Now boarding: Pilot an airplane in new flight simulator at Cox Science Center

[Disney4me]

Here’s your ticket to soar above the clouds in the pilot’s seat: A new immersive exhibit at the Cox Science Center and Aquarium lets you take control of the cockpit and learn the art of flying.

“Flight Deck,” which was developed in-house by the center’s exhibits and design team, features two state-of-the-art airplane flight and two remote-control aircraft simulator stations with large wrap-around screens, taking up about 600 square feet in the West Palm Beach facility’s newly repurposed gallery space.

With planes taking off and landing at busy Palm Beach International Airport nearby, the exhibit just makes sense for the area, according to the center’s staff.

“We wanted to bring an exciting, hands-on aviation experience to our guests that would connect directly to our community,” said Esteban Parchuc, the center’s director of exhibits and design. “The strong aerospace industry in our region made aviation a natural fit. It’s a subject that’s thrilling, deeply connected to STEM and highly relevant to career opportunities right here in Palm Beach County.”

Top priority for the designers was the immersive aspect.

“We wanted visitors to truly feel like they were flying, which meant using 180-degree, wrap-around screens, realistic controls and a darkened, high-tech environment that focuses attention on the skies,” Parchuc said. “From mastering takeoffs and landings to the most popular stunt — flying under the Eiffel Tower — ‘Flight Deck’ captures the excitement of aviation while teaching essential STEM principles,” such as aerodynamics, the physics of lift and drag, navigation and the role of technology in aviation.

Take the controls and test your flying skills through "Flight Deck," the new permanent exhibit at the Cox Science Center and Aquarium in West Palm Beach. (Cox Science Center and Aquarium/Courtesy)

So how does it work?

“It’s very user-friendly,” Parchuc said. “Visitors receive a brief orientation from our staff, then take control using realistic flight yokes, throttles and rudder pedals. The wrap-around screens display highly detailed, real-world landscapes, so guests feel like they’re truly flying over cities, coastlines and landmarks.”

“Flight Deck” made its debut during Memorial Day weekend.

“It’s been one of our most popular new experiences. Guests of all ages have been lining up to try it, and many return to ‘fly’ again on the same visit,” Parchuc said. “Kids, teens and adults each seem to enjoy different aspects — some love mastering takeoffs and landings, others go straight for aerobatic stunts, and some simply enjoy sightseeing from the air.”

The permanent exhibit was funded by Cox Science Center board member Bill Meyer and his wife, Renay.

“Mankind has always been fascinated with flight, but few people ever get the opportunity to fly an aircraft and experience what it is like to be a pilot,” he said in a statement. “The ‘Flight Deck’ gives everyone the chance to experience flight like never before.”

The center’s rotating exhibit, “Mission Aerospace,” on display through Sept. 28, explores aviation history, aerospace milestones and NASA’s trail-blazing discoveries through hands-on activities such as plotting a course and reading a topo map.

Both exhibits are included in the center’s general admission.

Floor-to-ceiling aquariums, shown in this rendering, will showcase Florida's aquatic life when the Cox Science Center and Aquarium's expansion project opens. (Roto/Courtesy)

What about the center expansion?

Excuse the dust, but the Cox Science Center and Aquarium is forging ahead with its goal to double in size to more than 100,000 square feet. Construction began on the $140 million expansion project more than a year ago.

Phase 1 of the build is being completed now, with Phase 2 scheduled to begin later this fall. A grand opening is planned for 2027.

Once finished, visitors can enjoy:

• The expansion of the Kenneth C. Griffin Aquarium from 10,000 gallons to 130,000 gallons of floor-to-ceiling salt and freshwater tanks. See alligators, jellyfish and other Florida aquatic animals, and get up close with others at touch tanks.
• A 75,000-square-foot Science Pavilion visible from Interstate 95 to hold more exhibit space. The third level will feature the Observatory, housing one of the largest refractor telescopes in Florida.
• A 6,000-square-foot STEAM Studio with hands-on exhibits, program spaces and educational facilities.
• A Next Generation STEM Learning Center with immersive learning labs and classrooms.
• A Digital Arts Studio featuring a 34-foot-tall central screen and 160 linear feet of projections, and opportunities for training for future tech jobs.

A rendering shows the entrance to the STEAM Studio being built as part of the $140 million expansion project at the Cox Science Center and Museum in West Palm Beach. (Roto/Courtesy)

IF YOU GO

WHAT: “Flight Deck”

WHEN: Now boarding

WHERE: Cox Science Center and Aquarium, 4801 Dreher Trail N., West Palm Beach

COST: General admission is $26 adults, $24 for kids age 13-17 and seniors 60 and older, $22 for guests age 3-12, and free for children younger than 3

INFORMATION: coxsciencecenter.org

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