Gauntlet Warbirds

Purchased as a 30 year old birthday present for my husband. Worth every penny, as he is not a big present person and could NOT stop talking about this experience.
He flew with Jared, who was light-​hearted, but great at his job. We’ve solo sky-​dived and the amount of instruction (2 hours!) almost made the experience not worth it. NOT SO with Gauntlet. You arrive, get the quick but serious instruction, suit up, and walk out to the plane.
I think my husband’s favorite part of the experience was the fact that HE (He, yes he, the inexperienced pilot) was able to fly through some of the maneuvers. So great. Would recommend to anyone.

I’ve flown in a lot of commercial planes. A lot. Like several years I have status in multiple airlines and are one of those people who board in front of you. But THIS was unlike anything I’ve ever done before. And I’ve jumped out of planes! It was an incredible feeling to fly the plane (under careful guidance). Being in the plane as it flew over, under, above, below and around was such a cool experience. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Jared, the brave soul that took me up and flew me around the compass in some ‘basic’ acrobatic maneuvers, was highly professional, enjoyable and informative. It was fantastic and done at ‘my’ pace. i.e. He’d ask me if I was ready before a maneuver, he’d check on me at the end of the maneuver, he wouldn’t do another one until I replied «100%». It was great!
A thorough pre-​briefing on what to expect, what do in several «what-​if» scenarios, all handled calmly and without drama.
I was feeling pretty prepared when we took off.
And no, I didn’t paint the inside of the plane. :)

Just had to leave a follow up review. Last year I went up in the T6 but this time I took it to the next level in the Extra 300… WHAT A RIDE!!! Jarred was great and kept me flipping and rolling non stop for 30 minutes. These guys are great and run a top notch facility. If you are looking for thrills this is where you need to be!
Jarred, just remember next time I will be flying more and trying to get you sick!
Thanks for the ride! Jeff

I have been flying with Gauntlet for several years now. It is a VERY impressive operation. The instructors are very knowledgable and experienced, and the aircraft and equipment are extremely well maintained. They have a tremendous focus on both safety and customer service. I have flown all the different types of aircraft they have there and all of them are great (and REALLY fun!) Their training is superior to any I’ve received elsewhere, and I HIGHLY recommend them!

Whether you’re a pilot or just someone who is looking for a different kind of a thrill, Gauntlet Warbirds is guaranteed to deliver.
I’ve logged a number of hours in most of their planes and they are all in excellent condition and a pleasure to fly. The staff is extremely knowledgeable, courteous and professional. Don’t forget to go for a ride in the T-​6!

I had a Groupon for the Extra 300. Great staff, great equipment, and an amazing flight. I want to go back and do the T-​6 ride next once I can afford it! Anything that burns avgas is going to be expensive but definitely worth it!

This. place. is. incredible, and I now hold the title of ‘girl friend of the year.’
Around November 2012, Gauntlet Warbirds ran a Living Social Deal that I snagged, 2 — 40 minute rides in the Extra 300 aerobatic plane. This sounded like the perfect Valentines day gift. No fancy restaurant reservations, no chocolate, no cheesy cards — 40 minutes in an aerobatic plane! Get it!
It took some effort to schedule with GW, but that was due to my requirements. GW only accepts reservations 1 month out, and I had 2 reservations I asked to book in back to back time slots. Thankfully, we found a date in February and locked it in.
When making reservations — make sure you have a couple of dates in mind. The weekends are very busy for these guys, and there are only so many pilots and so many time slots. Make sure you start calling 30 days out from the date you’d like to book. Do not expect to make a reservation within 7 days, and the summer months are far busier than the winter months.
The drive out to Sugar Grove is 1+ hour from the downtown. We arrived early to the location and met our pilot, Larry. We couldn’t have picked a better pilot if we tried. Larry had been training and flying in aerobatic airplanes for 25 years, and used to compete in aerial shows. I was initially nervous driving out to GW, but when Larry explained his background and experience — All nervousness went out the window and I was ready to get up in the plane.
We started with a debrief to discuss how to operate a parachute, the different maneuvers the pilot was going to attempt while you are in the plane, and what to do should you feel sick/​nauseous. There IS a likelihood that you could become sick while doing these aerial maneuvers so DO NOT party hard the night before. If you come hung over, I guarantee you will regret it. Next, you are fitted with a helmet and jumpsuit, and Larry hands you barf bags for all the zipper pouches on your jump suit just in case.
Time for the plane — The Extra 300L is basically a huge motor with wings attached to it. There are 2 seats, and you sit in the front, and the pilot sits in the back and runs the controls. It takes about 40 minutes to inspect the plane and gas up prior to the flight. Be patient and take some pictures. The cockpit is small. I’m 5ft 10inches tall and my legs were a little cramped. I had a hard time picturing someone 6ft 1inch or taller sitting in the cockpit, but GW said taller customers had been accomodated.
The flight was hands down one of the most memorable experiences of my life. It felt like the smoothest roller coaster on earth with beautiful views. I learned that I had a very high tolerance for the maneuvers, and we ran through Larry’s whole repertoire. I was also allowed to do a roll over on my own. Overall, at 30 years old, I was able to be a kid again for 40 minutes, and it was an absolute blast. I didn’t feel at all nauseous, but I can understand when people do have a reaction to back-​to-​back flips and loops.
The 40 minutes went by in a blink of the eye, and we flew back to the airport. My boyfriend’s experience was the same, and we were raving about it to our friends.
You do receive a video of your flight, and we purchased both for $ 100. A little pricey, but I wanted to keep as many memories as I could of the day.
I could not recommend this experience more. Gauntlet Warbirds is a first rate organization, and you will absolutely have something to brag about the next day.

I purchased a Groupon flight in an Extra 300 two years ago and it was honestly one of the best experiences of my life. I had been working (very slowly) towards my private pilot’s license (a little over 20 hrs dual right now) and this was an incredible opportunity to perform many of the stunts I’ve seen in airshows. Vess, the instructor, was very professional and communicative during the flight. He would demonstrate a maneuver and then let me try it myself. This is definitely something I’d like to do again someday, though I’m really waiting for the L39 to be approved for commercial rides. ;-) The add-​on video of the flight was expensive, but it was great to be able to show my friends and family. I heartily recommend Gauntlet Warbirds to pilots and non-​pilots alike!

First off, I would have given Gauntlet Warbirds a 6 star rating if I could.
Over this past weekend, I traveled to Gauntlet Warbirds from Washington, D.C. to fly with Greg Morris in order to fulfill my lifelong dream of fly in an aerobatic aircraft. Prior to making my decision, I did a lot of research on companies that offer aerobatic flights, but I chose Gauntlet Warbirds because they came highly recommended and I am glad I did… My experience was AWESOME!
When I arrived, the first thing I noticed was how meticulously clean and well maintained everything was. From the office space to the aircraft, I could tell that there was a lot of pride in the company. Prior to the flight, Greg and I sat in the briefing room and discussed the flight and exactly what I was looking to do. Next, Greg and I headed to the aircraft and conducted a safety inspection/​briefing and then we were off flying! The flight lasted about 40 minutes and was hands-​down the most exciting thing I have ever done! It has been four days since my flight and I am still grinning from ear to ear.
Thanks again Greg for a memorable experience!

I just wanted to thank everyone at Gauntlet for the great time I had. It took 5 re-​schedules and 2 trips to finally get the flight in because of rain but it was worth it. Although I didn’t fly with Tom, he was my original pilot and was always available to answer questions or confirm appointments. Even when I made the hour and a half drive in, and rain came out of nowhere, he compensated my time with a free video, which I really appreciate. I eventually flew with Larry and he was great to work with. He explained everything very well and went into detail on how things were going to happen.
For someone like me, who took this flight as a way to shake a fear of flying, it really helped a lot. And although I felt nauseous at the end, Larry never pushed it further than what I could handle, and he made sure I was doing okay after everything we did. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this, but I would love to try it again — it helped me a lot with my fear of flying. Thank you for a great experience!

I can’t believe the irrational poster below me! I bought a Groupon for my boyfriend as a birthday present, and he said it was one of the best experiences of his life. He did not even think twice about purchasing the video afterwards.
We were with Greg, who I found to be extremely professional, easy going, flexible, and plain amazing. My boyfriend is 6’6, and I was worried he would be too tall, but Greg let him fly the other plane for no extra charge.
I can’t believe any one would give Gauntlet Warbirds anything less than 5 stars, especially when dealing with Greg. 5 stars alllll the way. I am now the best girlfriend in the universe, and it is all because of Greg and his warbirds!

To be clear: there were several acceptable solutions to my problem, all of which were suggested by Greg, and I am fully satisfied with the ultimate resolution. What I was dissatisfied with was the phone call and interaction I had with Gauntlet Warbirds. Considering that there were several acceptable solutions to my problem, there is no reason why I should have felt unhappy, frustrated, and completely ignored — but I did.

Thanks to groupon I was able to get a nice gift for my fiancé — a ride in the colorful and nimble Extra 300! We had a whole year to use the groupon and after 2 attempts to schedule, the weather just wouldn’t cooperate. Three is a charm folks, because last week was the day!
We live in the city and it took an hour to get to Sugar Grove (Aurora). It was a bright clear Saturday and we met with Ted, who was the teacher/​pilot/​all around nice guy! He went through everything with us… safety, maneuvers, piloting, communications, signals, etc. He took the time to answer all our questions and provided barf bags as well!
You are completely outfitted in flight garb — from gloves, to a parachute, to a helmet… great photo opportunities — I took a ton! :) Make sure a dress warm if you go in the fall/​winter!
The flight is only 30 minutes, but you get a lot in depending on how well you can take it, and you can choose to pilot or let the instructor do all the work.
They have some really cool planes in the hanger, and I took a bunch of photos. My fiancé had a great time and it was such a fantastic gift (despite him feeling a bit queezy after the flight. :))
I highly recommend these guys. They are professional, friendly and provide a unique opportunity, especially with the types of planes they offer.
You can also get a video of your flight for $ 60.
If you are looking for a unique gift or want to try something cool… and brag to your friends… this is it!

UPDATE: I wish I could give more than five stars…
I signed up for a T-​6 flight after the fantastic time I had in the Extra 300. Dino was the pilot this time and he was great. Safety first, fun second. It was a thrilling experience. Imagine flying in a convertible at 5500 feet! Barrel rolls, loops and aileron rolls with the wind in your hair (well, helmet — safety first!). The ride is so smooth and Dino equated it to riding in a Lexus. I agree that the ride is smooth but I have a Lexus and it isn’t nearly as fun. I don’t get to touch clouds in my car!
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I had an amazing time with Greg in the Extra 300. Hammerheads, Half Cuban 8s, tumbles and all the other maneuvers that I can’t remember the names of were awesome. I felt completely safe during trip and the only time I caught myself frowning was heading back to the airport. I highly recommend the experience.

I’ve done some adrenaline filled things before in my life; motorcycle racing, fighter plane dog fighting, skydiving, and now this (to name a few).
Greg is a true professional, and over the past few months I’ve have had to schedule and reschedule over and over again for a gambit of reasons but FINALLY we got it done!
I would say it’s like masturbating, you can do it alone — but it’s so much better if you do it with someone else to share the experience with! So luckily I was able to book back to back spots and we had a great time. A memory that is still giving me tingles and putting a smile on my face.
If you need to clear your mind of troubles and worries then you NEED to call Greg and schedule a ride here!

I took a ride in the Extra 300 this morning, and frankly think I should wait another day to Unilocal this. I am still buzzing with excitement 8 hours after the flight. Greg took great care to make this an awesome experience. He managed everything from getting scheduled and setup to making sure the flight was fun and also safe.
The flight is just incredible. It’s hard to believe I was in the air for 30 minutes. We did a number of maneuvers and I am going to have to watch my video again to remember what they all were. The Extra 300 is an excellent aircraft as well, its power and precision are evident in its handling. It never felt like a small aircraft, it felt like an extension of us.
People, go do this now.
The airport was easy to find, they provide all the equipment you need, of course. Bring a friend or two with you as well, more fun that way to share the experience after.

AWESOME!
I took a ride in the Extra 300 with Greg and it was amazing!
Greg, the pilot, made sure I was comfortable at all times and was very friendly and outgoing. I always felt safe even though we were upside down at times.
Before the flight Greg went over a few safety things, explained what we could do, asked if there was any particular tricks I wanted to do, and explained how the tricks worked. After this explanation/​discussion we went to the hangar and I put on a flight suit. Greg fueled the aircraft, went over inspections, and then went over some more safety stuff.
The cockpit is small so you sit in the front (so it is properly balanced) and you wear a sweet helmet that makes you look like a real pilot.
We were always in communication via radios in the helmets.
The take off, flight, and landing were all incredibly smooth! Some turbulence made me a little queasy and Greg did his best to get us out of the turbulence. The actual tricks didn’t bother me at all!
The greatest thing was that he LET ME DO THE TRICKS! Well, I was only brave enough to try a couple ‘spins?’ by myself, but still… I DID IT! I let the professional handle the rest.
There was one minor technical difficulty, a strap partially obstructed the camera that records the view outside of the aircraft. Because of this Greg gave the video to me for free! I can still hear the audio and see myself, but the view on the window is obstructed… still worth having!
It is not for the faint of heart though… You must be prepared to go really fast in a small plane, and be ready for the adventure. It was a lot of fun and I recommend it to anyone who is considering it!