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Fly over the McDowell Mountains in an authentic WWII-era open-cockpit training biplane.
Take the controls (if you want to) of a genuine Stearman PT-17, the same open-cockpit biplane used to train WWII aviation cadets, for a scenic flight over the McDowell Mountains.
There are only two seats in the plane, one for you and one for your pilot, so this is inherently a private, one-on-one experience: after a preflight inspection and a rundown of the radios and controls, you'll fly smooth and level over the McDowell Mountains, or add in more energetic maneuvers if you want a thrill, and you're invited to take the controls yourself as part of the flight.
A popular starting point — every Voyzo itinerary is fully customizable, so we'll shape the order and stops around your group.
Meet your pilot at a Scottsdale-area airfield, confirmed after booking.
Fly in a real WWII-era training biplane, the same type used to teach aviation cadets 80 years ago.
See the Sonoran Desert terrain around Scottsdale from an open cockpit.
Take the controls yourself during part of the flight if you'd like.
Back to your hotel, home, or the airport — whenever your day wraps up.
Every group size is covered — from an intimate private ride to large multi-coach groups.
Up to 6
A fast, private ride for couples, small families, or business travelers — plenty of luggage room and a smooth, quiet cabin.
Up to 14
Comfortable, air-conditioned seating for small and mid-size groups — our most popular option for families and friend groups traveling together.
Up to 56
Our largest single vehicle — a full-size luxury motorcoach for large groups, conventions, and corporate events that still want one private tour, one vehicle.
Take the controls (if you want to) of a genuine Stearman PT-17, the same open-cockpit biplane used to train WWII aviation cadets, for a scenic flight over the McDowell Mountains. There are only two seats in the plane, one for you and one for your pilot, so this is inherently a private, one-on-one experience: after a preflight inspection and a rundown of the radios and controls, you'll fly smooth and level over the McDowell Mountains, or add in more energetic maneuvers if you want a thrill, and you're invited to take the controls yourself as part of the flight.
The Stearman PT-17 you'll fly in belongs to a genuinely historic aircraft family. Boeing-Stearman built more than 10,600 of these biplanes, and they became the primary trainer for the U.S. Army Air Corps, the U.S. Navy (which flew it as the NS and N2S), and the Royal Canadian Air Force, which called it the Kaydet. During World War II, the vast majority of American military pilots soloed for the very first time in a Stearman's open cockpit before moving on to more advanced aircraft, which makes a flight in one today a close echo of exactly how an entire generation of aviators got their start.
What made the design so effective as a trainer is largely what makes it such a memorable passenger experience now: the fully open, tandem cockpits put you right in the airflow with nothing but a windscreen between you and the sky, and the biplane's inherently stable, forgiving handling was specifically chosen so cadets could focus on learning to fly rather than fighting the airplane. That same stability is why you're invited to take the controls yourself for part of the flight if you'd like, something that wouldn't be nearly as approachable in a faster, less forgiving aircraft.
Your route takes you over the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, a protected stretch of desert at the base of the McDowell Mountains that covers more than 30,500 acres laced with over 230 miles of trails, making it one of the largest urban nature preserves of its kind anywhere in the country. From the air you'll be able to pick out the terrain types that define it, from gently sloping bajadas studded with saguaro to the exposed granite ridgelines near East End, the range's highest point at 4,069 feet. Geologically, the McDowells are relatively young by desert-mountain standards, built from Miocene-era deposits laid down roughly five million years ago.
Every Voyzo tour is a starting point — tell us what you have in mind and we'll build it.
