Due to its length, I had to split the video into two parts for Youtube.

 

Also below is a nice article, despite some of its factual errors. Enjoy!

 

Justin Messenger

 

Video 1:

 

 

Video 2:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt1AvWyTGgY100%" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt1AvWyTGgY100%">]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt1AvWyTGgY100%]

 

 

Cockpit-Fest opens simulated flight to all

 

* By Fred Mann * The Wichita Eagle

 

Gabe Messenger appeared to be in total control of his airplane right up to the moment he crashed trying to land on an aircraft carrier in the middle of the ocean . But the 12-year-old from Arkansas climbed out of the flight simulator Saturday morning feeling pretty good about it. “I meant to do it. It’s just fun to sometimes crash,” he said.

 

The King Air simulator he flew was built by Matt Bailey, of Moore, Okla. It was among the simulators and cockpits on display during the second annual Cockpit-Fest USA underway this weekend at the Kansas Aviation Museum, 3350 S. George Washington Blvd.

 

The event includes the debut of a President Kennedy Air Force One replica cockpit and stateroom, and simulators of a 1967 Link-4J Phantom II, a plane flown by the Blue Angels in the 1960s, as well as a B-52 Stratofortress,  A-7 Corsair, F-84F Thunderstreak and F-15A Eagle.

 

About 80 exhibitors of simulator hardware and software from around the U.S. and the world, some from as far away as Poland and South Africa, are attending the event. It is being held in association with the Newark Air Museum, UK.

 

Cockpit-Fest USA continues today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. At 1 p.m., it will feature a fly-by of three historic Stearman biplanes.

 

Bailey, who is attending with his wife, Ruth, and three-month-old son, Jonathan, keeps his simulator in his garage. It took a year for him to build the hardware and 21/2 to write the software. And he’s still working on it, he said. It uses three computers and has radios from real airplanes.

 

Bailey said he loves to fly and has been flying since he can remember because his dad is a pilot.

 

Justin Messenger, Gabe’s uncle and co-founder of the event who works for Nu-Tek Simulations, based in Augusta, said Cockpit-Fest USA appeals to fans of general aviation and computer technology, giving them a chance to combine two hobbies at once.

 

“Some people spend more time developing software and hardware for flight simulators than they actually do flying them,” he said. “I’m one of them.”

 

Three exhibitors from Poland staffed a booth at the event. Wojciech Krzywda, head of VFRPoland, which offers photographic scenery of Poland for flight simulators, said he learned about Wichita’s aviation history before coming.

 

“Looking at the map of Wichita and seeing 11 airfields around the city .. wow. It’s amazing, it’s just amazing,” he said.

 

Read the original here:

 

http://www.kansas.com/2013/05/04/2789709/cockpit-fest-opens-simulated-flight.html" href="http://www.kansas.com/2013/05/04/2789709/cockpit-fest-opens-simulated-flight.html">http://www.kansas.com/2013/05/04/2789709/cockpit-fest-opens-simulated-flight.html

 

Somehow the post above deleted the video link for video one, so here it is again:

 

 

Justin

Very nicely edited, Justin!

Thank you Justin,

 

Excellently done and covered the atmosphere of what it was like to be there.

 

I tried to edit your post to make the first video work, but apparently the first video you uploaded to Youtube was setup to makes it impossible to copy the URL (or something like that).

 

Your edit to include it failed to work as well. Watchers can click on video 2 and look to the right and be able to see and click on Video 1.

 

If you are able to get the link open, and you want to edit, just send me the copy and I will edit it for you.

 

Kind regards,

That is odd. maybe this will work.

 

 

Thank you Justin,

 

Excellently done and covered the atmosphere of what it was like to be there.

 

I tried to edit your post to make the first video work, but apparently the first video you uploaded to Youtube was setup to makes it impossible to copy the URL (or something like that).

 

Your edit to include it failed to work as well. Watchers can click on video 2 and look to the right and be able to see and click on Video 1.

 

If you are able to get the link open, and you want to edit, just send me the copy and I will edit it for you.

 

Kind regards,

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/a0QxKva47NA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The 2013 Cockpit-Fest awards went to.....
 

1. Stearman Bar&Grill – Best Aircraft Cockpit; Dewey Larson A-7

2. FlightSafety Beech– Best Simulator: Steve Cannaby F-4D

3. Spirit AeroSystems - Spirit of Cockpit-Fest Award: Matt Bailey

4. Kansas Pilot’s Association - Most Dramatic Restoration Award: Larson A-7
5. C&A Messenger - People’s Choice Award: Steve Cannaby B-52

6. F.H. Kaysing - Exhibition Award: Larson A-7

7. Viperpits-Best non-functional simulator: Larry Schurr General Aviation

8. Pilot Edge -Best functional Simulator: Matt Bailey King Air