparison on prices. NextGen has reasonable price comparing with other flight academies. The office is clean and organized. Brandon is very professional and patient. He makes sure that the plane is completely checked and safe before flight. My son had his first flight with Brandon, and he really enjoyed the experience while learning a lot in this field. Brandon was very patient to teach and answer all questions. After the flight, they gave us complementary bottles of cold water on the very hot day to cool off. We will definitely come back again and I would recommend anyone who wants valuable flight-learning experience. read more

NextGen Aviation Academy - My son is learning about how to check the oil before flight. - Flight Instruction Near Me - Riverside, California

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To the inspiring Pilot, have you ever sat on a bench in the park looking up and seeing an aircraft pass over and think, huh I would love to experience that "high life" sometime? Well you can, with the best service, professional staff, and flight instructors around the Inland Empire. You must come and check out NextGen Flight Academy. They have a fleet and flight crew ready to get you the pilot where you desires to be. Succeeding in anything takes time, and this company will focus every bit of time into you. Come and see for yourself and enjoy a complimentary beverage or talk to Brandon Martini (Owner) about a demo flight and see where Education through Aviation can take you. Clear Skies. Friend E. Deming read more

Had a great demo flight at NextGen flight academy! The CFI I was assigned to was Cole and he was very thorough and professional. The flight was great and he allowed lots of hands on flight time(I even got to take off). I highly recommend NextGen flight academy and specifically Cole. If you are on the fence about choosing a flight school I recommend booking a demo flight here and find out for yourself. Of the flight schools I have been to this one was by far the best. I ended up booking another lesson with Cole. read more

NextGen Aviation Academy - Flight Instruction Near Me - Riverside, California

Brandon is an amazing and inspiring person just came to a free ground school training his staff gives every month and really felt I was with excited people about aviation. read more

Greatest time I've ever had. Flying has been on my bucket list for over 20 years, but because of other obligations I couldn't until now. Great staff, nice, and friendly and knowledgeable. Thank you for a great experience. read more

Great customer service, great interaction, and overall great experience. Definitely a hidden gem at Riverside Airport. I will be continuing/finishing my multi-engine add on here. If you have the time& money they flexibility and ability to get you completed as fast as you want as long as you're willing to put in the effort. Great facilities and environment! read more

I was so impressed with how Jacob dealt with my son.... my son(he's 13) even commented that he felt like a person rather than a kid as Jacob taught him how to properly do the plane inspections before takeoff..... after takeoff the smile on my sons face was priceless... thank you Jacob for the great memories we'll be back for sure! read more

NextGen Aviation Academy - Flight Instruction Near Me - Riverside, California

Amazing school! Michael is a top tear instructor! Brandon martini the owner is a hands on type of guy. Your success is what there after!

Reading the other reviews, they clearly don't give the full picture of this fight school. There's nothing "NextGen" about this place. All of the aircraft are old and most of the cessnas are down because if poor maintenance and incidents. When you do find a plane that works everything is placarded inop, old and run down panels, and instruments you can't use for instrument approaches because the instruments are outside of required specifications. You're not taken seriously when you tell staff about a problem. Do your research before you spend your money here. There's other schools here, in Chino and French Valley with newer more modern planes, with a better maintenance program. read more

This flight academy is awesome! They are very helpful and will work around your schedule to accommodate you and your needs.

This is one of the best places to learn to fly. In the plane is updated. Very comfortable to ride in. The customer service makes it even better. read more

NextGen Aviation Academy - Learning to fly with the flight instructor (Peter) - Flight Instruction Near Me - Riverside, California

I have decided I wanted to learn how to fly, I called NextGen and spoke to Peter. He knew that I didn't have any experience flying but he still answered all my questions. I met him on Sunday and he gave me a tour of the facility and surprised me with my first experience in a four seater plane. Before even getting in the air he showed me the in's and outs of the plane, he made me very comfortable and didn't rush me with any questions I had. With Peters help I know ill be flying in no time. Thanks NextGen. read more

NextGen was an amazing experience for me during my training. I received my private pilot license through NextGen the instructors were great and very helpful! The owner Brandon is an amazing person who cares about the students and always likes to make sure everyone is taken care of. Overall a great establishment, fair prices, and great environment! High recommend this school! I will continue my business and schooling through NextGen. read more

For 4.5 years, I have been actively pursuing my instrument rating license. I had been through many institutions, instructors, and programs. However, one terrible experience after another had left me greatly discouraged and with huge losses of time and money. It wasn't until I started at NextGen that I found the place with people who would invest in, cultivate, and add to my already hard-earned knowledge and skills. Brandon, Aleksa, Luis, and the rest of the staff genuinely cared for me, treated me with respect, and didn't take advantage of me as a customer/student. During the time I spent with them, they continuously encouraged me and strengthened my confidence. Within a week, I was scheduled my checkride, and I can proudly and gratefully say that I am finally instrument rated! I am very grateful for the service I have received and relationships I have created at NextGen. Thank you so much! read more