Home
Up

Alexis Park Inn & Suites
  1165 S. Riverside Drive
   Iowa City, Iowa  52246
Toll Free: 888-9ALEXIS

(888-925-3947)

Local:  319 337-8665
Fax:    319 351-4102
Email:

Proud Members of:


Iowa Bed & Breakfast Guild


Iowa City Chamber of Commerce


Iowa City Convention & Visitor's Bureau


 

Flight Simulator

The "Kiwi"

It's probably safe to say that we're the only hotel in America with a full-sized flight simulator for the free use of our guests.  Conceived as a prototype for three flight simulators to be built as part of an aviation exhibit at The Iowa Children's Museum, construction on "The Kiwi" began in October 2006, and was completed in January 2007.
 
With a 104" projection screen and a second 20" flat panel devoted to displaying the aircraft instruments, our "Kiwi" (or "flightless bird", named by its co-creator, Keith Roof) is the most realistic rendition of flight available for under $10K.   With it we can set you up at your home airport, in any aircraft of your choosing, in any weather conditions. 
 
Practice an instrument approach to minimums, or fly aerobatics over the Grand Canyon -- either scenario is easily arranged -- free of charge!  Only at the Alexis Park Inn & Suites.
 
Kiwi Specifications:
 
  • Fuselage designed and crafted by Keith Roof
  • Electrically-adjustable seat from a 2000 Mustang convertible 
  • Flight controls (yoke and rudder pedals) by CH Products
  • Optoma High-Definition DLP projector with a 104" screen
  • Samsung 20" flat screen monitor
  • 5-speaker surround-sound system
  • Computer constructed by NeoComputers
  • Computer specs:
  • Intel Duo-Core 2.4 GHZ
  • 2 GB DDR2 RAM
  • Nvidia EN7900 GTX video card
  • New 10/2007  Upgraded to Nvidia GeForce 8800 GTS video card
  • Soundblaster Audigy sound card

 

Here are some pix of the Kiwi in action:

Keith Roof crafting the fuselage

Keith worked without plans...

The partially completed fuselage

Mary flying the first version of the Kiwi, sans instrument panel

Jay takes 'er for a spin

Another shot of Mary flying....

The controls are ergonomically mounted...

A side view...

The 104" screen...

A good view of the "world"

Here's Version 2.0, with the new instrument panel

No more pie-sized instruments projected on the wall!

With the lights turned low, it's as real as it gets!

New 1/2007: Screen shot of the Iowa City Airport Terminal, a gift from Jim & Al with www.bozair.com

Another view of the Iowa City Airport terminal...

A fantastic shot of the Boeing-United Hangar, slated for demolition in 2007...