I took a ride in a Virgin America jet for a look at Virgin Galactic Spaceship 2 over Marin County in 2011. Scroll down to see video (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

This week we had to say goodbye to Virgin America. Sad, yes, but I feel like much of what we loved about it is in good hands with Alaska Airlines. 

As a San Francisco-based travel writer, I’ve had a front seat to see and report on every move Virgin made in its short, beautiful life. So I’m a bit nostalgic this week, too.

With Virgin America very much on the brain this week, I’m reminded of one of the most spectacular flights I’ve ever taken. Come on along for a thrilling ride!

On a bright spring day in 2011, Virgin America was celebrating the opening of its brand new Terminal 2 at San Francisco International Airport. In typical Virgin style, it was a big to-do. Richard Branson was there. So was Buzz Aldrin and his wife. California Lt Governor Gavin Newsom, too. There were also plenty of airport dignitaries and a handful of lucky media, like TravelSkills!

Flying over the Golden Gate Bridge on a Virgin America joy ride (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

We all boarded a Virgin America jet for a joy ride over the Bay Area– We had been told that Virgin Galactic’s spaceship might show up, too, so there was plenty of anticipation about how this was going to work…and what we might see up there.

We took a spectacular spin over the city and bay, then buzzed the Farrallon Islands west of the city out in the Pacific Ocean. Then, all of a sudden, we were asked to peer out the left side of the plane to see the spaceship appear off the left wing. Over the PA system, a flight attendant told everyone to disregard the fasten seat belt sign, and get over to the left side of the plane to see “the future of space travel.”

Luckily, I was already seated behind the wing on the left side, so I had a bird’s eye view of the fantastic sight and captured as much as I could in photos and video. What a sight it was! We circled around over the Pacific, then flew in over the Golden Gate Bridge, over Alameda and approached SFO from the south to land in tandem. Wow! Enjoy the video and photos below.

Scroll down for photos & video of the spaceship’s visit to the Bay Area in 2011.

Look closely at the photos and you’ll see that there are 3 “fuselages” on the aircraft. The center one is the “space ship” and it detaches from the vehicle (known as “White Knight”).

Flying over San Francisco on a Virgin America joy ride (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Flying over Sausalito, CA. Look closely and you’ll see the “space ship” part of this aircraft in the middle– it detaches from the larger aircraft to shoot into space.  (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Flying over Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay– where Pan Am Clippers used to take off for Asia! (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Flying over Alameda on approach to SFO (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Here’s a shot of the aircraft alongside the Virgin America jet from which we saw it out the window. This was at an event to celebrate the opening of SFO’s Terminal 2 (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

What’s the coolest thing YOU have ever seen out the window? Please leave your comments below! 

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