The entrance at Europaallee is somewhat inconspicuous. The Fly and Race Simulations GmbH is part of the large SBB office complex. Only when you're inside you're sure you've landed in the right place. There is a small welcome screen. Unfortunately, they are not allowed to write anything on the outside, said Flavio Strässle, our host, apologetically during our visit. He greeted us warmly and led us to the three simulators.
"Jeez! It's small!" The room in which the three simulators are located strongly reminded me of a storage room. But the first impression is quickly overtaken by "Wow! That's awesome!". Because each of the three simulators is impressive: the cockpit of the wide-bodied Boeing 777 long-haul aircraft, the race simulator and the cockpit of the F/A-18 fighter aircraft.
After a quick look around, we went to the side foyer. There, in conversation with Flavio Strässle, we learned a lot about the simulators, about flying in general and about the Fly and Race team and their customers. In a multi-part series of reports, you can find out here at VR Room how extensive the experience with a focus on VR can be at Fly and Race.
Fly and Race for young and old
Fly and Race Simulations GmbH offers everything a pilot's and racer's heart desires for young and old. Kids who have the dream of becoming a pilot can gain their first flying experience. But even the 90-year-old who would have liked to be a pilot can almost fulfil his dream. Young people under 18 and seniors over 60 even enjoy a discount. But the fascination of flying and motor sports transcends all age groups.
With the simulator at the fair
So the Fly and Race team, which consists of four to five people and a few helpers, was recently at the Man's World. There they experienced live how every man, no matter what age, became a little boy, said Strässle with a grin. The F/A-18 simulator, a replica of the twin-engine, multi-role combat aircraft from McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing), which is used together with the HTC Vive, was disassembled into all its individual parts especially for the fair. The aim was to offer visitors a unique experience and, of course, to do some advertising.
With a boy's dream to become a designer
His heart was bleeding a little, said Flavio Strässle when he reported that they had to move his F/A-18 cockpit. You heard right: his cockpit. The young tinkerer already had big plans and dreams when he did his Matura thesis. So he had already started with the construction back then. When he slipped into the Fly and Race Team, he was given the go-ahead to bring the cockpit out of his basement into the light of day, or rather to finish it and get it ready for use. The most difficult thing was to make all the necessary contacts. It was only with their help that he was able to assemble the cockpit in such detail - with the exact dimensions of the original. He often reached the limit, especially because of the sudden time pressure. A lot of hours and an enormous amount of heart and soul went into this story. You can see that when he talks about his baby with shining eyes.
With the F/A-18 Simuator, Fly and Race has something unique in Europe. When asked where else in the world there was such a thing, Strässle replied with a laugh that he had of course not searched through all the countries, but that there was another cockpit in Australia. However, this does not work with VR.
The VR and the simulator together make the experience extremely real
The use of VR makes the whole thing particularly unique. The only thing that really comes close to the feeling of flying with VR is the real flight experience. They had already considered constructing a solution with several screens or beamer systems. However, this was not possible for reasons of space and cost. With VR, they have these two points under control on the one hand, and on the other, the all-round view is much more exciting for the users. Especially in a fighter jet, all-round vision is essential to have an overview in every situation.
Speaking of space: You will find out how the whole thing works for companies or trainees in the aviation sector in the next part the day after tomorrow.
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