Hi there, it’s Blake! I’m excited to share my latest review from my family trip to Las Vegas with you. As an avid tech and virtual reality fan, I couldn’t resist trying out Birdly, a new VR “flight simulator” attraction at the Area15 entertainment complex, with my wife Patty and kids John and Jenette.
In this post, I’ll provide all the details you need to know. To give you a quick summary, the Birdly VR Las Vegas flying experience was fantastic, but the overall length of the experience is relatively short compared to the ticket price. So, let’s start from the beginning and dive into the nitty-gritty!
Getting There
We arrived at Area15 around lunchtime on a busy Saturday. After grabbing a quick bite in the food hall, we headed to the Birdly attraction.
The machine was out in the open, so we got to see people tilting and rolling as they “flew” through the virtual world. My kids thought it looked super cool. “I wanna be a birdie!” my daughter Jenette said. The setup was maybe 5-6 feet long and had armrests that flapped up and down like wings. Fans blew air at the riders’ faces to simulate wind, and the rigs tilted and moved to match what people saw in their VR headsets.
The Kids’ Experience
Finally, it was my son John’s turn. The staff helper lowered the rig to his height and gave the safety speech about keeping his arms and legs inside at all times. She showed him how pulling the handles makes the wings flap to control flying up, down, left, or right.
Then she placed the VR headset over his eyes, and he was off! Jenette and I watched his flight on screens around the room. He tilted left and right and flapped his “wings” as he soared over a prehistoric landscape filled with volcanoes and dinosaurs!
“This is epic!” he yelled. After a couple of minutes, they slowed and stopped his rig. When he took off the headset, he had a huge smile plastered on his face. “That was so cool! I felt like I was a real pterodactyl! I wanna go again!” he said.
Next was Jenette’s turn. They raised the rig higher for her height and went through the same safety routine. She looked nervous when they first tilted her forward into the flying position, arms stretched out to the sides, gripping the handles. But once the VR display kicked in, she broke into laughter and kept pointing with one hand and calling out “Turtle! Turtle!” and “Fishies!”
She flew through an underwater landscape filled with coral reefs and schools of tropical fish. A couple of minutes later, they slowed and stopped her flight. “Mommy, I flew with the fishies! And there was a big whale!” she squealed in delight. My kids had a blast and gave Birdly a big thumbs up so far.
My Experience Flying Birdly
Finally, it was my turn after nearly an hour of waiting. I handed Patty my phone and climbed onto the rig. The helper secured me in place with leg and back supports so I was tilted forward on my stomach, then adjusted my headset and gave the safety speech.
She told me that leaning forward picks up speed, pulling back slows down, and tilting left or right turns me in that direction. Then she started the software, and I was suddenly hundreds of feet in the air, speeding over a mountain valley!
I have to say, the graphics were amazingly realistic and lifelike. It felt like I was truly soaring high above the mountains. I tilted back to slow down and take in the beautiful scenery around me. Snow-capped rocky peaks filled the landscape in every direction. Then I leaned forward into a steep dive, speeding down closer to the treetops by a winding river.
I laughed in delight as the wind whipped by my face. This was the most immersive and realistic flying simulation I’ve ever tried! After a couple of exhilarating minutes, I approached a sheer cliff and pulled back hard to avoid crashing. The screen faded to black, ending my flight.
I took off the VR headset, buzzing with excitement. “That was awesome!” I told the staff helper as she came over to unload me. The graphics and motion simulation were top-notch – I really felt like I was flying. So, as far as the actual VR experience, Birdly totally nailed it
The Good, The Bad, and Is It Worth It?
Like I said earlier, the in-flight VR experience itself was awesome. The Birdly team clearly put a ton of thought and effort into making the virtual world visually stunning and making the motions sync perfectly with what you see in the headset. On those fronts, it totally delivers.
I also appreciated the safety precautions they take, securing you into the rig at multiple contact points and giving detailed instructions before takeoff. The helper assigned to each rider gives the flight her full attention, ready to stop the simulation immediately if any issues pop up. So from a safety perspective, they have their bases well covered.
However, there is one minor drawback that made me question whether Birdly is really worth all the hype and expense. The cost of a ticket for an adult is $13.5 for a 3-minute flight. While the price of this ride at Area15 is comparable to the other rides in the facility, I just wish the ride was a bit longer.
The Verdict:
- Birdly VR Flight Simulation: 8/10
- If they made the Flight a couple of minutes longer: 9/10
Have you tried Birdly or something similar? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments! Stay tuned for more reviews of our family trip activities coming soon on The Virtual Reviewer.