Something For Everyone-From Human Gyroscopes To Children's Obstacle Courses

By Maria Morrison

For over 15 years, Ford has been one of the main exhibitors at AirVenture. They offer the fly-in theater, evening concerts, and their large display tent, complete with video games, activities, and new models of cars.

For the past eight years, Ford has auctioned off a special edition Mustang to support youth aviation education programs, such as the Young Eagles. The 2015 car is modeled after the Apollo Spaceflight missions, to "salute the spirit of American ingenuity". The Mustang is a 2015 Fastback with manual six-speed transmission. The Project Apollo paint scheme, white with black and red accents, continues to the interior "cockpit" with aviation-inspired gauges. A video playing in the background states that "if it looks like a rocket, it has to act like one," which is accomplished with the Mustang's 627 horsepower 5.0 liter V8.

In line with their outerspace Mustang, Ford is offering anyone a turn in the Gyrotron, where people are strapped in to an aerotrim, a gyroscope large enough to fit a person inside. Often used on pilots and astronauts for equilibrium training, aerotrims are fun for people of all ages, as long as they don't get motion sickness.

Ford also offers a rock wall, trampoline bungee jumps, and a kid's car obstacle course, Promoted for children, but available for anyone between 40 and 200 pounds, the rock wall and bungee jumping require only a waiver signed by someone over 18. After someone has completed at least one of the activities, they can get a Ford Mustang baseball cap. As far as the bumper car-sized F150 trucks limitations go, if you can fit in one, you can drive it.

All the Ford activities and displays are supervised by paid volunteers. Those in blue shirts are mainly local, first-time helpers. Those in white shirts have worked with Ford at least once before, and may be coming from somewhere else in the country.

Online, people have an opportunity to win prizes by posting a photo on Twitter or Instagram under #FordAirVenture. Twice a day during AirVenture, Ford staff will pick their favorite picture. Whoever posted that photo wins a ride in a helicopter or the Ford Trimotor. Sunday afternoon, staff will choose their overall favorite post, whose photographer will be awarded a Hamilton Watch.

FMI: www.fordairventure.com