By Nancy Johanson
nancy@newsroom.byu.edu
BYU's Air Force ROTC has a new $32,000 secret weapon.
A simulated cockpit of an F-16 jet aircraft was donated six months ago by Hill Air Force Base to help BYU recruit new cadets.
The cockpit was formerly in use at Hill as a part task trainer used to simulate real-life fighter pilot in-flight scenarios.
'This device helps us recruit people who are thinking about becoming a pilot. It allows kids who think they have a future flying decide if they want to pursue it,' said Captain Cody Barker, an assistant professor of Aerospace Studies at BYU.
When the simulator is prepared for pseudo-flight it sits facing a large screen upon which the pilot's view is projected.
Once the pilot is in tact the simulator is ready to fly.
'This is tower control, you are clear for take off,' said a computerized woman's voice over the speaker.
The pilot begins to roll over the runway, speed picks up and the pilot is now virtually in mid-air flying over desert sand or snowy peaks, depending on the mission.
Once in the air it's do or die time. Either the pilot shoots down the enemy or is shot himself.
'A simulated flight only lasts a few minutes, or until you die which ever comes first,' said Josh Egan, a former BYU Air Force ROTC Cadet who will enter pilot training next week.
Egan said that the simulator is a good way to get a feel for flying and 'if nothing else it's a lot of fun.'
Two BYU students decided to put their fighter pilot skills to the test by trying out the simulator.
Cody Hughes, 21, a junior from Mission Viejo, Calif., majoring in global trade found that the simulator was more life-like than a video game, but was a bit disappointed that the simulator didn't physically move.
Katie Craig, 20, a junior from Phoenix majoring in technology teaching education thought the simulator was much harder than it looked.
'I thought it would be easy, but once you're in it you're easily disoriented. It was pretty cool because you feel like you're flying and you feel really powerful. I liked launching the missiles,' Craig said.
Both students were shot down and unable to complete their missions.
Most people who try out the simulator don't successfully land.
'It's much harder than it looks, but our hope is that in the real world our pilots will have an equal number of landings to their take-offs,' said Jonathan Behunin, a socio-professor of Aerospace studies at BYU.