YORKTOWN AIR TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Chesapeake From Above: a 90‑Minute Private Seaplane Sweep of Lighthouses, Barrier Islands and Concrete Ships
A private, three‑seat, 90‑minute seaplane charter from the Tides Inn that traces Virginia’s Eastern Shore and western shoreline—this guide lays out the route, logistics, and what to expect aloft.
Chesapeake From Above: a 90‑Minute Private Seaplane Sweep of Lighthouses, Barrier Islands and Concrete Ships.
Climb quietly over the Chesapeake and Atlantic approaches for a compact, panoramic read of the Bay: a ninety‑minute, private seaplane flight that traces barrier islands, historic shoals and shoreline communities while a pilot narrates the region’s geography, history and ecology.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
A sweeping, mid‑Bay circuit
This 90‑minute sweep covers more of the mid‑Bay than most visitors see in a lifetime of boating, linking the Eastern Shore barrier islands with the western shoreline and returning to the Tides Inn Marina for a single, continuous circuit.
Kiptopeke’s concrete ships
From the air a row of World War II‑era concrete vessels—deliberately sunk to form a breakwater at Kiptopeke—reads like nothing else on the Bay, their encrusted hulls and spacing visible at low altitude.
New Point Comfort Lighthouse
The New Point Comfort Lighthouse, isolated by shoreline erosion and standing since 1805, is one of the flight’s most photogenic waypoints and a natural focal point for the pilot’s historical narration.
What the day feels like
What the flight feels like
The experience is compact and concentrated: check in at the Tides Inn waterfront, complete a short pre‑flight safety briefing, then lift off for an intimate, three‑seat charter that crosses to the Eastern Shore, follows barrier islands south past Kiptopeke, swings by New Point Comfort Lighthouse and returns along the western shore past Gwynn’s Island and Deltaville.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this flight suits — and who should plan differently.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The standard charter lasts 90 minutes total; the route is a single continuous flight that returns to the Tides Inn Marina.
Check in at the Tides Inn waterfront to meet your pilot, complete the pre‑flight safety briefing and aircraft walkthrough before departure.
Flights are private charters with just three seats available; reservations should be made in advance because space is limited.
The pilot narrates landmarks, history and ecology throughout the flight; expect an intimate, small‑aircraft environment with focused sightseeing.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the Chesapeake Heritage Tour?
The standard flight is 90 minutes long.
Where do I check in and board the seaplane?
Guests check in at the Tides Inn waterfront and meet their pilot there for the pre‑flight briefing and aircraft walkthrough.
What will we see on the flight?
The route crosses to the Eastern Shore, traces barrier islands toward Kiptopeke (where the concrete ships are visible), passes New Point Comfort Lighthouse, then continues along the western shore past Gwynn’s Island and Deltaville before returning to the Tides Inn Marina.
How many people are on each flight?
Each flight is a private charter with just three seats available.
Will the pilot provide commentary?
Yes — the pilot connects the history, geography and ecology of the sights below, turning the flight into an educational aerial tour.
Where does the flight begin and end?
The flight departs from and returns to the Tides Inn Marina (Tides Inn waterfront).