Life Experience

Item Description

A weekend getaway to Livermore Wine Country. The Top Gun in your life will be Fighter Pilot for a Day, with six air combat missions at Air Combat USA.   PLUS:

• Package includes a 2 night Weekend Stay in Livermore Wine Country at the Livermore Marriott Courtyard.
• Free Hotel Shuttle to all Livermore Valley Area Wineries.
• Daily Breakfast Buffet.
  
• A personalized Air Combat USA promotional DVD with a message customized by YOU that scrolls across the screen before the movie begins. (i.e., Happy Birthday! Love, Jane) This promotional DVD is approximately four minutes and shows awesome aerial footage.
• Your actual air combat flight is captured on Mini DVC from three onboard cockpit cameras. The tapes are used for debriefing purposes and are yours to keep.  Air Combat USA will transfer your flight to DVD so you can share your experience with friends and family.

LIVERMORE VALLEY WINE COUNTRY

Livermore Valley Wine Country is home to nearly 40 wineries, each encompassing a friendly charm and unique wine tasting experience, and a number of fine, wine country restaurants.  Also, art galleries and antiquing.  Click here to go to Wineries Listing.  Click here to go to Restaurant Listing.

AIR COMBAT USA - FIGHTER PILOT FOR A DAY, Basic Combat Maneurvers
Experience firsthand the thrill and excitement of flying a light attack fighter in air-to-air combat. Phase I provides an introduction to the Tactical Fighter Maneuvers (TFM-l). Fully briefed you'll climb into the aircraft alongside your instructor. With your hands on the controls you will engage in multiple "g-pulling" dogfights. Your flight will be recorded on video tape and reviewed in a flight debriefing. Bring a friend and settle the score. (We can arrange a second package if you'd like to bring a friend.)

• Getting fitted with the proper gear
• Ground school, which will include:
• Basic AIr Combat Maneuvers (ACM)
• High and Low Yo-Yo's
• Lead, Lag, and Pure Pursuit
• Gunsight Tracking
• Military Rules of Engagement (ROE)
• Safety Brief
• Physiological Effects of "G" Forces
• Flying Characteristics of the SIAI Marchetti SF260
• Flying minimum of six combat engagements
• Debriefing and review of the videotapes

About Air Combat USA. 
Air Combat USA, established in 1988, is the original civilian dogfighting school. With over 18 years of experience and over 38,000 guest pilots flown, Air Combat USA is the largest, most recognized air combat school in the world. We've been featured on hundreds of television shows including The Apprentice and Good Morning America! As the industry leader, we work hand-in hand with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other governing agencies to define the parameters and establish safety guidelines used to regulate the air combat industry.

The mission at Air Combat USA is to provide an extraordinary fighter pilot experience! We set the standard for program design and execution, offering a fighter pilot experience second to none! Captain Mike Blackstone, founder and president of Air Combat USA, developed and patented the tracking system that verifies an air-to-air "kill" and equipped the aircraft with onboard cameras to ensure that the entire experience is recorded on digital videocassette for playback after the engagements. He is determined to ensure that "everything is real…except the bullets!"

Powerful, High-Performance Aircraft
We selected our aircraft with realism in mind. The Marchetti SF260 is a combat ready fighter/trainer. This amazing, fully aerobatic, high-performance aircraft is capable of withstanding the high G, three dimensional, aerobatic environment of the aerial combat arena. We are the only company in the industry to use these aircraft exclusively on our nationwide tour of the United States. To flight operations at our headquarters in Fullerton, California, Air Combat USA added the Extra 300L, an aerobatic champion, to the flightline. It boasts an extremely high roll-rate and exhibits cockpit characteristics similar to the F-16.

Skilled Pilot / Instructors
The credentials of our instructor pilots are enviable. We have fighter pilots who flew actual combat missions in Vietnam and Desert Storm. Some are instructors of the Top Gun Fighter Weapons School and all are fully qualified Air Combat Tactics Instructors. We will teach you Basic Fighter Maneuvers and the art of air-to-air combat, exactly as taught by the United States military. Our roster includes current airline pilots and former military pilots all bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to our program.

Captain Mike Blackstone is the visionary behind Air Combat USA. His enthusiasm and love for aviation is apparent as he continues to innovate and develop new systems that keep Air Combat USA the industry leader.

Ground School and Pre-briefing
As our guest-pilot, you will be fitted with a flight suit, helmet, and parachute in preparation for your flight. During your ground school, you will cover the tactical maneuvers required to get results during your flight. The integrity of the Air Combat USA multiphase program is based on highly trained instructor pilots and a field tested course outline. Each mission is tailored to your level of experience, ability and aggressiveness, from armchair to ace. Whether you sign up for Phase I or all four phases, the course is designed to provide you with a complete fighter pilot experience. For more details, ask us for a copy of a complete course syllabus.

You're At The Controls
Having completed your ground school instruction, you are now ready to roll back the canopy and climb into the cockpit of the SIAI Marchetti aircraft alongside your instructor pilot. The side-by-side seating is unique to this military aircraft and allows you to have more time at the controls of the aircraft than tandem-style front/back seating. You will fly the aircraft up to 90% of the time.

During your Phase I mission, you will try your hand at formation flying and practice the various maneuvers discussed in ground school until you are comfortable with the aircraft. Then the real fun begins as you and your instructor work as a team to outsmart, outmaneuver, and outgun your opponents through six "g-pulling" dogfights. A direct hit will register through our patented electronic tracking system including sound effects, and smoke will trail from the other aircraft. Three cockpit cameras will record the action including a gunsight mounted camera that capture the sights and sounds of every kill.

Postflight Debriefing
When you return to home base after your flight, we will play back the videos taken from each aircraft simultaneously for a chance to relive your kills and view the dogfights from your opponent's perspective. Your instructor pilot will offer suggestions and relate the flight activities to the ground school theory, giving you even greater insight into the art of aerial combat.

Item Special Note

• Does not include transportation to the site. 
• There are numerous locations throughout the country where the Dog Fights take place.  You may select from among them.  
• Livermore, CA 2008.  Mar 7-9, May 9-11, Jul 26-28, Sep 13-15, or Nov 14-16. Dates are subject to availability and change and new dates may be added.

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Courtyard by Marriott
One of Livermore's largest hotels, with 21 rooms. Many upgraded Suites and Jacuzzi tub rooms. Free hotel shuttle to all area wineries. Daily breakfast buffet. Cocktails and room service M-F evenings.
Contact: Tom Matteson
Phone: 925.243.1000
Fax: 925.243.1010
E-mail: tmatteson@cylivermore.com
Website: www.marriott.com/oaklm

THANKS, TOM!