1.1 - Q. How much does it cost?
A. Cost? Think of it more as an investment in developing your deepest feelings about what it's like to blow your best friend to smithereens. A 30 minute Simulation is $29.95. For another fifteen bucks you can double your flight time to 60 minutes, or an hour for $44.95. The smithereens are free.
1.2 - Q. Is there an age limit at ACES?
A. Upper or lower? On the upper side, the oldest we've had (so far) is 93. But we assume what you really mean is how young can you be to fly at A.C.E.S. We generally recommend age ten and up. However, since it's your money, it's your call. But let us educate you before you plunk down your hard earned cash. We've had a few whippersnappers as young as six fly with us. But the only reason they enjoyed themselves was because they had previous experience with flight simulators on their parents home PC. Please note: We've found that video game experience, by itself, does not really help.
1.3 - Q. Can I dogfight my friends in the simulators?
A. What are friends for? Of course you can. "Fight's On!" But if you bring your spouse/girlfriend, it's a darned good idea to let them shoot you down. At least once anyway. It's very possible that what happens after you leave A.C.E.S. might be even more exciting.
1.4 - Q. Can I shoot down enemy aircraft?
A. Well, somebody has to and it might as well be you, soldier. But remember, they can shoot back. And they like to brag as much as you do.
1.5 - Q. Can I land on an aircraft carrier?
A. Just who do you think you are, Chuck Yeager? Wait, he was Air Force. Yes, you can try to land on an Aircraft Carrier, though you might kill yourself. Just kidding. That's the beauty of a simulation; you can try anything and not be hurt. We would be more than happy to put you on a "short final" behind the "boat". But just to be safe, you might want to watch Top Gun again before you try it. Better to die than look bad.
1.6 - Q. Can I fly different aircraft?
A. Different aircraft? What are you some kind of non-conformist? Ahem. Our jet simulation is exclusively dedicated to the F/A-18 Hornet, built by Boeing, which used to be McDonnell Douglas, which was formerly Douglas Aircraft...but I digress. Our WWII simulators allow you to fly just about any type of Warbird from the 1940's. You name it and you can fly it. P-51 Mustang, F4U Corsair, P-38 Lightning, Brewster Buffalo...Brewster Buffalo? Never mind.
1.7 - Q. What if I crash?
A. Then you owe us 32 million bucks. Not. You can crash as many times as you want during your simulation. It's your money! And the customer is always right at A.C.E.S.; "That, sir, was a very nice crash". Don't worry, almost everyone crashes at least once. But let's think positive, okay? "I'm coordinated, I have good situational awareness and I am a really good fighter pilot, darned it".
1.8 - Q. Could I get motion sickness in your simulators?
A. Please don't. But if you do, we call it a "Code Blue". Thank heavens it happens very rarely – like maybe a couple times a year. If you're inebriated, good luck (I mean, what were you thinking? Save the hootch for after the flight). If you have a head cold, well that's no help either. If you are hyper-prone to motion sickness, you might feel something in your stomach...just like you would after a real flight. However, if you do feel uncomfortable, we can turn the motion off. But if you do get sick, acting humble and apologetic improves your chances of getting us to clean up the mess. Air freshener, anybody?
1.9 - Q. Do I have to go through the training?
A. Yes, you must watch the briefing video, at least the first time you fly here. Even if you're a pilot. Especially if you are a pilot! Such "know-it-alls". Sheesh. The Briefing time does not eat into your flight time. It just makes you a better informed (and better looking) pilot. And don't we all want to look good, really?
1.10 - Q. How realistic is the simulation? (See "simulators" page for more on this)
A. The world's largest defense contractor has purchased our simulators...the same model you get to fly at A.C.E.S. Military and civilian pilots often commend the realism of our simulators. Every imaginable type of real-world aviator has flown at A.C.E.S. From Space Shuttle Pilots to WW2 combat veterans to current active-duty fighter pilots...you name it. Hundreds of pilots over the years have told us that if you can fly and land one of our simulators, you can fly and land a real aircraft. Of course, if the Captain had the chicken, and you had the fish, you still might die trying to land that 707 at O'Hare. Your fellow passengers are counting on you...
1.11 - Q. Do I have to be a pilot?
A. No, over half of our guests have no flight experience. It doesn't hurt, though.
1.12 - Q. Do you take credit cards?
A. Yup. We accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express. It's a plastic world and it's only going to get plastic-er.
1.13 - Q. Do you take checks?
A. Lord no. But we'll take your cash , your Visa card , your MasterCard and your American Express. Sorry, we haven't discovered the Discover Card yet.
2.1 - Q. Do I need to make a reservation?
A. No, but it's a good idea, especially on weekends and holidays. We only take Same Day reservations, though. Groups of 8 or more can reserve more than one day in advance. On weekends and holidays, your best bet is to call us about 15 minutes after we open. We will ask for a credit card to hold a cockpit for you. But give us an hour's notice if you can't make your flight. If you simply don't show up without telling us, we'll end up with an empty cockpit. This means we will have turned someone else away who would've taken your spot. We'll have no choice but to send out a flight of F-18's to come bomb your house. Not really. But we will ding your credit card for the full amount. War is hell.
2.2 - Q. Do you take groups?
A. Yes we do. Bring ‘em on. Lots of companies bring their employees and customers in for group flying. Corporate Team Building has been very popular at A.C.E.S. So have Birthday Parties and Bachelor Parties. The more (targets-for-you-to-shoot-at) the merrier.
2.3 - Q. Can I Make reservations online?
A. Sorry, we’re gonna make you talk to a living, breathing human being. Call us at 952-920-3519 or stop in at A.C.E.S. on third floor, east side, Mall of America.
3.1 - Q. Can I log the time in your simulators?
A. You can try to log it, but the FAA examiner is going to give you the hairy eyeball when he sees that you've been out flat-hatting in P-51's and busting the sound barrier in F/A-18's. No, our simulators are for entertainment purposes and the FAA has no sense of humor whatsoever. Straighten up and fly right.
3.2 - Q. Do your simulators move?
A. Nope. At one time we did feature motion, but only on our jets. We originally used motion because the visual system in our simulators was only 20 inches across and the physical movement was needed help create the feeling of flight. But that is no longer the case. Our AeroDome® has a visual system that is 25 times larger (yes, that is 2,500%) than our original system. The result is a "wide field-of-view", much like that in an Omni Theater. You may not be actually moving, but you feel like you are. People even occasionally ask us to "please turn off the motion", even though nothing is actually moving! The visual effects are that compelling. But to some folks motion is "emotion" and they want to move, doggonit. Well, in the real world of military training for "fast jets" (fighters), their simulators don’t physically move either. They, like us, have graduated to wide field-of-view display systems and have learned that if the visual system is large enough, motion is not only redundant, but it actually distracts from the training experience. Once you’ve flown in our simulators, you’ll see what we mean.
3.3 - Q. Will I "fit" inside your simulators?
A. Almost certainly. We’ve had people up to 350 pounds in them before. And we’ve had really tall people fly them too. If you’re over 6’6, you might have a fabric canopy shroud resting on your noggin’ (in our WWII sims) but you’ll still fit. The jets have more headroom, so head clearance is never a problem. The hardest part is climbing the stairs and wriggling into the cockpit. Once inside, there is more room than one might think. Of course, once you’re in, there’s always the possibility you might not want to get out. Darned.
3.4 - Q. Can two people use the same simulator?
A. Hey, this isn't the Mile High Club! Jeez. Our cockpits are single seat fighters. Strictly business, old chap. We do have eight cockpits, though. Bring all your friends and have at it.
4.1 - Q. Can I mail-order a Gift Card?
A. Yes, you can order Gift Cards securely (right this second!) while you are online. You can also order Gift Cards over the telephone. Our Gift Cards never expire (and shame on those that do!) have no hidden fees and are as wholesome as apple pie and the American Flag. Just don't ask for a refund for a gift card, ‘cause we don't do that. Nope. Hey, if they wanted you to have cash, they'd have given you cash, doggonit. Plus, didn't your mother teach you that it's rude to return gifts? Now, our gift cards are fully transferable. And if you don't want to use it, perhaps you can give it as a gift to someone else. That might be OK with Mom. But just to be safe, you'd better check with her. Go ahead, call her right now. Mom would love to hear from you.
4.2 - Q. Can you send the gift card in a plain envelope?
A. Wait, do you mean PLAIN or PLANE? We have both. Sometimes we get confused. Anyway, make sure you specifically ask for a PLAIN envelope if you are trying to surprise someone. Our standard envelopes are easily recognizable with a great big blue jet (PLANE) on the front. Our PLAIN envelopes just have our return address (no name) stamped on them. We're thinking of calling our "PLAIN" envelopes "STEALTH" envelopes... whaddya think?
4.3 - Q. Do your gift cards expire?
A. Only when your money expires. Last time I checked, your cash was still good. No, there is no expiration date. Now, go ahead and make someone really, really happy and order some gift cards. It's easy and they will love you for the rest of your life. "Remember good old Aunt Harriet? She gave me a flight in an F-18 back in ‘06"... what a cool lady!" See.
5.1 - Q. Can other people watch my flight?
A. Yes, we have a viewing area in the front of A.C.E.S. with large-screen LCD monitors. There might be 25 people watching as you make like Tom Cruise. No pressure or anything. But you are one cool, tough FIGHTER PILOT, so "you can handle the pressure, Mav". That last quote courtesy of Paramount Pictures. (Did you know Tom Cruise owns a P-51? 'can't be all bad).
5.2 - Q. Do you sell anything besides flight simulations?
A. Boy, do we! We have A.C.E.S. hats, T-shirts, aviation clothing, die-cast collector models, lots of aviation gifts, software, really cool DVD's. Hey, isn't it about time to park that keyboard of yours for a few minutes and come on down to A.C.E.S. and charge up a storm?
5.3 - Q. How long has A.C.E.S. been in business?
A. A.C.E.S. opened for retail business in March of 1996.
5.4 - Q. Is A.C.E.S. a chain?
A. Are you kidding? We are one of a kind.