This unique aircombat adventure starts with a pre-mission briefing covering safety, aircombat maneuvering (ACM) technique, and physiological factors including the effects of G-forces, and safety issues. Then you'll gear up in a military flight suit and headset, strap into the cockpit of a Varga VG-21 "Kachina".

Our pilots will taxi out as a flight, conduct the pre-takeoff checks, and take-off. Once your're airborne you can get on the controls and fly in "combat spread" formation out to the coast.

When you go "feet wet" you'll break to the south for some tail-chase, wing matching, and flat scissors maneuvers as we fly down the beach toward enemy territory where the dogfights take place. You'll then turn inland and break into single ship elements to practice aircombat maneuvers such as high and low yo-yos, and give you the opportuntiy to get comfortable operating at "corner speed" which is on the edge of stall buffet.

When Lead calls the flight back together you'll start the dogfights, typically with a port-to-port merge, and then let the fur fly. You'll usually have the opportunity for three fights unless somebody does something dumb and gets waxed quickly in which case we'll probably give them a chance to reconsider their brillant tactical creation and try something different.

Afterwards we reconstitute the flight, head home in formation, then our pilots will take over to execute an overhead break (occasionally a fan break out of a low approach, traffic permitting), and land. Whole thing takes about .6 to .7 hours on the hour meter (engine start to engine shut-down).

A pilot's license is not required, but you'll do most of the yankin' and bankin' yourself. The whole thing takes about an hour and a half, including pre-flight brief, time in the air, plus taxi out, take-off, landing, taxi back, and hero pictures.

If you're not bringing your own enemy we usually can find someone else looking for an adversary in about three weeks--no guarantees. But as soon as we can find a match for you we'll confirm your flight. One way to fly as soon as possible, if we're provinging your enemy, is to tell us your willing to go anytime someone else comes along that needs an enemy. We'll call to confirm the date and time works for you. If you're booking two flights (one dogfight, two people) we can generally find a time slot for you 1-2 weeks in advance--for that matter, call even a few days in advance if you suddenly decide you have to go right away.

What, affordable aircombat? There are several excellent outfits around the country that charge about $1000 and use expensive laser "guns" and video systems, conduct somewhat longer preflight briefings and slightly longer flights, and fly a bit more complex aircraft. Our flights are every bit as challenging, and by skipping the bells and whistles (video and lasers systems) we have just as much fun for about $250. We've had a WW2 ace (he flew P-51s in Europe), a couple of F-86 pilots from Korea, several Vietnam-era F-4 pilots, and an F-18 pilot that flew combat missions in the Gulf fly with us and they all came back hootin' and hollerin' saying it was the most fun they'd had in years. One gal even said it weas better than sex. (We didn't know whether to be happy she enjoyed it so much or feel bad for her sex life!)

We've got the planes if you've got the guts.

Here's what several writers have to say about the planes we fly and the experience:

"The tricycle gear tandem two-seater, with its canopy folded, calls out for a Klaxon to sound the alert that will send two pilots running for the cockpit, eager to take on a hell-bent squadron of snarling Messershmitts....I roll back into level flight and twist my neck around in search of bogeys. The canopy provides unobstructed 360-degree view. My thumb instinctively moves to the black button on top of the stick. I push it, expecting a volley of bullets and tracers to stream out ahead." Tom Haines AOPA Pilot

"The concept started out in 1947 with Douglas Aircraft chief test pilot Bill Morrisey....Handling has to be rated absolutely superb, and the airplane is a complete delight to fly. From the first pull on the stick for rotation on takeoff, the aircraft displays a pitch reaction that is unusually crisp and authoritative, but not hair-trigger quick. Aileron control, too, is a joy." Aviation Consumer

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"The quality of the crate matters little. Success depends upon who sits in it."
Baron Manfred von Richthofen

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Subject: A Note of Thanks!
From: Wally at aol.com
To: katetom@barnstorming.com

Hello!
On Sunday afternoon myself, my wife Ursula and our two sons, Derek and Kevin had the enjoyment of flying with your company. Derek and Kevin flew the combat mission, Ursula and I flew in the Bi-Plane.

I would like to extend my thanks to you for a most enjoyable afternoon. Because of the routine of these flights and the number of times you have flown them, it would be easy for you to "go through the motions". You didn't do that at all. You were friendly, understanding, well prepared and presented the program in a manner that made it exciting for everyone involved. All of us, and especially Derek and Kevin, enjoyed it very much. We will certainly be back again sometime in the near future, and we will highly recommend your program to our friends.

Thanks again for a great afternoon of flying.

With kindest Regards,

Wally Murker
Torrance, Cal.

The aircraft we fly started out life as the Morrisey Nifty, designed by Douglas Aircraft Corporation test pilot Bill Morrisey just after WW2. Later the design was modified and sold by Shinn as the all-metal, tricycle gear 2150. Finally, the design was produced by Varga as the 2150A. Manufacturing stopped in the mid '80s, although there are rumors that a new firm may start building the aircraft again.

As far as we know, one of the aircraft we fly is the only known example of the rare Kiraquistani Air Force VG-21 "Kachina" fighter licensed in the Free World. It was flown by Col. Ivan Aphülich during a daring escape to freedom which ended with a landing in a cemetery in nearby Provolone. Baffled Provolone search and rescue workers recovered hundreds of bodies from the site before discovering Col. Awphülich unharmed and the two-seat aircraft hidden nearby relatively undamaged. The aircraft was recovered by the BVD and turned over to the CIA for inspection before it was released. The CIA denies any such inspection.

The US Navy and the Air Force bought and flew variants of the design, and a number of the aircraft are flying in militaryt colors.

Gift Tickets

TOP DOG AIRCOMBAT ADVENTURES TICKETS make a unique present for holidays, birthdays, graduation, employee incentives, thank-you's, retirements, or any other circumstance when something special is appropriate. To order colorful etickets on-line click here and save. Or but a ticket over the phone by calling toll-free 1-888-DOG-FIGHT, that's 1-888-364-3444. Have your Visa, Mastercard, or American Express Card handy and we'll fax, mail, e-mail, or FedEx it to you or directly to the lucky recipient. We'll also include a preflight briefing sheet that describes the flight, provides directions to the airport, and other interesting and helpful information. Tickets can be redeemed anytime within six months from date of issue. After 30 days they aren't refundable, but they are transferable. If you bought a ticket for Christmas they're refundable until the end of Janary and can be used until June 30th.

Reservations

Reservations are required for all flights. If two people schedule dogfights together reservations can be made to fly any day of the week between 11AM and two hours before sunset--subject to availability (duh). If we're going to provide your adversary, reservations for flights are available only on Saturday and Sunday for scheduling reasons. While we sometimes have last minute availability, it's best to call about three weeks in advance. Don't worry, in the unlikely event of inclement weather (seldom a problem in Sun Diego) we're happy to reschedule at your convenience.

There are only two types of aircraft: fighters and targets.
Maj. Doyle "Wahoo" Nicholson, USMC

A MIG at your six is better than no MIG at all.
Anonymous

No guts, no glory. If you are going to shoot 'em down, you have to get in there and mix it up.
Maj. Frederick C. "Boots" Blesse, USAF

The one who wins is the one who makes the fewer gross mistakes.
Lt. Jim "Huck" Harris, USN

Great pilots are made not born.
Air Vice-marshall J. E. "Johnnie" Johnson, RAF

The important thing is to suppress the enemy's useful actions, but allow his useless actions.
Miyamoto Musashi

In aerial warfare the factor of quality is relatively more decisive than the factor of quantity.
Maj. Alexander P. de Seversky, USAAF, WW2
Russian Imperial Naval Air Service, WW1