1 00:00:04,940 --> 00:00:06,450 - [Announcer] The 80th Flying Training Wing 2 00:00:06,450 --> 00:00:08,950 is set to take the Euro NATO Joint Jet Pilot 3 00:00:08,950 --> 00:00:11,250 Training Program to new heights as it moves 4 00:00:11,250 --> 00:00:13,950 toward incorporating virtual and augmented reality 5 00:00:13,950 --> 00:00:16,870 technology into its training curriculum. 6 00:00:16,870 --> 00:00:18,960 After months of research and working with 7 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:21,110 industry partners in putting the right pieces 8 00:00:21,110 --> 00:00:23,210 together that made sense for their program, 9 00:00:23,210 --> 00:00:26,210 the 80ths two innovation labs are taking pilots 10 00:00:26,210 --> 00:00:29,303 virtually anywhere while keeping their feet on the ground. 11 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:33,010 - If you just think, now taking the mixed reality 12 00:00:33,010 --> 00:00:36,510 capability and putting it in a traditional cockpit, 13 00:00:36,510 --> 00:00:38,730 with all the lights and the switches that you're 14 00:00:38,730 --> 00:00:41,663 gonna expect to find in a real jet, I think 15 00:00:41,663 --> 00:00:43,540 when you marry those two things together, 16 00:00:43,540 --> 00:00:46,880 I think you get really close to probably 17 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:49,830 the best solution of a traditional simulator 18 00:00:49,830 --> 00:00:52,120 and a, and a virtual. 19 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:54,570 The traditional sims do a great job doing emergency 20 00:00:54,570 --> 00:00:57,740 procedures and instrument procedures, I think. 21 00:00:57,740 --> 00:01:01,423 And this is not intended to replace that. 22 00:01:02,710 --> 00:01:04,960 Where this kind of surpasses and kind of 23 00:01:04,960 --> 00:01:07,033 compliments that is individuals. 24 00:01:07,960 --> 00:01:09,820 - [Announcer] To Briones, the combination of 25 00:01:09,820 --> 00:01:11,610 virtual and mixed realities and other 26 00:01:11,610 --> 00:01:13,640 traditional training tools is the future 27 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:15,270 of training in the Air Force. 28 00:01:15,270 --> 00:01:18,130 He says it's creating new methods for airmen, 29 00:01:18,130 --> 00:01:20,430 whether it's pilot training or aircraft maintenance 30 00:01:20,430 --> 00:01:24,430 training, to learn and hone their craft moving forward. 31 00:01:24,430 --> 00:01:26,860 The cloud based system makes learning mobile, 32 00:01:26,860 --> 00:01:30,650 he says, an on demand, on command type of platform 33 00:01:30,650 --> 00:01:32,800 that enables student pilots to practice 34 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:35,233 wherever they are and whenever they want to. 35 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:38,550 Lieutenant Colonel Jason Turner, The Wing's 36 00:01:38,550 --> 00:01:41,680 Director of Strategic Initiatives, says the technology 37 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:43,790 speeds the learning of traditional content 38 00:01:43,790 --> 00:01:46,500 in a progressive format that builds a foundation of 39 00:01:46,500 --> 00:01:50,120 knowledge in a realistic and safe flying environment. 40 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:52,530 That fact was seen when three Reserve Officer 41 00:01:52,530 --> 00:01:54,680 Training Corps Cadets form the Massachusetts 42 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:57,070 Institute of Technology, who were visiting 43 00:01:57,070 --> 00:01:59,470 The Wing as part of their training curriculum, 44 00:01:59,470 --> 00:02:02,340 tried out the technology for the first time. 45 00:02:02,340 --> 00:02:05,550 The Cadets, with limited exposure to the Innovation Lab, 46 00:02:05,550 --> 00:02:07,500 were able to take to the virtual skies and 47 00:02:07,500 --> 00:02:09,440 pick up on some of the fundamentals taught 48 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:12,113 during the 55-week flying training program. 49 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:14,630 - These gentlemen have only spent 50 00:02:14,630 --> 00:02:17,390 probably about 30 minutes total in mixed reality 51 00:02:17,390 --> 00:02:19,630 over the last day and a half. 52 00:02:19,630 --> 00:02:21,930 But judging from their performance, I'm already 53 00:02:21,930 --> 00:02:24,940 seeing three out of four of them flying in close formation, 54 00:02:24,940 --> 00:02:26,700 which is usually a skill that students 55 00:02:26,700 --> 00:02:28,650 will develop over the course of their 56 00:02:28,650 --> 00:02:31,643 55-week time in the N-jet program. 57 00:02:32,500 --> 00:02:34,250 They're still learning, they're still developing it 58 00:02:34,250 --> 00:02:35,670 but this also gives them a great place 59 00:02:35,670 --> 00:02:39,410 to practice where mistakes don't cost them their safety. 60 00:02:39,410 --> 00:02:41,190 - [Announcer] The complementary pieces will, 61 00:02:41,190 --> 00:02:43,760 when put together, enhance the learning experience 62 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:45,863 of students and instructors alike. 63 00:02:46,730 --> 00:02:49,773 Reporting for Sheppard Air Force Base, I'm John Engle.