Jason’s UFLY Thrill Ride Story

Have you ever wanted to spend time amongst the clouds? Commercial airlines simply can’t offer the kind of intimate, thrilling experience that a ride in a small aircraft piloted by an experienced aerobatic pilot can. 

Perhaps you’re a self-proclaimed thrill-seeker trying to find something new and exciting to get your heart racing. Or maybe a loved one thinks it's time for you to have a little adventure.

All kinds of people come through Upright Aviations’ doors for UFLY Thrill Ride experiences. Our flights are truly unique and provide an unforgettable adventure. A recent client, who wasn’t necessarily seeking a thrill, was Jason; his friends surprised him with the gift of flight with Upright Aviation at the Burlington airport. 

Jason was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, but currently lives in Toronto. He is blind, currently works in adaptive technology, and has a passion for aviation. Join us as we share his story and learn what you can expect for your ULFY Thrill Ride.

The Thrill Seeker: More About Jason

Jason is an Assistive Technology Specialist for a major Canadian bank, working out of Toronto, “I focus on providing support and technological solutions for employees with disabilities,” he told us, and then added, “I was the initial developer of a Talking Flight Monitor, a software that allows a blind person to use Microsoft Flight Simulator […] I’ve always been interested in aviation and flight.” 

Knowing this, there was no better or more obvious present for his friends to come together and give him on his fiftieth birthday than one of the UFLY Thrill Rides with Upright Aviation. He told us it was a big surprise: “I’ll be honest, I didn’t know at the time that this opportunity existed locally […] I have awesome friends!”

Watch Jason on his UFLY Thrill Ride!

The UFLY Thrill Ride

Pre-Boarding

Upon receiving the gift, Jason admits he felt “A certain amount of apprehension, but mostly excitement.” He explained that he’d “Been up in a small aircraft before, but this experience was the first of its kind [for him].” Jason was game, and as someone with a passion for aviation and flight, it was clear that he was going to enjoy his gift, “I’ve always been one to live life to the fullest.”

Managing Adaptive Needs

It’s Upright Aviation’s goal to support every thrill seeker in having the best and safest experience. This means working directly with clients to understand their accessibility needs and comfort levels. 

“I’ve had experiences in the past where I’ve met with unhelpful attitudes about blindness. This was not at all the case in this experience,” Jason said about the staff supporting his UFLY experience. “All the staff we worked with were incredible.” 

Broaching the topic of particular adaptive needs can be challenging, but Jason stated, “I’ve never been one to let my blindness stop me from living life to the fullest. This was no exception [...] Just be honest about what you need. The staff are very supportive and helpful.” 

Boarding Prep

There are several steps to take before getting up in the air. Specific safety precautions must be addressed, and everyone must get familiarized with what will happen once inside the aircraft and then in the air. We asked Jason about how the process went for him. 

He told us: “The briefing helped me understand how the flight would unfold and reassured me that everything was well thought out,” and that “Knowing what was coming and how to communicate with the pilot made me feel confident and more relaxed.” 

We asked about potential situations where his blindness may have made things more complicated for him in the pre-flight phase: “I’ve ridden in small aircraft before, so I had some idea of what to expect. The pilot [Liam] did an amazing job explaining the process of entering the plane.” Jason expanded on that point and explained, “For the Extra 300 aircraft, you need to walk on the wing and lower yourself down into the cockpit. I didn’t feel that my blindness made the process much more challenging.” Curious about how this looks? Check out our videos on the UFLY Thrill Rides page.  

Up Up and Away

Given Jason’s work with simulated aircraft flight via Talking Flight Monitor and his previous experiences flying in a small aircraft, we were excited to get his opinion about his UFLY adventure. 

We asked if anything in particular had stood out for him, “Right off the bat, I was surprised by the power of the Extra 300 aircraft. You could feel that right from the point we took off.”

We asked Jason what he thought of the pilot he got paired with, and he told us: “My pilot was Liam. He was professional, confident, and enthusiastic about making sure I had the best possible experience. He took the time to explain everything, making sure I understood what to expect [...] Liam was great at checking with me throughout the flight to ask how I was feeling.”  

During a UFLY experience, thrill seekers can take the proverbial wheel momentarily. Jason told us, “When Liam let me take the stick for a minute, I was amazed by how little movement of the stick was required. It felt like you barely needed to breathe on the stick and the aircraft would respond.” 

The Extra 300 aircraft is an aircraft that is commercially certified for aerobatic flight. A part of the UFLY experience can involve the pilot doing tricks like those you might see at an airshow. We asked Jason if he enjoyed that aspect of the flight: “I loved feeling the power of the aircraft, and how it felt to perform maneuvers I had heard of, but had never seen [...] All of the various maneuvers were amazing. If I had to pick a favourite, though, it would be the final loop we did where we pulled, I believe, 5g. The sensation was like nothing I had experienced.”

For those who are curious. Jason also took a moment to tell us what aspect of the flight might have been different for him, a person with blindness, versus someone with sight, “Without any visual frame of reference, I was very surprised that I couldn’t tell when we were upside down. If Liam hadn’t told me, I may not have known.” 

Back On Land

Jason let us know that “After landing, I felt total elation! [...] I felt shaky, but not in a bad way.”  

He made the salient point that “In these flights, it is very possible to overdo things,” which is why UFLY pilots like Liam are certain to check in and make sure that the thrill seeker is having the experience they were hoping for. 

We’re glad that Jason’s flight went how he hoped it would. “I expected to enjoy the experience, but I didn’t think I would enjoy it as much as I did.” 

When asked if he’d do it again, Jason told us, “[After landing] I wanted to do it again, and in fact, we are doing it again!” He enjoyed his flight so much that he and three friends would be coming back in March of 2025 (Jason’s first flight was in October 2024). 

Jason’s review?

“Just do it! You only live once! The experience was everything I hoped it would be,” and we’re happy to hear that his experience has convinced at least three new thrill seekers to get ready to have a UFLY thrill ride adventure of their very own.

Thrill Seeking With a UFLY

If you’ve been wondering in what direction to point your thrill-seeking side, check out Upright Aviation Academy. They offer safe, conscientious and thrilling experiences for people of all comfort levels and aviation familiarity. 

You can have many of your questions about who, how, and what answered in our Frequently Asked Questions section on our Thrill Rides page (be sure to scroll down the page until you get to it). 

Whether you’re a trained pilot, an aviation enthusiast, or an adrenaline junkie, Upright Aviation Academy offers one-of-a-kind opportunities for clients. We’re conveniently located between Toronto and Niagara Falls at Burlington Airport, so if you’re looking for Safety Courses, Aerobatics Training, or a Thrill Ride, CONTACT US; our Certified Pilots are waiting on standby in their Extra 300L aircraft.