Traversing the Trails: Exploration Place 2019

Exploration Place is a Wichita, Kansas landmark located along the river. The building is an architectural statement and the exhibits are always interesting.

Prior to my retirement I was on an aviation advisory team put together to provide guidance to the exhibit designers for a new room at Exploration Place called "Design, Build, Fly" which is to showcase the development of various aircraft here in Wichita, also known as the Air Capital.

All of the aviation companies in Wichita participated and it was nice to see the final result of their collaboration with Exploration Place.

Exploration Place is near the confluence of the two rivers which flow though Wichita

This machine is called a Gravitram and consists of various metal balls falling in a controlled way through various wire track. Most interesting to watch

This is the final result for the room of the museum telling the development of aircraft in Wichita

This exhibit provided a propeller shaft and hub that can be changed to vary the type and number of propeller blades. A series of lights illuminate to tell you how efficient your design choices are.

A wind tunnel allows you to change the type of airfoil and angle relative to the wind to see the results.

An entire wall is covered with small metal disks that are free to move. the slightest breath of air will cause them to change pattern

Movies of aircraft factories are shown in cross sections of fuselages

A business jet fuselage made of composite is shown during assembly to illustrate how the various aircraft systems are packaged throughout the aircraft.

Various video clips are projected on the inside of the airframe providing answers to common questions

Without a doubt, the biggest attraction for children in the fuselage is the operation of a vacuum toilet. Silk scarves are used to show the flow throughout the system and kids had this in constant use.

This circular display pivots n the center and is used to show how important weight and balance is to an aircraft. You add components for your aircraft design making sure to keep everything in ballance. If you don't it all collapses to one side.

This was a similar approach to weight and balance

This wind tunnel allows an aircraft to fly in all directions using conventional flight controls

Paint on aircraft adds a surprising amount of weight. This exhibit allows you to "paint' an aircraft panel and then rates your application skills for thickness and even coverage.

Julie did well.

Some of the many small parts that make up an aircraft

Vertical air tunnel

Exhibit designed to show how easy it is to loose sense of direction and balance in an aircraft

Various escape hatches are shown to allow you to see just how heavy and hard to remove a real one is. Gives a whole new meaning to sitting by an emergency hatch in an aircraft.

This shows all of the aircraft flying in the USA in real time

I was surprised to see these decorative gold plated lights on display in the business jet interior. These were my design and were first used in Hawker 800 aircraft and later the Beechjet. Too bad they are not illuminated as the light pattern is very nice. They provides a soft glow when flying at night and allow you to see to move around the cabin without disturbing those who are sleeping.