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Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Jacob S. Leese of the Glenn L. Martin Composite Squadron provides flight instruction to a young guest while others await their turn.
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A guest enjoys the flight simulator while learning about Civil Air Patrol and aerospace at the Glenn L. Martin Composite Squadron booth.
2nd Lt. Jeff S. Welch
Public Affairs Officer
Glenn L. Martin Composite Squadron
Visitors of all ages were invited to take a simulated flight set at
After a quick walk-through of the flight controls, avionics and local pattern procedures, the eager guests and simulator instructor pilots donned their headsets and prepared for departure.
The instructor then announced: "Welcome to
The guest's experience within the enclosed cockpit is fully immersive, with working headsets, simulated engine noise, a functioning instrument panel and an outside forward view, which consists of a 19-inch LCD monitor on the other side of the front windshield.
Since the guest and the instructor pilot could communicate through their headsets, the short sessions were very interactive. After a few turns, most guests had the basics figured out.
Coaching the guest to select appropriate power and attitude settings, thee instructor managed flap and trim controls from outside the cockpit. A few guests managed a smooth landing on their first attempt, but it was just as much fun to hear the bang and see the shower of simulated sparks when someone landed hard.
"The first-time piloting skill of the guests was really fun to witness," said 2nd Lt. Jeff Welch, the Martin squadron’s public affairs officer. "Most did very well until they turned from the base leg to the final approach and saw Runway 33 coming back into full view.
“It seemed like the actual thought of having to land the simulated aircraft caused a few of the guests to panic a bit."
At that point, most started using some pretty radical control inputs to land, generally resulting in impact somewhere near the simulated runway. Welch often ended the simulated flights by noting jokingly to the guest that "while I wouldn't mind flying with you, I don't think I'm ready to land with you just yet -- but keep working on it!"
Guests exiting the simulator shared such statements as "That was awesome" or "Wow, that's harder than it looks." And hen there was the occasional "I have to get one of these!"
The simulator was a perfect way to grab the attention of passersby at the festival. Those who stopped in to fly or watch someone else fly had fun, learned about CAP and could someday decide to join as a cadet or senior member.
The squadron cadets present also learned a lot, as serving as instructors meant they had to convey their own aerospace knowledge to total strangers.
Cadet 2nd Lt. Jason G. Dotterweich II spent some time coaching guests on the first day of the festival. In doing so, Dotterweich said, he began to appreciate how much he has yet to learn before becoming a solo student pilot. He mentioned he would like to spend more time in the simulator before beginning formal instruction at the
Maj. Bill Parris, Maryland Wing Group II commander, constructed the simulator’s cockpit, canopy and windscreen around a donated instrument panel with the goal of using it for aerospace education activities. The squadron’s aerospace education officer, 1st Lt. Jim Mancini, provided a computer, LCD monitor, CH Products flight controls, FSX Deluxe software and Ethernet switch as the simulator components.