Last month when I was in Kissimmee I had so many great opportunities to check off my life list.  One of those was flying in a bi-plane.  I called my husband up immediately after viewing my itinerary, “what is a bi-plane?”  “are they safe?”  My husband joked and told me I must be going on an episode of The Bachelorette, I had bi-planes, hot air balloon rides, and ziplining on my to-do list, how was this even possible?Waldo Wright’s Flying Service at the Fantasy of Flight Museum is just minutes from Disney and Legoland and should be on your to-do list next time you’re in central Florida!  I admit, I was nervous.  I envisioned loop-di-loops and screaming panic, but I was insured we stayed at a safe level and no tricks were involved.

What started in 1995 with the dream of restoring two New Standard biplanes to recapture the “Golden Age of Aviation” has grown into America’s largest vintage biplane ride company.

The New Standard plane was originally built to take 4 passengers instead of 1 or 2, and this model working was restored in 2001 and has flown over 50,000 people from all over the world.

Decked out in our best Amelia Earhart goggles and hat (bring your own scarf).Climbing in, I was a bit hesitant to have the open air on me at a high altitude, I worried about my ears and pressure I may feel.  I felt vulnerable in just a seatbelt, but again was reassured that we’d hold at a steady angle.  Taking off was exhilarating, the warm wind in your hair, the amazing view.  Yes, my stomach was up in my throat, but I had faith and trust in our pilot, who is behind us.That’s me, front right.  I left my camera on the ground as it’s my connection to the world and can’t afford to drop it.  The views were spectacular and the orange groves that we flew over were beautiful.  I was taken back to my high school and college years and driving my VW convertible, except flying through the air.  What a rush!  The clouds loomed, but we stayed dry and the landing was like gliding onto pillows, I expected a harder landing and was pleasantly surprised.

You really must experience Florida in this capacity, better than any ride at the theme parks!

Waldo Wright’s Flying Service offers a variety of vintage biplane experiences, for kids as young as 3 weeks and as old as 96! Passengers can travel back to the 1930s to enjoy an authentic barnstorming ride in a New Standard D-25, or the 1940s for a more hands-on WWII adventure at the controls of a Boeing Stearman N2S-3.  And, coming soon, the 1929 Travel Air E-4000 on floats…that’s right, an open cockpit biplane doing rides on the water!  Prices start at $69.95 for a 15-minute ride of our life!

Thank you to Waldo Wright’s Flying Service and the Kissimmee CVB for our ride tickets, all opinions are mine.