Kids practice flying on a simulator

Twelve-year-old Paul Wheeler wants to be a fighter pilot when he grows up. Recently, he got a chance to see what it would be like to be at the controls of a plane.

The St. Louis Junior Science Academy sponsored two one-day camps at the St. Louis Science Center. The camps were entitled, "Come Fly with Me! Virtually!"

 

Paul, Nathan, and Sam Wheeler (l to r)

In each of sessions, two kids were paired up at each of eight flight simulator computer terminals in Mission Control. After getting acquainted with the computer software, the kids took turns making flights in an assortment of different planes.

They could pick from a variety of planes, from Orville and Wilbur Wright's early planes to a modern F-15 jet fighter. Paul Wheeler was so interested in the flight simulation that he skipped the lunch period so he could have a terminal all to himself.

One good thing about the Mission Control exhibit is that it's open to the public during Science Center visiting hours. Visitors get their own hands-on experience on the simulators.

(For information, log on to www.slsc.org or call the Center at (314) 289-4400)

Gregg Maryniak is the director of the McDonnell Planetarium and led the Junior Science Academy flight simulating workshops. He said, "Visitors to the Science Center can come in and work on the simulators. Mission Control is like any other exhibit at the Center."

Paul Wheeler and his brothers, Nathan and Sam, signed up for the flight simulation camp as members of the St. Louis Junior Science Academy. Paul, Nathan and Sam are all 12 and triplets.

After their session was over, their mother, Phyllis Wheeler, bought them Microsoft's Flight Simulator 2004 software. They went home and immediately installed the software so they could duplicate their hands-on camp experience.

Paul said, "We already had the joystick. We use that for other computer games."

Paul, Nathan and Sam all agreed that turning the plane was the most difficult part of the flight simulation exercises. The boys all will be 7th graders this fall and live in the City of St. Louis northeast of Washington University.

Nathan said, "Coming out the turn, I was afraid that I'd compensate too much." Paul said, "If you compensate too much, you can go into a barrel-roll."

Sam said he also had trouble maintaining the right "horizon" while flying. By "horizon," he was talking about keeping the plane at a set altitude, without either dipping down or climbing higher.

 

Zak Smith

Thirteen-year-old Zak Smith was another of the participants who had trouble "not overcompensating" when getting the plane to level out after a turn. But, he added, "The landings were tough too."

Zak lives in O'Fallon, Mo. He'll be an 8th grader at Fort Zumwalt West Middle School.

Zak said he decided to join the Junior Science Academy because he liked the various summer programs it offered. He said he's going to attend a veterinary medicine camp to be held at the Humane Society of Missouri installation in August.

"I love the Humane Society and I'm interested in biochemistry," he said. Zak said he wants to be a research biochemist.

All four of the boys said they'd flown in commercial aircraft but hadn't flown in any small planes.

Zak said, "It would be neat to go up in a small plane. My dad said he'd like to learn to fly and I could go up with him."

He said, "I thought it was interesting that the early pilots could navigate with only a map, a compass and a watch."

Paul, Nathan and Sam said they liked the "free flying time" at the end of the session.

Paul and Nathan said they chose the F-15 fighters for their "free flying." Nathan said, "I flew it upside down and did cork-screws."

Sam said he chose something a little quieter. He used the single-engined Piper Cub as his plane of choice.

Paul said he plans to join the Air Force after college and become a fighter pilot.

Nathan said he plans to become a video-game programmer. Sam said he'll major in animal science in college. "I want to be a zoo keeper," he said.

(If you'd be interested in more information about the Junior Science Academy, visit www.jracademy.com or call (314) 533-8586.)