The customary pre-flight photograph.

Harry "Hairball" Hirschman - Our fighter pilot.

Our flight companion - A Russian plane flying in formation with us!

Our Russian plane flying past Twin Peaks.

Flying over downtown San Francisco.

Chrissy Field and the Golden Gate Bridge.

San Francisco has a lot of concrete.

The Palace of Fine Arts

Flying in formation over the Marin Headlands

Turning around over scenic Sausalito.

Flying over Angel Island and the San Francisco Bay.

Looking south as we headed towards Alcatraz Island.

This is my favorite shot of the infamous Alcatraz Island from above.

Leaving Alcatraz Island provided yet another interesting perspective.

The Golden Gate Bridge is truly amazing at sunset.

Alcatraz Island at sunset.

Two extremely satisfied customers in flight!

My favorite shot of the Golden Gate Bridge through the wings.

Heading south away from San Francisco to the California coastline.

Ocean Beach at sunset.

Flying over the San Francisco Zoo.

The California coastline is amazing at sunset.

The weather was perfect, the sun was shining, and it was an absolutely perfect day to enjoy our first biplane flight.

Harry and Loree Hirschman, the owners of this beautiful airplane, were kind enough to invite my friend Seson and me for an afternoon flight we will not soon forget. As you can see from the photos, we enjoyed amazing views, some excitement in the form of another plane flying in formation with us, and a surprisingly comfortable ride in the front seat of this 1994 Waco aircraft.

Harry, our pilot extraordinaire, made the trip an absolute pleasure from the minute we reached the airport until we loeaded into the car to head home (what a disappointment it was to get into a car after the flight). Fortunately, Harry recorded our entire flight and provided us with a videotape to enjoy time and time again.

On a scale of 1-10, I rate this biplane adventure an 11 (and I am not easy to please). Seson also had a fantastic time, and already called to request photos to share with her friends and family.

I would like to extend a sincere thank you to the Hirschman's for providing us with an unforgettable experience. If you are visiting San Francisco and would like to see the city from this unique perspective, click here and reserve your seats today!

Ryan Windsor
President of Alcatraz Media

Q: Is there anything you don't wisecrack about?

A: Yes -- Safety. We do everything possible to make sure you and yours have a safe flight. If you enjoy yourself that's all the better, but we make sure you're safe first. We train our pilots, we train our crew, we maintain our airplane to the highest standards, and we have safety equipment beyond what is required by the FAA. We'll modify your route or cancel your flight if the weather isn't right. We're in this for the long haul so we'd rather sacrifice today's flights for many years worth of future flights. The bottom line is that safe operations are good for the bottom line.

Q: Can I fly alone?

A: The plane has room for two passengers sitting side-by-side in the front cockpit, but if gingivitis or your personality keep you from finding a second person to come along we'll be happy to take you up solo. We'll even throw the control stick in the front cockpit so you can feel for yourself how the plane flies. But the price is the same whether you bring someone along or not.

Q: Is it safe?

A: A great question when it's not being asked by a dentist (rent "Marathon Man" if you didn't get that joke). The statistics say flying is safer than driving, so if you made it to the airport uneventfully you're having a good day. Our pilots like to go home in one piece too so they don't do anything dangerous.

Q: Do you do loop-the-loops and aerobatics?

A: No. The thrill of this ride is in the sights and sounds of flying in an open-cockpit biplane around the bay with someone special sitting next to you. No stunts, no crazy turns, no surprises.

Q: Is there a weight limit?

A: Generally, if you can squeeze your derriere (backside, bum, bits and pieces) into the plane then the plane can take you aloft. But the feds like to put numbers on things so if your combined weight is over 400 pounds let us know ahead of time and we'll make sure we don't over-fuel the plane. And we won't under-fuel it either because we're not selling glider rides (see "Is it safe?").

Q: What time should I arrive?

A: Just like the airlines, you need to arrive prior to your boarding time in order to get briefed on the flight and take care of payment and other paperwork, like signing a liability waiver/release form. In order for us to give you all the ride you've paid for, please plan on arriving 15-20 minutes prior to your scheduled takeoff time.