View of the simulator and virtual reality rides on the USS Yorktown.
Wednesday
July30

Open today from 10AM to 5PM

40 Patriots Point Rd.
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
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Flying Circus Simulator & Virtual Reality Ride

Additional ticket purchase required. Choose your adventure—or bundle both for the best value—and get ready to feel history like never before.

 

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Experience history in motion at Patriots Point!

Step into the action with two thrilling new rides that combine the power of storytelling with the excitement of modern technology. Inspired by real WWII aerial combat and the legendary “Flying Circus” squadron of the USS Yorktown, these experiences bring history to life through immersive motion and virtual reality.

Whether you're a history enthusiast or just looking for an unforgettable adventure, you'll find it here. Located in Hangar Bay 3 aboard the USS Yorktown, these rides are a powerful extension of Patriots Point’s mission—to not just share history, but to make you feel the courage and legacy of those who lived it.

Choose Your Adventure

View of steps leading up to a flight simulator pod.
Simulator Ride ($10/person)
Man and two children get strapped in with a VR headset.
Virtual Reality Ride ($11/person)
Picture collage of the Simulator and VR bundled rides
Flying Circus Bundle ($19/person)
Vintage photo of four mean posing in front of an airplane.

Discover the Legend Behind the Thrills

These rides honor Lt. Eugene Valencia and his "Flying Circus" squadron, who flew off the USS Yorktown in 1945. Valencia’s innovative “fluid four” fighter tactics led to 50 confirmed air victories and established VF‑9 as one of the Navy’s most effective units.

Read more about the history of Valencia's Flying Circus.

In Search Of More Adventure?

image of a woman giving a tour in an aviation museum
Tour

Captain's Tour

Learn what life was like for sailors during World War II, Vietnam, and the recovery of the Apollo 8 space capsule while touring areas of the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown that are off-limits to the...
Additional $18 ticket purchase required.
View of the USS Yorktown at night.
Tour

Ghost Tours

Explore the USS Yorktown’s unexplained mysteries through areas of the ship normally restricted to the public. The tour provides entry on the ship after hours, long after the crowds have left, where...
Purchase tickets with Bulldog Tours
Apollo 8 Capsule
Experience

Apollo 8 Spacecraft

Take a ride to the moon and back inside this replica Apollo 8 capsule while listening to actual radio communication and watching video recorded during the mission.
Included with admission.