From 2014 (YouTube Version) -- Disclaimer: No Matter What He Tells You, Tom Patton Is Not A Certified Firefighting Pilot

While at EAA AirVenture 2014, ANN News Editor, Tom Patton checked out what was going on at the Redbird Flight Simulation display. Tom talked with Josh Harnagel, the Director of Online Marketing for Redbird Flight Simulations. Redbird is becoming known as the innovator in aviation simulation and in the way simulation is used in flight training.

However, as important as flight simulation can be, it’s also a lot of fun. Harnagel said they were approached by the Walt Disney Company to produce a simulation program to be used in promoting their new movie, Planes: Fire & Rescue. To accomplish this, Redbird took one of their serious simulators, the MX2, and programmed it to represent the star of the movie, Dusty Crophopper.

Harnagel said they also programmed scenarios that represented movie scenes that were designed to be flown by kids and anyone whose inner child was still alive and kicking. As luck would have it, Patton’s inner child was calling out to give it a try and Tom demonstrates his flying skills as a firefighting pilot for all of us to see.

Harnagel provides many other details about the project and about the work that Redbird Flight Simulations did with the Disney Company. This is a fun video to watch and it’s a good lesson in just how far flight simulation can reach into other industries.

Disclaimer: no matter what he tells you, Tom Patton is not a certified firefighting pilot.

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