It’s as if the plane were strapped on to you, almost as if you were part of the machine. As the plane throttles upwards, only the pilot and the passenger understand what kind of G-force is served up for the flight. The sensation of speed is only the beginning. After that, the tricks and spins mid-flight ensure that the experience is completely separate from flying in a commercial plane. Zipping along at super-high speeds in a fighter jet is not for the faint of heart. However, it is available for anyone willing to try something which only a small percentage of people have had the possibility to do. Flying in a fighter jet is now available for civilians, with the help of MigFlug.

Breaking the sound barrier is a rare experience which not many adrenaline junkies can check off their bucket list. MigFlug is a Switzerland-based company that solely focuses on fighter jet flights. More importantly, they let anyone become a fighter pilot for the day. In general, guests will have three hours at their disposal to take advantage of their inner-Maverick; from the briefing, flight systems and safety training, and then of course, the flight. Aviation enthusiasts have a catalog of fighter jets and experiences that they can choose from. A 45-minute Top Gun Flight Adventure in an L-39 in California. Or a 25-minute flight in a fighter-bomber in Switzerland. One element remains the same across all the packages: guests are guaranteed to feel the kind of G-force only experienced fighter jet pilots and astronauts face.

There was a time when only pilots who underwent excruciating training could fly a fighter jet. The sensation of pulling a heavy G-force, albeit it being exhilarating, is not for the faint of heart. The story of how MigFlug came to be is one big coincidence with a touch of luck. One night in a Moscow bar, the co-founders of the company met a Russian military pilot. In a joking-but-not-really way, they asked if he could take them on fighter jet flight. A few days later, they were smuggled into a Russian Air Force training airbase where the pilot took them on an Aero L-39 Albatros flight. After getting through the complicated Russian military system, they managed to make this experience available to anyone willing to have a go. 

To describe the entire experience as being like on a rollercoaster but on steroids, would be an understatement. Before entering the plane, visitors need to go through safety procedures and a quick how-to on flying in a fighter jet. Right after that, are the 30 to 60 minutes up in the air. 

Beads of sweat will start to form as guests stare down the runway through their visor, second-guessing why they are there in the first place. As soon as they take off, those present in the jet will get to to experience the initial G-forces. From top speeds to near-vertical climbs, the flight will ensure that visitors get to really live out their Top Gun fantasy. Not only that, but guests also have the opportunity to do tricks mid-flight. They can also take the control of the aircraft fly it for a short period using the co-pilot’s controls. Everything is planned out in detail beforehand, with one or two surprises if the passenger wishes. 

Whilst this experience may seem a little over the top and ‘a bit much for civilians’, all the pilots are highly-qualified. Since they opened over two decades ago, MigFlug has never had an incident regarding one of their flights. Many of pilots are either former members of the Navy and Air Force or ex-test pilots for jet manufactures. They all have thousands of flight hours under their belts so flying in a fighter jet is just another day for them.

Pilots take it step by step with their passengers. From the manoeuvres to whether or not they want to take control of the jet, everything is discussed beforehand. In a typical flight, the passengers can experience an array of adrenaline-kicking tricks; loops, rolls, split-s and immelman turns, inspired by a manoeuvre performed during World War I. Nothing is left out. To spend a day as a fighter pilot, means to really become a fighter pilot. 

The Top Gun flight is one of the company’s most popular experiences. It includes inverted spins, torque rolls and a brief moment where guests awaken the Tom Cruise inside of them. This is all done within 45 minutes in the L-39 in California. For experienced pilots, MigFlug offers a much more intense, three-day long leg with their F-104 Straighter in Florida. This includes a supersonic and stratosphere flight. 

The flights don’t just focus on the aircraft itself, however. The spectacular views are also taken into careful consideration when flying in a fighter jet. In their S.211 in Munich, guests can undergo a 30 minute flight which takes them through the mountains of the Alps. Additionally, their T-33 in Canada includes a close encounter with the Niagara Falls. All of these spectacles can only be witnessed from the birds-eye-view of a fighter jet. 

This entire experience checks off numerous boxes. It may be considered an activity exclusively for the adrenaline junkie, but the sky-high views that come with it are unbeatable. The sensation of pulling the first G-forces may rattle passengers, especially as they get pulled back in their seat by a strong invisible force. Yet the tricks and manoeuvres really make it something different. Something that can’t be described to to those who haven’t experienced it. The feeling after safely landing and recounting the actions in the air, is one guests won’t be quick to forget.