Aviation Challenge

Aviation Challenge
Location	Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.
Coordinates	34°42′38″N 86°39′30″W
Management	U.S. Space & Rocket Center
Website	http://www.aviationchallenge.com/

Aviation Challenge is a camp located in Huntsville, Alabama that is an alternative to Space Camp. Aviation challenge is more closely related to fighter aircraft than it is to space. The camp is a military based one that teaches many basic flying skills with in-depth simulators.

Programs

There are three different age groups at Aviation Challenge depending on age. Each program is of increasing difficulty compared to the one before. There are three-day and six-day programs for the Mach I participants, six-day for the Mach II participants, and six- and twelve-day programs for Mach III.

Mach I

Mach I is the AC program for children from 9 to 11. Campers learn basic flying skills, such as taking off and landing, dog-fighting, and ground munitions delivery. Campers also participate in survival training on both land and water.

Mach II

Mach II is designed for teens from the ages of 12-14. In Mach II the basic flying skills from Mach I are expanded upon, culminating at the end of the week in a "TopGun" competition, to determine the week's best pilot. While flying campers also learn land and water survival skills and culminate the week in a NAVY SEAL Search and Rescue (SAR) mission during the day, and an escape and evasion activity that night.

There is also an eight day version of Mach II.

Mach III

Mach III is the final stage of AC, designed for teens aged 15–18. Flying in Mach III becomes even more difficult, using full sized simulators, communications, the pairing of a pilot and RIO (Radar Intercept Officer) to work together, and daily missions that are scored. Mach III campers once again learn land and water survival, using equipment such as the "helo-dunker" and a zip line to simulate a parachute landing. Culminating the week is an extensive Navy SEAL Ops mission and very challenging escape and evasion activity.

In 2005, Mach III added a 12 day version for their die hard trainees.

Activities

The Mach I trainees use the simplest and easiest to control simulators. They also have a less challenging SEAL OPS mission and a simple Escape & Evasion. They also have the shortest stays on average of all the Aviation Challenge visitors. The Mach II trainees use more advanced simulators that are very similar to those of the Mach I sims. The SEAL OPS mission is more challenging with an even more difficult Escape & Evasion. The Mach II trainees also have more difficult and complex missions and longer stays on average. The Mach III program is the most difficult program of the three. There are more complex simulators that include pull down glass canopies when flying, as well as the traditional pilot and RIO/WSO two person cockpit seating. Mach III also features scored missions with Theater Ops military style briefings where trainees are meticulously inspected before being allowed to enter briefing rooms. They also have a much more intense SEAL OP. The Mach III programs are also the longest with the full days that are spent there spanning over a week. There are many other activities that are done in the camp such as rafting, g force simulators, wilderness survival skills, and flight equipment lectures.

Sources

• Space Camp website
• Another Space Camp website