Block 8 – VIA Air – and back

Posted on 19 August 201419 May 2016 by Ivar van Bekkum

Flight instructor Charles Hysek steps into the Piper with Esther to follow him to check the sound. Pilot Mason Love is waiting to start his lesson. — *Chief flight instructor of VIA Air flight school, Charles Hysek, steps into the Piper with Esther following to check the sound. Pilot Mason Love is waiting to start his lesson.*

A flight with a view limiting device

Mason has already got his license to fly, but he is training to fly using the instrument panel only. To train to do this, he wears a hood, a view limiting device with which he can’t see out the windows. He can only see his instruments. His reality is limited to the instruments representing this reality. Nevertheless he is actually out there in the air.

Pilot Mason Love demonstrates his equipment. A 'hood', a view limiting device, mandatory if you want to get your license for flying only on your instrument panels. The hood is constructed in a way that the pilot cannot ook out side, he can only see his instrument panel. — *Pilot Mason Love demonstrates his equipment. A ‘hood,’ a view limiting device, is mandatory if you want to get your license for flying only on your instrument panels.*

In 250 Miles we will be even more blinded looking at the track of this plane synchronized with its audio in Google Earth. The thing is, we won’t be able to see actual images, we will only be provided with audio, GPS data and satellite imagery. What will this do with our sense of space? Will it be exciting? Will it feel real?

Esther in the plain's cockpit checking sound. — *Esther in the plane’s cockpit checking sound.*

GPS visualisation of the track in 3D

And thanks so much Charles and Mason, for being patient while we were eating your flying time by installing our equipment.

-Ivar