Practical Information For Sonoma Biplane Rides

By Michael Jackson


Anyone of us who has seen the 1995 movie "A Walk in the Clouds" would probably want to have the same wine valley experience as the main character played by Keanu Reeves. The movie took place in an area called Sonoma, and this same place can be enjoyed also form the air if you take or charter any one of Sonoma biplane rides available.

Prior to all your plans and decisions, it is best to prepare a checklist first. This checklist will ensure that you keep track of all the data you come across properly and in an orderly fashion. Always prepare a checklist when choosing between alternative decisions and also when those decisions involve the use of money and also your time.

First off the bat, you should slot off a few days extra on top of the vacation days you are estimating. The extra days on top will help absorb contingencies and unforeseen events, which can delay your plane ride experience. These events can be anything from traffic to bad weather, so its best you have a few days extra for adjustment.

Do take into consideration the time of year that you will be going on, especially if you are on a budget. Peak months for the Sonoma region are during the grape crushing months, which are typically the months of October to December. Thus to avoid the higher prices, do avoid these months, where most of the tourists come to try and experience crushing grapes with their feet just like in the movie.

Also look at the time of the week when you make your biplane booking. Typically weekend rates will be much higher than weekday rates, so you should book on weekdays if you want to save a bit. If you are not so worried about your budget, then weekends will be fine.

When looking for a flying service, look into the professional conduct of the one you will be flying with. Most of the outfits in the area are well known and you can easily gauge the good service providers just by asking around locally. You can also look at forums regarding the subject and perhaps ask others who may have good or bad experiences.

The added bonus of being able to fly the plane by yourself, guided of course, is something that you should also consider. If you are interested in doing this, it may be a good idea to ask your prospective pilot if there is a chance of you flying the plane a bit if conditions warrant it.

A pilot or operator that is also versed in local knowledge and folklore may be something that you need to consider as well. A well versed local will be an added bonus and he or she will be basically be a flying tour guide that can answer all your queries and such. This will only add more to your experience rather than detract from it.

These are therefore the main things you should consider prior to your going on your biplane adventure. There are other things you should research also, but the ones covered here are good basic information that you can start with.




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