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.