You can become a bona fide Air Force pilot, ID badge and all. Your mission: Destroy a bridge and two oil refineries. The catch: You only get to job swap for 18 minutes, and the targets are computer simulated.
The U.S. Air Force Experience traveling tour has been in the Salt Lake area for most of the past week offering free flight-simulation experiences. Today is the final day of the visit; the display will be open from noon to 5 p.m. in the parking lot of the Factory Stores of America in Draper at 12101 S. Factory Outlet Drive.
The cross-country tour will continue through September. Its mission: to get the word out about the Air Force and its opportunities.
"The whole idea is really to give the Air Force a presence," said Tech. Sgt. Don Muehr. "It's also a chance for people to come out and have some fun."
Participants who brave the cold in the parking lot of the Factory Stores of America in Draper go five or six at a time into the F-16 simulation area. They get their photo taken for an Air Force Experience ID card, get a briefing on their mission and then spend some time with the simulators, which are equipped with diagnostic and video screens to recreate the experience of take-off and flying.
Though the simulators aren't actually used in Air Force pilot training, they are a useful and entertaining interactive visual display, said retired Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Jim Renshaw.
"It's the Air Force's way of connecting with the public," he said.
Opinions on the simulator were mixed, but most said they enjoyed themselves.
Skyler Pinales of Provo said the graphics and the sound were impressive.
"This is an F-16 — I fly Cessnas," said Joe Escudero, who was waiting in line.
John Somerville of Lehi said the flight simulator wasn't realistic but was better than a video game.
Also on display is the first F-16 aircraft ever delivered to the Air Force in 1975, Renshaw said. The plane was retired in 1985 and has since been in a museum and on tour.
Paul Cloward wanted to show his 8-year-old son Sam the plane to elicit a little bit of patriotism.
"My son is interested in the military; I hope he learns a little bit," Cloward said. "We want to teach our kids patriotism."
E-mail: lwhite@desnews.com