Discovery Flight vs Flight Simulator: Which First in 2026?
Both are low-cost ways to try flying at Van Nuys. One puts you in a real airplane, the other at a simulator on the ground.
Two Ways to Try Flying Before You Commit to Training
A discovery flight is a short first lesson in a real airplane: 30 to 40 minutes of flight time from VNY with an FAA-certified instructor. Our complete guide to discovery flights in Los Angeles covers the day.
A simulator session is time in our Gleim BATD, a ground-based cockpit with a yoke, pedals, and screens. The seat does not move.
The airplane shows you how flying feels. The simulator lets you practice how it works, at your own pace.
How a Discovery Flight and a Simulator Session Compare
What you actually get from each first try. For the discovery flight price, see how much a discovery flight costs in Los Angeles.
| What you get | Discovery Flight | Flight Simulator Session |
|---|---|---|
| Where you sit | A training airplane at VNY | Our Gleim BATD, on the ground |
| Price to start | Starting at $199 | $70 per hour, or $60 per hour block rate |
| How long it lasts | 30 to 40 minutes of flight time, plus briefing and debrief | Booked by the hour |
| Real motion and the view over LA | Yes | No |
| Hearing the Van Nuys tower | Yes, your instructor works the radio | Simulated only |
| Pause and repeat a maneuver | No | Yes |
| Affected by weather | Depends on weather, traffic, and airspace | Weather does not cancel a session |
| Counts toward a private pilot certificate | Can count if you continue training | Plan on it as practice |
| Counts toward an instrument rating | Not the purpose of a first flight | Up to 10 hours with an authorized instructor |
Starting at $199, with an FAA-certified instructor
Choose a Discovery Flight If You Want to Know Whether You Love Flying
Choose the discovery flight if your real question is "Do I want to be a pilot?" Only the airplane answers that: the climb out of Van Nuys, the tower, and the view when conditions allow.
It is also the better start if you plan to keep going, since the time can count toward a private pilot certificate. Bring our 12 discovery flight questions and check the discovery flight FAQ.
Choose a Simulator Session If You Want to Practice on the Ground First
Choose simulator time if you want to learn the panel first. In our Gleim BATD you can freeze the picture and fly the same maneuver again.
It also fits pilots working on an instrument rating: up to 10 hours of BATD instrument time can count with an authorized instructor. See our flight simulator page.
It will not tell you how you feel in the air. If you have never flown, book the discovery flight first.
Start With the Flight That Answers the Big Question
For most first-timers, the discovery flight is the right first step, starting at $199. If you keep going, financing is available to qualified applicants through Stratus Financial and Flight Training Finance.