Fly with the Blue Angels
The National Naval Aviation Museum challenged us to create an immersive flight-simulator attraction that would let visitors experience what it feels like to fly as a Blue Angels pilot.
The world-famous Blue Angels are based at Naval Air Station Pensacola and can be seen practicing over the National Naval Aviation Museum on select days throughout the year. Thousands of visitors come to watch them soar above Pensacola before spending the day exploring the Museum.
We developed the entire experience from the ground up, including a custom flight simulation presented on an immersive 180-degree panoramic screen.
An F/A-18 Super Hornet cockpit replica is mounted on a three-degree-of-freedom motion platform. Every movement of the platform is precisely synchronized with the flight imagery, creating a convincing sensation of acceleration, banking, climbing and descending.
Inside the cockpit, a realistic instrument panel displays live flight information throughout the mission.
Guests take the seat of Blue Angel No. 4—the slot position in the team’s famous diamond formation. Their mission begins with takeoff from Sherman Field and continues as they retract the landing gear, join the formation and attempt to maintain their position through a series of precision maneuvers.
Throughout the flight, an operator communicates with the pilot through the helmet headset, providing instructions and guidance. Guests fly in formation above Pensacola—the home of the Blue Angels—before lowering the landing gear and returning to Sherman Field for landing.
The most realistic Blue Angels experience you can fly.
