Paraplane Ride with Inland Paraflite Inc. – Apple Valley, CA

“For those determined to fly, having no wings is just a little detail.”
This is true when it’s come when it comes to paraplane. We didn’t know such a thing existed until we came across Inland Paraflite’s website. Of course, curiosity got the best of us. Next thing we know, we booked our appointments to go on our first ever paraplane ride.

STATS:
Where: Inland Paraflite Inc. – Apple Valley, Ca
Phone: 760.242.3359 or Email: phil@paraplane.com
Note: Phil will provide directions to the landing strip once you book your appointment.

Parking: There is plenty of free parking right on the landing strip.

Hours: 7 days a week (except for Easter and Christmas). Appointment only.

Level: The flight is quite calm but you do fly in an open plane.

Estimated Completion Time: There are different paraplane ride options: Discovery flights range from 15 minutes to an hour. You can check for more info on their website.

Ideal Weather: These planes can be very sensitive to wind. Keep an eye on the weather as the day of your flight gets closer. Phil will reschedule if it is too windy. Safety is priority #1.

Ideal Time: Early morning. That is when the winds are usually the mildest in Hesperia.

THE ADVENTURE:
It was a cool, crisp morning in the desert, and we were once again seeking the sensation of flight. We left our hotel room in Apple Valley, CA just as the sun began to glide over the mountains. We’re both super excited about our first paraplane ride. We followed the directions that we were given to the landing strip. Suddenly, we found ourselves in the middle of a large open field whose only other inhabitants were a truck, a windsock, and a mysterious orange machine.

If you haven’t seen a paraplane before, they are really unique looking. Think of a Mad Max inspired roll cage with a giant prop on the back. Let’s not forget the giant multi-colored parachute that enables this crazy contraption to fly.

As we exited the car, we had our first in-person meeting with the man, the myth, the legend, Mr. Phil Dietro. He has been flying these super unique aircraft since 1992. One of the things that he loves about the paraplane is that it is one of the most forgiving aircraft that you can fly. I mean, if for some reason the engine goes out, you are already under a parachute. I knew that Phil and I were going to get along just fine when I saw him carrying his top gun styled helmet adorned with the callsign “Master Yoda” to the plane. Luckily, he had also brought an insulated jumpsuit for us to use on our paraplane ride because it was very cold that morning in the desert.

One thing about Phil is that he really knows his stuff. He made it a really comfortable experience as we went through what seemed like 100 safety checks before we took off. After it seemed like we had examined every last piece of the plane, it was time to go. My flight was before Vy’s so I took my seat in the back seat of the plane and strapped myself into the 4 points harness. We did a quick check of the radio communication system and then Master Yoda took his seat in front of me.

It was then that the beast came alive with a mighty roar, well, sort of. These small planes are powered by what could best be described as a leaf blower engine on steroids. To be more exact, it is a 65HP Rotax 582, 2 strokes, 2 cylinders engine. So while the roar might not be super mighty, it gets the job done perfectly.

The radio crackled and I heard “are you ready?” To which I excitedly replied, “yes sir!”. The tiny engine came to life with what sounded like a swarm of angry bees. We began to roll forward and pick up the speed rapidly. Suddenly, you could tell that the front wheel was beginning to dance around on the dusty runway. Then in one glorious moment, the plane tipped back and we went from a slightly bumpy runway to the stillness of flight.

We began to climb until we reached 1000 feet above the desert floor. It was gorgeous seeing miles and miles of the desert in the morning light. Phil took the opportunity to show off how nimble the plane was. These tiny aircraft are really impressive. While you might not be breaking the sound barrier because they have a standard cruising speed of 30 miles per hour, an experienced pilot can fly them with a mind-boggling amount of precision. This was evident with Phil. At one point, we spotted an abandoned dirt road. Phil took the plane and swooped down towards the road like a bird of prey going after it’s next meal. Just like that, we were flying probably 4 feet off the ground. It was like a Star Wars speeder bike. Maybe that’s where Phil’s callsign came from.

From there, we climbed back up to a safe distance and the moment that I had been waiting for happened. Over the radio, I heard “do you want to fly?” Heck yea, I want to fly! So we began the chain of commands.
Phil: You have the controls.
Me: I have the controls.
Phil: You have the controls.
And just like that, I was flying. Phil maintained control of the throttle just so I didn’t do something crazy while I steered. The wild thing is that you steer these planes with foot pedals. It was a pretty exhilarating experience twisting and turning the plane to the left and right. As with anything that flies, it’s all about finesse. You don’t want to slam on the pedals. Nice, smooth motions get the job done.

We had reached the midpoint of our flight but Phil wasn’t done having fun just yet. As we started heading back toward the landing strip, I heard one of my favorite phrases, “do you want to have some fun?” You know it! Phil then threw the plane into a series of split S styled turns diving down towards the runway. Then just for good measure, he threw in a touch and go. He then flipped a quick u-turn and came in for the actual landing. As the small aircraft came slowly to a halt, the humongous parachute began to lose its shape and fell to the ground in a heap. It really was quite an experience.

If you just can’t get enough of the paraplane, you are in luck. In addition to being one heck of a pilot, Phil also teaches lessons so you can learn how to fly one of these wild machines for yourself

Since our last flight, Phil has upgraded to a whole new plane. He switched from a Pegasus to an Airwolf frame with a whole new and much bigger motor. It climbs way faster and he described the switch as the difference between flying a C-130 (Cargo Jet) and a F-16 (Fighter Jet). There has also been a significant upgrade to the wing that he is using. It sounds like we need to make another trip up to the desert to check this out.

Once you’re done with your flight, don’t forget to check out Elmer’s bottle tree ranch. It’s only about 30 minutes drive up the road. It is a super cool spot to stop by.

Happy Adventuring. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, subscribe to our Youtube channel, and sign up for our newsletter!

RECOMMEND GEAR:

Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.

•  Sunscreen:
    We use eco-friendly, reef safe sunscreen. Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen or Sun Bum Sunscreen

•  Closed-toe shoes
   Recommended to keep your precious little piggies safe from banging around inside the cockpit. 

•  Motion sickness medication
   If you’re prone to motion sickness, please make sure you get that taken care of before getting on the plane such as taking Dramamine and bring ginger with you.

•  Eat a small meal
  Don’t stuff yourself before the flight. Eat a small breakfast or lunch.

•  A jacket
  Since it is an open aircraft, it will be windy and cold up there. Wear warm clothes if you are going in the colder seasons.

CAMERA GEAR:
•  Camera:
    Sony a7 III

•  Lenses:
   Sony 24 -70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T Zoom Lens 
   Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX   

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