Sky Surfing, Clearwater

The FAA-certified flight instructors at Sky Surfing Aviation refer to their Delta Wing Trike aircrafts as "motorcycles of the sky." It's a fitting title, and not only because the aircrafts look like motorcycles that spent eight months inside steel cocoons. Just as bikers take scenic trips down country roads, aviators in Trikes take afternoon and evening drives through the sky. Fliers can skim white-sand beaches, soar high above the Skyway Bridge, or venture as far away as Fort Myers and the Everglades. With its open-air cockpit and hang-glider wings, the aircraft gives pilot and passenger unobstructed scenic views of Florida’s coastline. In fact, the sightlines are so clear that pilots often use the trike to spot and track marine life, including sea turtles and sharks.

While Sky Surfing Aviation's pilots will happily do all the flying during intro flights, first-time aviators are welcome to try the aircraft's intuitive controls. You simply need to grab hold of the large bar attached to the wings and shift your body weight. After the initial adventure, the instructors can train new fliers for solo flights and help them obtain pilot licenses. Aside from flight training, Sky Surfing Aviation provides sales and support for several types of light sport aircraft, such as trikes, airplanes, and gyroplanes.