A discovery flight is your first real time at the controls of an airplane. Not a simulator, not a back-seat ride — you'll sit in the left seat, hands on the yoke, with a certified flight instructor beside you. At Stratus Aviation it runs 30 to 60 minutes from $149, and most people walk away grinning ear to ear.
If you've ever wondered whether you could actually become a pilot, this is how you find out. No experience, no commitment, no medical certificate required. Here's what the day looks like.
1. You arrive and meet your instructor
Plan to get to Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport (KTMB) a little early. Your instructor will sit down with you, talk through what you want out of the flight, and walk you through what's about to happen. There's no test and nothing to study — this part is just getting comfortable.
2. The preflight inspection
Before every flight, pilots physically walk around the airplane and check it over — fuel, oil, control surfaces, tires, the works. Your instructor will show you how it's done. It's your first taste of the discipline that makes aviation so safe, and it's genuinely interesting to see how the machine works.
3. Takeoff — and then you fly
Your instructor handles the radio calls and flies the takeoff. But once you're climbing away from the field, they'll hand you the controls. You'll feel how the airplane responds — gentle turns, climbs, descents — over the Miami coastline and Biscayne Bay. Most first-timers are surprised how natural it feels with a good instructor talking them through it.
Will I actually be flying? Yes. Your instructor is there to keep everything safe and handle the tricky parts, but the airplane will be in your hands for most of the flight. That's the whole point.
4. Landing and debrief
Your instructor brings you back in for the landing, then you'll talk about how it went and what a path to your Private Pilot License would actually look like — including a realistic timeline and cost. If you loved it, this is where you start planning. If you're not sure, there's zero pressure.
What to bring
- Sunglasses — South Florida is bright
- A valid government photo ID
- Comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes
- A phone or camera for photos (you'll want them)
That's it. We provide the airplane, the instructor, and the headset.
How much it costs and how to book
Discovery flights at Stratus Aviation start at $149. It's the cheapest, fastest, most honest way to answer the question "could I really do this?" — and if you decide to keep going, many students count it as their first official lesson toward the certificate.
Ready to find out? Book your discovery flight and take the controls over Miami this weekend.
