Vanishing Point
- July 31, 2025
- by Raad Ghantous
One man, one helicopter, and the kind of freedom you can't find on the ground
The first time I took the controls of a helicopter, I didn’t expect to feel like I was reclaiming a piece of myself. But that’s what happened. Somewhere between lifting off and hovering over the California coastline, I found a sense of calm and command that I hadn’t realized I’d been craving
I’ve always been drawn to the sky. As a child growing up with desert horizons and distant mountains, I’d watch birds cut across the air and wonder what it felt like to break free of the ground. But life has a way of keeping your feet firmly planted—until you decide otherwise. So when I learned about Rogue Aviation’s Pilot Experience, something in me stirred. Not as a bucket list item, but as a test. Could I step outside the daily rush, the meetings and strategy decks, and learn something entirely new? Could I fly?
The experience starts on the ground, but the shift begins the moment you arrive. The team at Rogue Aviation doesn’t treat you like a passenger. You’re a participant, a pilot-in-the-making. My instructor, calm and focused, walked me through the principles of flight, the mechanics of the helicopter, and what we’d be doing. No fluff. No tourist spiel. Just the real thing.
Then came the moment: climb in, buckle up, and put on your headphones. The rotors kicked up a fury. And then, somehow, we rose. Hovering in a helicopter is like nothing else. There’s no runway, no taxiing. You lift. You’re up. It’s power and precision in its purest form. Every movement of the cycle, every nudge of the pedals—it all requires you to be present. Fully.
As we flew over Los Angeles and other points of Southern California, the world below felt both vast and strangely quiet. I saw roads I’ve driven a hundred times, buildings I know by name, all recast in a new perspective. There’s a moment when the coastline emerges into view—blues stretching endlessly, light bouncing off the Pacific—and it hits you: This is freedom.
Not metaphorical. Not aspirational. Actual, literal freedom. I took the controls. My instructor, James Baker—Rogue Aviation’s co-owner and chief pilot—coached me gently, guiding my movements, correcting my instincts. At first, I overcorrected. My grip, too tight. But soon, I loosened. I listened. I felt the machine and responded. And for a few breathless moments, I wasn’t thinking about work or the headlines or the next pitch or plan. I was flying.
Back on the ground, I felt different. Lighter, maybe. More awake. The Rogue Pilot Experience isn’t just a thrill—it’s a reset. It reminds you what it feels like to learn again, to trust yourself, to let go and take the controls anyway. That feeling has stayed with me.
We all need vanishing points—places where the noise drops away and we see clearly. For me, I found one at 1,500 feet, chasing the horizon in a helicopter, rediscovering what it means to rise.
Ready to Take the Controls? If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to lift off—not just physically, but mentally—book the Rogue Pilot Experience. Trust me, this isn’t about crossing something off your bucket list. It’s about stepping into a new version of yourself. I did it. You can too. Go fly. www.flyrogue.com/pilot-experience
About the Author:
Raad Ghantous is a hospitality design visionary, creative strategist, and founder of Raad Ghantous & Associates, a boutique firm known for transforming luxury environments into timeless experiences. With over two decades of global expertise spanning interior architecture, branded guest experiences, and high-end hospitality, F&B, Wellness, and residential projects, Raad brings a bold, narrative-driven approach to placemaking—where aesthetics, function, and emotional resonance meet. As the founder of The Raad Life, a lifestyle platform and forthcoming magazine, Raad leads conversations around reinvention, longevity, and generational culture. His voice is grounded in wisdom, edge, and unapologetic authenticity—traits that carry into every space he designs and every story he tells. Whether consulting for iconic hospitality brands or redefining what it means to age with style and purpose, Raad’s work stands at the intersection of legacy and innovation. Learn more at raadghantous.com and follow The Raad Life for curated content that inspires life beautifully lived.