Display Includes Avenger TBM Stabilizers, 737 Beverage Carts

"It's as Real as it Gets" is Microsoft's tagline for its upcoming Flight Simulator X... and AirVenture guests have the opportunity to take a look at the newest version of 'flight sim' (due on the shelves this October, but available for fun and games this week) it's not only the experience of the product that will draw them to Hangar B, but the shiny, unique exhibit booth itself.

Microsoft has MotoArt to thank for that... for even though the company had never built an exhibitor's booth, with an 18 hours deadline, MotoArt created a stunning design that blew everybody's socks off. Indeed, it was as real as it gets.

MotoArt, created by artist Donovan Fell III and sales and marketing guru Dave Hall in late 2001, is recognized internationally for its distinctive work with used aviation aircraft, equipment and parts to create stunning sculpture and furnishings, and now - exhibitors' booths.

When they began their venture (keeping their day jobs at an architectural sign company, which they soon left to focus full-time on their rapidly growing small company), a little media attention became a springboard to where they now have clients worldwide, including the North Pole, Brazil, and Russia and, of course, Hollywood.

Their most recent gig was with the production company that produces American Idol (raise your hand if you haven't heard of that show), where they designed the company's entire studio and corporate office. They also have an international "cult" following with the distribution of eight one-hour videos of their 2004 Discovery Channel show.

The collaboration between Microsoft Simulations and MotoArt, which unbelievably just began in June, only strengthened as the weeks went by.

With Motoart, said Microsoft's Brett Schnepf, community and partner development manager Microsoft Simulations, the Microsoft "flight team" has maintained consistency with the company' thought process in regard to its Flight Sim X.

With such a cutting-edge product as Flight Sim X, Microsoft was looking beyond the cookie-cutter exhibitor's booth, something that would complement the product's tagline, "It's as Real as it Gets." And how much more real can you get with a booth whose components come from real aircraft parts?

Using a 20x20 footprint, MotoArt developed the design for a booth that features Avenger TBM horizontal stabilizers as the backbone of four workstations, a 12-foot tower, two rolling video monitors, and Boeing 737s galley carts that house the computer systems and are accessible both front and back.

It was a three-week sprint to the finish with the MotoArt staff of about a dozen working seven days a week; on July 18, the components were packed up and efficiently shipped by two trucks by Sho-Air (www.show-air.com) from Torrance to Oshkosh, for a morning arrival on July 21.

The eight workstations feature two TBM powder-coated horizontal stabilizers, while the tower is built from solid aluminum frame.

Not consumer-grade, nor industrial-grade, this aerospace-grade booth, noted Schnepf, will literally travel around the world for years to come. With the entire display on wheels and all self-contained, it is in "ready to go" mode. Indeed, it's a booth and a product that will reap much attention wherever in the world it lands.

But that's not the end for MotoArt. With interest from AOPA, Cessna and others, and a contract to do artwork for Boeing for the NBAA conference, the future is amazingly bright and MotoArt will be busy in their 12,000 square foot hangar at Torrence Airport for some time to come. (MotoArt doesn't limit itself to aviation; mechanical and industrial parts and equipment also play an essential role in its products)

"We've become a 'contagious disease' in the aviation community," laughed Dave.

FMI: www.microsoft.com, www.motoart.com