FighterTown is located at 8 Hammond, Suite 100 in Irvine, California. For more information, call (714)- 855-8802.
FighterTown officially opened in August, 1992. At FighterTown, you climb into and fly state-of-the-art military flight simulators that feature realistic aerodynamic models, functional glass cockpits and avionic panels, and stick and throttle controls. Multiple aircraft are linked in the same virtual world which each pilot sees from their own perspective projected on eleven foot by ten foot screens. Pilots can operate from land bases or take off and land from aircraft carriers to fly day or night in variable weather conditions, guided by a (human) air traffic controller who helps teach them to fly and guides them through their preplanned mission. Missions include military operations and general flight training experiences as well as combat (once a pilot has learned to fly well enough) against live or synthetic opponents. Cost for a one hour experience ranges from $27.95 per hour to fly the F-104 to $49.95 for the F-111. In addition to one time and ad hoc flights, FighterTown offers year-long squadron memberships which involve monthly team flying experiences with the same group of people every month.
During early fall 1992 when the center first opened, ad hoc FighterTown participants were given exit poll questionnaires. A total of 85 completed questionnaires were collected. It is impossible to calculate a completion rate, because during busy times (of which there were many), surveys were frequently not distributed. In general, when they were distributed, FighterTown employees report a high return level.
Ninety-seven percent of the FighterTown fliers who filled out surveys were male. Age ranged from 14 to 64 with an average age of 34. Twenty percent had some military experience. Nearly half had flown a (real) plane at some time. No respondent had flown a FighterTown simulator more than 5 times, and the majority (81%) had just completed their first flight. All but one respondent indicated that they intended to return to FighterTown to fly again.
Based on 85 responses
It was the first time playing for 81%. The rest of the respondents had played between 2 and 5 times, except for one who had played 10 times.
(Most of these results are RAW frequencies, not percentages!)
What is your age?
Mean 32.190 Valid cases 84
What is your sex?
(Reminder: these results are RAW frequencies, not percentages!)
3 FEMALE
77 MALE
Valid cases 80
Do you have children?
35 YES
49 NO
Valid cases 84
Are you married?
45 MARRIED
12 IN RELATIONSHIP
26 UNINVOLVED
Valid cases 83
How much education have you completed?
39 COLLEGE
27 SOME COLLEGE
5 HIGH SCHOOL
6 SOME HS
4 LESS
Valid cases 81
What is your annual income?
5 < $5,000
2 $5,000-$14,999
5 $15,000-$29,999
20 $30,000-$59,999
22 $60,000-$99,999
13 > $100,000
Mean 4.358 Valid cases 67
Have you ever flown a plane?
40 YES
45 NO
Valid cases 85
Do you have military experience?
66 NO
17 YES
Valid cases 83
Was your FightTown visit a gift or did you buy it?
24 GIFT
57 BOUGHT
Valid cases 81
How did you hear about FighterTown?
29 FRIEND
13 AD
32 ARTICLE
8 OTHER
Valid cases 82
Do you want to come back to FighterTown?
83 YES
2 NO
Valid cases 85
How much did you enjoy your FighterTown experience?
1=VERY MUCH 7=NOT AT ALL
Mean 1.663 Valid cases 83
How difficult is it to fly well?
1=VERY MUCH 7=NOT AT ALL
Mean 3.831 Valid cases 77
How real does the FighterTown simulator feel?
1=VERY MUCH 7=NOT AT ALL
Mean 2.753 Valid cases 85
How important is it to you that FighterTown is based on real
planes?
1=VERY MUCH 7=NOT AT ALL
Mean 1.631 Valid cases 84
How much is FighterTown like a video and arcade game?
1=VERY MUCH 7=NOT AT ALL
Mean 5.145 Valid cases 83
Did you feel good about how you were treated by the staff?
1=VERY MUCH 7=NOT AT ALL
Mean 1.386 Valid cases 83
How much do you feel motivated to improve and do well flying?
1=VERY MUCH 7=NOT AT ALL
Mean 2.072 Valid cases 83
10=VERY IMPORTANT 0=NOT AT ALL IMPORTANT
because it's fun Mean 9.420 Valid cases 81
because it's challenging Mean 8.363 Valid cases 80
because it feels good Mean 8.013 Valid cases 76
because it's exhilarating Mean 7.800 Valid cases 80
to learn new skills Mean 7.808 Valid cases 78
to experience what it's like to be a pilot Mean 7.744 Valid cases 78
because I have always wanted to fly Mean 7.494 Valid cases 79
for a sense of accomplishment Mean 7.200 Valid cases 80
to experience virtual reality Mean 6.582 Valid cases 79
to use my imagination Mean 6.203 Valid cases 79
to engage enemy targets Mean 5.868 Valid cases 76
to compete with others Mean 5.545 Valid cases 77
to try moves I wouldn't try in a real plane Mean 5.459 Valid cases 74
because it's addictive Mean 5.411 Valid cases 73
for the comraderie/friendship Mean 5.273 Valid cases 77
to get away from the real world Mean 5.038 Valid cases 78
to cooperate with others Mean 4.948 Valid cases 77
because it's different every time Mean 4.857 Valid cases 70
to relieve stress Mean 4.101 Valid cases 79
as an outlet for aggression Mean 3.975 Valid cases 79
to prepare for a pilot's license Mean 2.01 Valid cases 79
10=ENHANCE VERY MUCH 0=NOT AT ALL
Add motion to the cockpit Mean 9.145 Valid cases 83
3-D Images Mean 8.220 Valid cases 82
Less complex cockpits Mean 1.937 Valid cases 79
Have more buttons and indicators work Mean 5.790 Valid cases 81
Make the world look more realistic Mean 7.704 Valid cases 81
Make it more of a science fiction fantasy world Mean 2.346 Valid cases 81
Fly through the real world, not a made up world Mean 7.123 Valid cases 81
Have the visual display on all sides, not just in front Mean 8.037 Valid cases 82
More realistic response when you blow something up Mean 7.134 Valid cases 67
Change the laws of physics for variety Mean 2.532 Valid cases 79
Add a bar or restaurant Mean 4.127 Valid cases 79