Essence Flight Academy
Discovery Flight For One
Discovery Flight for One — Take the Controls Over Los Angeles
There's no better way to find out if flying is for you. On your Discovery Flight for One, you'll sit up front with a certified flight instructor, take the controls of a real airplane, and soar over the most iconic sights in Los Angeles — the Hollywood Sign, Griffith Observatory, the Pacific coastline, and the glittering downtown skyline. It's a true hands-on flying lesson disguised as the adventure of a lifetime.
No experience necessary. Your instructor handles the technical details and keeps everything safe and relaxed, while you focus on the pure joy of flight. Whether you're testing the waters before pilot training or checking a dream off your bucket list, this is the perfect first step into aviation.
What to expect
Pre-flight briefing
Your CFI walks you through the aircraft and the plan for your flight.
Hands-on flying
You take the controls in the air — climbs, turns, and the feel of real flight.
Iconic LA views
Soar over landmarks most people only see from the ground.
- One-on-one introductory flight with a certified flight instructor
- Hands-on time at the controls — you actually fly the airplane
- Scenic route over Los Angeles landmarks
- Pre-flight briefing — no experience required
- Fee credited in full toward training if you enroll within 24 hours
Compare all four Discovery Flights
For One — $229
Solo intro flight, you take the controls.
For Two — $299
Share the experience with a companion.
Luxury for Two — $399
Premium Cirrus SR22 — perfect for special occasions.
Multi-Engine — $499
Fly a twin-engine Piper Seminole.
Google · Discovery Flight
Yelp · Hands-On Flight
Google · Intro Lesson
Ready for takeoff?
Questions before you book? Talk to a real instructor — no pressure, just answers. Van Nuys Airport (KVNY) · Open 7 days, 9am–9pm.