Page 18 - AAA Magazine – AAA Ohio Auto Club – November 2019

Continued from page 15
WELCOME TO TAKE FLIGHT OHIO.
Take Flight Ohio, a true-to-life flight simulator, landed in northwest Columbus when Worthington resident John Price opened the doors to his new business in December 2018. While it does not provide professional aviation training, it does give customers the rare opportunity to take the left seat of a Boeing 737 cockpit. And Take Flight Ohio’s cockpit is the real deal.
Price knows of only three other such simulators. According to Price, there’s one in Anaheim, CA, one in Clearwater, FL, and another in Toronto, Canada. Each set-up is different. Regarding Price’s simulator, it “flies” true to the real thing. That’s according to Bill Bolinger, a professional pilot who’s flown the 737 for a decade and who now serves as one of Take Flight Ohio’s coaches. Price’s simulator flies as sluggishly as the actual plane does.
Price says Take Flight Ohio is designed to introduce children 12 and older to flight; to serve as a restart
for aviation students who may be burned out; and to answer the call of so many dreamers who have always looked up to the skies wondering what it would be like to be a pilot.
“I really want to be some kind of positive impact for people,” explained Price, a former dispatcher for NetJets. ”I thought, wow, this would be a neat experience. Pretty much everyone who leaves here says, ‘That was pretty cool. I’m really glad I did that. That was really unique.’ So it’s really very fulfilling.”
Price’s clients come from all over for the experience. Portsmouth. Louisville. Nashville.
Most of Price’s clients are men coming in to fly a particular package purchased by wives and girlfriends. But Price would like to see more women take the 737’s controls.
“Women can do it too,” he said. “They seem to have a great time just like the men do.”
Take Flight Ohio also attracts its fair share of seasoned pilots. One wanted to practice landing on Key West’s short runway in a crosswind.
Yes, Take Flight Ohio can control the weather. They can make it snow or create a driving rain. Pick your poison.
And customers can take off and land at virtually any airport in the world. Want to see what it’s like to land in The Big Apple? Dial up LaGuardia. Or if you prefer
a more scenic view, give a go at landing among
the Tetons in Jackson Hole, WY. The choices are endless, as there are more than 23,000 airports in the simulator system.
As Price’s brother once quipped: “You can fly anywhere in the world and be home for dinner.”
John Price, right, takes another guest on a fantasy flight.
Price says his main objective is to see every client leave with a smile on their face.
“I want you to have the experience you were looking for,” he said. “I don’t want you to leave feeling like you failed. That cockpit is overwhelming. The last thing I want
is for you to feel like an idiot. I think that’s why they leave happy because they’ve accomplished something. The joke I always throw in is even if you mess up we’re still okay.”
I messed up big time but ended up in a lovely spot for a picnic.
William J. Purpura is the editor of AAA Magazine.
PREPARE
FOR TAKEOFF
Take Flight Ohio is at 4816 Sawmill Road, Columbus, Ohio. Call 614-947-7370 or visit takeflightohio.com.
Take Flight Ohio offers four packages:
Introductory Flight – $39.99
This includes a basic introduction to aviation, allowing for about 10 minutes in the cockpit.
Thrill Flight – $99.99
This includes a take-off and landing and about 30 minutes in the cockpit
Adventure Flight – $149.99
This is Take Flight Ohio’s most popular package, allowing the client to focus on the aspects of flight of most significant interest to them. This package provides for about 50 minutes in the cockpit.
Ultimate Flight – $299.99
This package features nearly two hours of flying time and is recommended for those ages 15 and above.
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