FlightDeck Air Combat Center in Anaheim, California, gives you the full experience of flying an F-16, without actually lifting yourself off the ground. Set your GPS to 1601 S. Sunkist St. Unit A. and upon arrival, you will find yourself in what appears to be an abandoned strip mall. Look closer and you will see the entrance to FlightDeck. After paying for your mission (only $49 for 40 minutes, $69 for 60 minutes and $79+ for 70 minutes), your first task will be to dress yourself in a military aviation flight jumpsuit. Don’t worry, everyone looks sexy in one of those things.
You will soon be lead into the pre-flight briefing room. This is where a professional flight instructor will give you step-by-step instructions on how to work the controls of your aircraft. A video tutorial is used throughout. After any and all questions have been answered regarding your flight, you will be directed to the flight room. A giant recreation of a F-16 awaits you. Upon entering the aircraft, you will be tremedously impressed by the accurate depiction of an F-16’s interior. All the buttons and switches at your disposal and you are able to interact with your opponents during your flight through a radio headset.
Once you are prepared for takeoff, the giant screen in front of your F-16 will turn on. You will then spend the next 40 minutes or more flying high about land and sea, trying to shoot down your opponents with missles for points. The two biggest challenges you will face are not being hit by your enemies and keeping your levels balanced to avoid crashing. The experience is similiar to that of riding the Back to the Future, The Simpsons and Star Tours simulated motion rides, except the fate of your F-16 is in your hands. There are no automatic settings. You can not simply sit back and enjoy the flight.
I can not say enough good things about FlightDeck Air Combat Center, so I won’t. Go now.
DJ Rossstar
