Exploring aviation through virtual reality

Look up, down and all around. Those are the instructions for those taking part in the Port of Skagit’s new virtual reality flight experience.Wearing virtual reality goggles, participants were able to experience a 360-degree view of the Skagit Valley from the passenger’s seat of an airplane.The port recently launched the program to connect the community with aviation and Skagit Regional Airport, Linda Tyler, community outreach manager for the Port of Skagit, said in an email.The technology was shared Friday with children and families at the Burlington-Edison Tech Fair.“The reason we are focusing this program on kids is that there is such an emphasis on STEM education today, and aviation fits so perfectly within that,” Tyler said.The port had considered a flight simulator years ago, but it was too expensive, she said. The recent advancement in virtual reality provided a new opportunity.The port purchased three pairs of Oculus virtual reality goggles for $250 each and a 360-degree camera for $350, Tyler said. Pilot Mike Dyberg was asked to mount the camera in his plane during a short flight.The footage captured by Dyberg was downloaded to the googles to create the one minute, 45 second virtual reality video. The person wearing the goggles sees it all from the passenger’s point of view.