Become Tom Cruise In Nevada's 'Top Gun' Experience

Do you feel the need for speed? Las Vegas is a town of crazy experiences, but this one takes the gong for most extreme. Those of you hunting for the thrill of a lifetime, look no further.

Sky Combat Ace, located in the blistering Nevada desert just outside Las Vegas, offers a ‘Top Gun’ flying experience that will take speed freaks and flying enthusiasts to new levels of adrenaline.

The aviation experience turned this thrill-seeker upside down

Factor in some extreme aviation to your trip – and experience the rugged desert wilderness from a seriously exhilarating perspective.

The packages are fun and flexible, so if you’re not keen on aerial dogfighting, you don’t have to include it in your flight. Choose from a variety of ‘mission profiles’ designed to cater for all levels of daredevil (and budget); it’s easy to find a package to suit you. The ultimate mission though is the ‘Top Gun’ experience.

Not for the faint hearted, this experience is designed to send you full-throttle into their most thrilling aerobatic routine – with you at the helm the whole way. If heights leave you dizzy and the idea of controlling a small speeding aircraft as it barrels across the Nevada desert makes you feel queasy, this is probably not an experience for you.

It sounds crazy, but no previous flight training is necessary. You are given all the essential info on the ground before take-off, and your friendly (safety-conscious) instructor-pilot has a set of controls, too – it’s just like learning to drive! Sort of.

While the term ‘fighter jets’ is used loosely here, these stunt planes do an excellent job of simulating the Top Gun experience and it totally feels as though you’re flying the real thing.

Horizon-spinning tricks executed at 250mph (400kph) in the sky, combined with epic scenery, make this the ride of a lifetime. It certainly beats any roller coaster or thrill-inducing ride that Las Vegas has to offer.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.