Washington DC > Flying Experience Gifts Experiences

Learn to Fly

Gaithersburg, MD

From: $99

Item #: AIR-WAS-0042

(11 Reviews)

Learn to Fly in a Cessna 172 Aircraft near Baltimore

Introductory Flying Lesson near Washington DC

Cockpit Cessna 172 for Flying Lesson near DC

Soar to new heights as you start your journey toward earning your wings with this exciting flying lesson!

A great introduction for anyone who has ever considered flight training
Learn to fly under the careful guidance of your FAA Certified Flight Instructor
Experience a preflight inspection followed by 30 minutes of flying
Train in a popular and trusted aircraft like the Cessna 172 or Piper PA-28
Sit in the pilot’s seat on your very first flight – no experience necessary!

From: $99

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Overview

Soar to new heights as you start your journey toward earning your wings with this exciting flying lesson!

A great introduction for anyone who has ever considered flight training
Learn to fly under the careful guidance of your FAA Certified Flight Instructor
Experience a preflight inspection followed by 30 minutes of flying
Train in a popular and trusted aircraft like the Cessna 172 or Piper PA-28
Sit in the pilot’s seat on your very first flight – no experience necessary!

Full Description

Availability

When Do I Choose A Date?

If giving as a gift, your recipient can choose a date at their convenience; otherwise, you can choose one after checkout.

Year-Round:
Daily - 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Important Details

Essential Information

No experience necessary
Must be at least 5 years of age to participate
Maximum weight is 250 lbs per person and 400 lbs combined weight for all participants

Duration

This experience lasts approximately 1 hour total, with 30 minutes of ground instruction and 30 minutes of flight time from engine start to stop.

Experience Provider Info

Complete information for your Experience Provider, including contact information, will be included on your booking confirmation email once you or your gift recipient have scheduled the experience. Our Product Management team handpicks top-rated experience providers, removing the guesswork for you and ensuring your peace of mind.

Maximum Participants

This experience is for 1 student and up to 2 passengers, depending on the option selected.

Spectators

The student may bring up to 2 passengers for an additional fee and pending weight restrictions.

Weather Dependent

This experience is subject to weather such as strong wind, low clouds/fog, or maintenance issues. Please contact your experience provider with any questions regarding weather conditions.

What To Wear

Please wear comfortable clothing appropriate for weather conditions.

FAQs

Are there any weight limits?

Maximum weight is 250 lbs per person or combined passenger weight of 400 lbs.

Are there any age restrictions?

Participants must be at least 5 years old.

Is this experience handicap accessible?

Unfortunately, this experience is not handicap accessible.

What type of airplane will I be flying?

You’ll learn to fly in either a Cessna 172 or Piper PA-28.

Returns, Exchanges & Cancellations

Returns
Experience Vouchers that have not been redeemed can be returned hassle-free within 30 days. All refunds will be made to the original purchaser.
Exchanges
Experience Vouchers that have not been redeemed can be exchanged for anything else in our marketplace at any time. If you choose to exchange for an experience that costs more, you'll simply have to pay the difference. If you choose to exchange for an experience that costs less, you'll have a credit towards your next booking with Virgin Experience Gifts.

Cancellation Policy

Once you have scheduled a date and received confirmation, cancellations and rescheduling for this experience is permitted up to 72 hours prior to the booked time. If you need to reschedule, please do so directly with the flight school and be sure to have confirmation that they have received your cancellation or reschedule request. Last minute cancellations may result in a $50 rebooking fee. Failure to appear on your booked date, or to reschedule in accordance with these terms will result in the loss of the value of the certificate. In the event that the date is cancelled due to weather, you will reschedule directly with the flight school.

Other Washington DC Experiences

Customer Reviews

This experience has a customer rating of 5
based on 11 reviews.

View More Reviews:

The flight experience was fun and I like how they give you a run down on the flight instruments in the beginning. My instructor made it very interesting and it was a very nice experience overall. I loved it.

— Ryan K | Aug 03, 2022

Response from Virgin Experience Gifts

Hi Ryan, I love to hear that you had a great time with your pilot and learned a new skill. How awesome is it that you were able to take full controls at one point and try something new? I am delighted that you had so much fun and that overall you found a potential new hobby! Let us know what is next on your bucket list! Best, Brianna

Washington Flight Academy was safe and efficient, and my instructor Kevin was friendly and knowledgeable!

— Amy D | Aug 01, 2022

Response from Virgin Experience Gifts

Hello Amy, Thank you for your stellar 5-star review of your Learn to Fly! I will be sure to pass along your very kind words to Kevin, and I hope that we will have another opportunity to get you out for a fun filled adventure. Best, Brianna

Awesome

— Sameet S | Jul 18, 2022

It was a great experience. The description was very accurate in terms of what to expect and the timing. Our instructor was very patient, kind and nice. It was overall a very unique way to spend a few hours.

— Keely D | Jun 22, 2022

Awesome experience!! you guys made it easy for me.

— Prashanth R | Dec 19, 2021

Response from Virgin Experience Gifts

Hello Prashanth, So glad to hear you had a great experience! I’m thrilled you had the opportunity to take controls of the aircraft and learn basic flight maneuvers. I’m sure the adrenaline was flowing as you soared through the air. We are pleased that it was an easy process for you. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Thanks, Ryan

My expectations were completely blown away! We had a great time with Washington Intl Flight Academy and will definitely return for another lesson. My husband's flight instructor, Omer, did a stellar job and we plan on requesting to take another class under him next time we go back. The lesson he gave were very user-friendly and he did a great job teaching first-time "pilots".

— Ricci V | Nov 12, 2021

Response from Virgin Experience Gifts

Hi there, Jenna! To be honest, I'm blown away by how incredible this review is! We strive to only partner with the absolute best and it is so rewarding to see that translated into a stellar experience for our customers. It's delightful to know that Omer's teaching style was so well received by your husband, and I would be more than happy to pass on your kind words to our partners. I truly hope that your husband's next flight exceeds your expectations as this one has. Keep reaching sky high with our legendary gift-giving opportunities! Al my best, Courtney

My instructor, Ofek, was knowledgeable and fun. I had a great on the ground learning, but especially a fun time flying.

— Nickolai L | Sep 06, 2021

Response from Virgin Experience Gifts

Hello Nickolai! Thank you so much for your kind review. I am so happy that you enjoyed your day learning to fly from start to finish! I will definitely pass on your compliments to your instructor as I am sure he would love to hear that you had a fun day. Cheers, Elizabeth

AMAZING experience! Purchased this as a birthday gift and it was a great time. Our instructor, Omer, was very engaging and walked us through the plane components. The flight was great. Would highly recommend. Great experience with lots of photo opportunities and very reasonable cost.

— Devan M | Aug 23, 2021

Response from Virgin Experience Gifts

HI Emily! What a thoughtful gift idea! Sounds like you are responsible for a great day! Happy to see that our partners are still the best in the biz.. it's good to be reminded! It can be a lot, learning to fly, and I'm grateful Omer was able to make you guys feel at ease. Thanks for taking the time to share with us your experience! Cheers, Jake.

My daughter wants to be a commercial pilot, and this was her first experience ‘flying’ a plane at age 12. The scheduling was very easy and the experience itself were top-notch. The staff and pilot explained everything they did and were very supportive, engaged, and encouraging to my daughter. This was a fantastic experience that I would recommend to anyone.

— Gabriella F | Aug 16, 2021

Response from Virgin Experience Gifts

Hello! Thank you for taking a moment to share your review of your flight and for your recommendation! It is so cool that your daughter was able to take controls of the airplane and experience this at the age of 12! She is so cool! We are thrilled that it was easy to schedule a date and that you felt the support from your pilot. It is so important to have a helpful pilot when learning how to fly for the first time. It sounds like one amazing day for an amazing commercial pilot to be! Best, Brianna

Professional laid back staff who makes what is a nerve-racking experience, very easy and a calm situation. 10/10 would go again, 10/10 would reference people as well

— Ryan B | Aug 01, 2021

Response from Virgin Experience Gifts

Hello Cullen, We are so overjoyed you had a great time soaring through the skies on your Learn to Fly experience! While it definitely can be a bit intimidating at first, our partners do an excellent job at ensuring you're fully comfortable and that you have an absolute blast during the entire flight from takeoff to touchdown. Cheers to more adventures like this in the future! Best, Garrett

First time for everything. Instructor was awesome.

— Jeffery M | Apr 10, 2021

Response from Virgin Experience Gifts

Hi there, You are so correct, and we love that you took a risk on Cloud 9 Living and it was a success! Having a fun instructor can certainly help calm any nerves about a first-time experience, and we love that our partners made sure you had a great time in the skies! Best, Sophia

Learn to Fly