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When do you fly? Days
Open and Hours of Operation:
SPRING thru FALL: (April
through October) We are open FOUR Days A Week,
Thursday through Sunday:
Saturday and Sunday, we open at 10:30 AM and last
flight out about 4:00 PM. NO
APPOINTMENTS NEEDED OR TAKEN, JUST WALK-IN, WE FLY
FIRST COME FIRST SERVED.
Since we operate on a "walk-in" basis we make no
guarantees that showing up early is gonna work for
you!!!
Thursday and
Friday we are available by
APPOINTMENT ONLY.
Starting at 10:30 AM with last flight out about 4:00
PM. Please call or email to make a reservation FOR
Thursday or Friday. We are
closed Monday through Wednesday.
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WINTER HOURS:
(November thru March) Saturday & Sunday flights only:
We fly Saturdays & Sundays ONLY (always weather permitting). No weekday
flights. For passenger comfort, we do not fly the open cockpit
biplanes if the temperature is below 60 degrees. The
bitter-cold of the wind can be harsh, and we don’t want passengers
turning into icicles. We can fly the closed cockpit warbirds in
the colder weather.
BY THE WAY... We only
fly Weather permitting. That can mean extreme heat, gusting winds,
rain, fog, cold - any of these elements - can affect our ability
to fly. These conditions cannot always be forecasted in advance,
and therefore if we must stop flights for any of these reasons, we
apologize for the inconvenience. We get the weather forecast from
the local news channels.
ALERT: We close EARLY, 2:00pm, on Big
Race Event Days at the Sonoma Raceway, so none of us get stuck in
gridlock traffic. Those race days include NASCAR, Indy Race, NHRA
Drag Races. You can check the Sonoma Raceway website at
http://www.sonomaraceway.com/events/ for these dates (they
change every year)
How come no
reservations on a weekend?
Darn wine
country traffic! We stopped taking reservations about 10 years ago
when Sonoma became as popular as Napa for wine country visitors.
If you have an 11:00am reservation for a 20 minute flight, and you
are 15 minutes late bacause of wine country traffic jam, then our
entire flight schedule is shot for the day. And if someone walked
in at 10:50am wanting a 20 minute flight, and we told them they
had to wait 45 minutes for the 11:00am flight to return, well, now
they have to wait over an hour and we haven't flown anyone. Follow
what we are saying?
When are
we closed? We are closed on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Also, we do not fly if it's raining, too windy, too cold or too
foggy....and sometimes even too hot! If you see gray clouds, rain,
fog or the temperature is below 65 degrees or above 100 degrees,
mostly likely we will keep the aircraft tucked away in the hangar.
We are Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and possibly other
holidays, so please call us before heading to the airfield. Thank
you.
Thank You For Calling Vintage Aircraft!
If you call on a Monday, Tuesday or
Wednesday, the days we are closed, if you leave a message, your
call might not be returned until Thursday. If you call on a
day when we are flying (Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday), and we are busy with customers already here on the
airfield, we might not be able to return your call until the end
of the flying day. We are a small operation and do not have a
dedicated phone operator. Thank you for your understanding.
How many
people can go up at a time?
In our 1942 open cockpit
biplanes, the front passenger seat is a bench, and has a width
restriction of 32"across, (side-by-side seating).
Very, very cozy! For two passengers to fit, please
take this into account. The
Texan warbird is single passenger.
What is the
minimum age?
It's more of
a height requirement. A child of approx. 48 inches will fit
safely in the seat belts and be tall enough to take in the view
- with the help of our booster cushion. Children under the age
of 10 should fly with an adult, exceptions made on a
case-by-case basis.
Are there any
weight limits for the flights?
Not really..... if you
can fit in the front cockpit, you are good to go. BUT, climbing
into the biplane takes a bit of dexterity. Let us know if you
think your size may be an issue and we'll help figure it out.
Passengers
with Disabilities
Give us a call because in many cases we can
accomdate you. We will do all we can to get you in the air!
What altitudes do you fly at?
We
follow all FAA rules which govern safe operation and designated
minimum altitude restrictions over open space and populated areas.
What should I
wear on my flight?
Dress as if you were
going for a ride in a convertible, layers recommended. Keep it
casual, bring sunglasses; we'll supply the jacket, cloth flying helmet
and earplugs. White and fine clothing is not recommended as oil
is present around airplanes. Windbreakers are discouraged as
they tend to fill with air. Comfortable shoes recommended.
Can I take control of the airplane?
In the Biplanes, all passenger cockpit controls have been removed to safely accommodate two passengers; The Texan is a dual control airplane and you may "fly" the airplane at altitude, no take-offs or landings allowed.
Are the airplanes heated? NOPE! These are circa 1940's aircraft.....the real deal!!
Can it get too
cold to fly in the open cockpit biplanes?
For your comfort, we do not fly the open
cockpit biplanes if the temperature is below 60
degrees F.
How can I
purchase a gift certificate?
Call us at 707-938-2444. It will take just a couple of minutes
to process your order. Our Gift Certificate/Boarding Pass is a
nicely printed presentation we mail to you or the lucky flyer.
If it's a surprise, we can mail it in a plain unmarked envelope
or you can come by the airport and pick it up. If you have left
us a message to return your call, please leave us the pertinent
details of when and how to reach you, so we do not ruin the
surprise.
Do the gift
certificates/boarding pass expire? How long are they good for?
You never lose the value you paid for your Gift
Certificate/Boarding Pass. We guarantee the price of the ride
for six months, however after six months, if we experience an
increase in rates, you will be responsible for the fare
difference. Boarding Passes are non-refundable, but they are
transferable. Please do not lose your Boarding Pass, they cannot
be replaced. The
Boarding Pass must be presented for flight.
What happens
if the weather is bad on the day of my flight?
Safety First. We never cut corners. If you are a scheduled
flight, please call to confirm just before you need to leave the
house or hotel. Even if it's nice where you are, we occasionally
get some coastal fog, and vice versa - just because it's cloudy
or rainy where you are doesn't mean it is where we are. We
seldom have to make last minute changes, but your pilot has the
authority to cancel a flight or change a route. In case of
forecast inclement weather, we'll call you to see if you want to
cancel or reschedule.
Can I change
my flight when I get to the airport for my ride?
Our goal is to be a accommodating as possible. As long as
weather and time permits, you can upgrade your flight, add a
second passenger, or change airplane types as late as standing
on the flight-line.
What is your
cancellation policy?
If you have a scheduled flight - we require 48 hours notice or
you will be charged. If you have a guaranteed reservation and in
the event of weather, we get to make the decision. 30 years of
flying, we know what is fun and safe. If you decide not to come
out and we're flying, your flight will be treated as flown. T
hat's what a guaranteed reservation is all about; We promise
you'll have a seat on the plane and you promise to pay us for
making it available.
How safe is
this?
Safe operation is our top priority. Always. Since 1975 we have maintained a
perfect flying safety record. Our aircraft are maintained to
meet the highest FAA maintenance standards.
Can I bring a cell phone, Go Pro, camera or
video recorder?
Yes! But your device MUST have a strap. Your
flying experience is best captured via wide-angle or panoramic lens.
Camcorders are OK as long as it is one of the smaller handheld
types.
Do you give
discounts?
We do discount the following...
***MILITARY
- show us your Military ID and we shave 15% off the price.
Our humble way of showing some appreciation
for the HUGE DEBT of gratitude we and our Country owe our
VETERANS;
***CASH
- Keep your credit card & debit card in your wallet/purse!
Pay
CASH
instead and you'll receive a discount of
10%!
Please Note:
Discounts cannot be combined.
GROUP Flying Events - Tell me abou them...
Where else can you have a flying PARTY guaranteed great
experience for any occasion. Your Flying Party will be the most
unforgettable experience you can gift your guests. Personal or
coprorate, you can expect exceptional service, meticulously
maintained aircraft, uber-talented, high-time pilots in-type of
aircraft in a setting you'll be hard-pressed to duplicate
anywhere else in the world. Click the
PLAN A
PARTY tab for more details.
Do you donate rides?
Please see our guidelines under the Tab marked Ride Donation
Policy
Are you
insured?
ABSOLUTELY
YES!
Can I rent
your hangar for an event other than a flying related event?
Sorry no. We gladly provide hangar space for flying related events.
So why not add flying to your corporate or
private event and create an experience your guests/colleagues will
be talking about for a lifetime! Please click tab at the top or
bottom of the page marked Plan A
Flying Party for information. Sorry, no weddings or
children's
flying parties
.
Flying events - 70% of the attendees
must participate in flying.
Are you dog
friendly?
Woof! In human-speak, that's a resounding YES! You'll find a
fresh bowl of water and some hypo-allergenci treats awaiting
your furry friend in our office. Please, never leave your dog
in your car on a warm day. Come in and tell us you have
"Fido" with you and we'll have you bring your car into the
hangar, providing a shady cool place for your fur-baby.
Do you accept
certificates from 1800SKYRIDE?
- No! We do not! Also "FunSherpa" is a scam. The only outside providers we do business with are
"Virgin Experience Gifts" ,
"Incredible Adventures" and
"Giftory".
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