What You'll See on an OBX Air Tour
A Bird's Eye Guide to the Outer Banks
The Outer Banks is stunning from the ground, but from 1,000 feet up? It's absolutely breathtaking. Here's your guide to everything you'll see on an OBX Airplanes aerial tour.
Historic Shipwrecks
The Outer Banks earned its nickname "Graveyard of the Atlantic" for good reason. The treacherous shoals where the Gulf Stream meets the Labrador Current have claimed over 5,000 ships throughout history.
From the air, you can often spot three or more shipwrecks on a single flight! The rusting hulls create haunting silhouettes in the shallow waters, visible only from above. Our pilots know exactly where to find them, including several that are only visible during certain tide conditions.
Wright Brothers National Memorial
Soar over the granite monument that marks where Orville and Wilbur Wright achieved the first powered flight on December 17, 1903. From above, you can see the entire historic grounds, including the reconstructed camp buildings and the flight markers showing each of the four flights made that historic day.
Lighthouses
The Outer Banks is home to some of America's most iconic lighthouses:
- Bodie Island Lighthouse – With its distinctive black and white horizontal stripes
- Cape Hatteras Lighthouse – America's tallest brick lighthouse (visible on longer tours)
- Currituck Beach Lighthouse – The unpainted red brick beauty to the north
Jockey's Ridge
At 80-100 feet tall, Jockey's Ridge is the tallest natural sand dune on the East Coast. From the air, you'll see hang gliders and paragliders launching from its slopes – a nod to the Wright Brothers who perfected their glider designs on similar dunes nearby.
Oregon Inlet & Bonner Bridge
Watch where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Pamlico Sound at Oregon Inlet. You'll see the working fishing fleet, the dramatic currents where two bodies of water collide, and the famous Bonner Bridge (or its replacement) spanning this ever-shifting inlet.
Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge
Depending on the season, you might spot wild horses, dolphins, sea turtles, and countless birds from above. The refuge stretches for miles along the barrier islands, a ribbon of wilderness preserved between ocean and sound.
Historic Piers
Get a unique perspective on the famous OBX fishing piers:
- Jennette's Pier – The modern concrete pier in Nags Head
- Nags Head Pier – A classic wooden pier popular with anglers
- Avalon Pier – In Kill Devil Hills
Downtown Manteo
Our shorter flights include a pass over historic downtown Manteo, the charming waterfront town on Roanoke Island. Spot the Elizabeth II ship replica, the quaint shops, and the boats in the harbor.
The Four Bridges
One of the most unique sights from our tours is seeing all four bridges connecting mainland Dare County to the Outer Banks:
- Wright Memorial Bridge
- William B. Umstead Bridge
- Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge
- Lindsay C. Warren Bridge
Before 1930, the only way to reach the Outer Banks was by boat. These bridges opened up paradise to the world.
Which Tour Is Right for You?
$35 Cessna Ride (5 min) – Quick flight over downtown Manteo. Great intro to flying!
Discovery Flight (15 min) – Wright Brothers Monument, shipwrecks, Jockey's Ridge, and beach coastline. Our most popular tour!
Inlet Tour (40 min) – Everything above plus Jennette's Pier, Nags Head Pier, Bodie Island Lighthouse, and Oregon Inlet.
Custom 1-Hour Tour – Your choice! Go north to Corolla and the wild horses, or south toward Cape Hatteras. See it all!
Biplane Tours – Same amazing sights, but in an open-cockpit 1998 Waco YMF-5C. Feel the wind at 110 MPH!
Ready to see the OBX from above? Book your tour now and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Don't forget your camera – photos from the air are unforgettable!