Day 11 - Thrill of a Lifetime For a 13 Year Old

Two days ago I found a brochure for a Flight Simulator experience. I called the owners and found out that I could get Dane in for 1 1/4 hour flight on Wednesday. Our days have been crammed. We basically get up at 7:oo am every day, because we are not missing our breakfast! And then we spend the day running at the park or on the road at Sea World etc. Well, this day we spent the whole day at California Adventure, left there at 5:00 pm, got home and had a quick 'complimentary' snack in the dining room, and then dashed out the door again to the Flight Simulator place. Dane's appointment was for 6:00 pm.

We got there and it ended up being the most wonderful experience for Dane. He was first taken in the office for a briefing - after suiting up, of course.

Suiting Up

Briefing

He climbed into the cockpit of a simulator. These particular simulators are built to look like a generic F15. He was given a few instructions and off he went.

Full Focus

The Tower

The tower is where the instructors will talk to Dane, via mics.

When he was done, I spoke to the flight instructor. I told him that Dane had a passion for flying and specifically fighter planes and he wanted to be in the airforce. I asked him for his honest opinion on how Dane did. His response?? A *huge* grin and he said, "He was smokin' the F4's. He was great!!! He was just flying rings around them. He took out four or five of them, before I brought him in - in 5 or 6 minutes!" The owners both came in and gave their opinion and it was clear they were impressed. One of them told me that while Dane was flying he had to keep his eyes on the screen in front of him (mimicing the open sky) and also the screen in his cockpit, plus all of his controls. That is alot of organized thinking that I don't think *I* could handle!

I was so pleased to see how impressed this pilot was with Dane's abilities and instinct. He said that Dane was a very steady flier and the only time he was shot out of the air was when there was a malfunction! They ended up letting Dane fly for an extra 45 minutes for free.

Dane Grinning Like A Cheshire Cat After Flying

Apparently there are very few of these simulators around and Dane ended up getting in with some of the most authentic. It was a wonderful experience for him, that I am sure Dane will always remember!