USS Iowa BB-61 News

HUP2 VR:

When we got the real HUP2 I was excited that our young guests would be able to sit in the cockpit and play with the controls. Then Mike Getscher our COO told me the skin of the HUP2 was as thin as a beer can and the controls would not last a good weekend, all based on input from the "American Helicopter Museum". Somewhat disappointed I thought well if they can't sit in a real HUP2 then why not let them fly one in the virtual reality world. Well a year later after partnering with a local VR developer the Battleship Iowa has it's first VR game.
Below are links to videos of what the player sees inside the VR goggles. The game consists of 2 missions one a training, to learn the controls and a SAR game to retrieve a downed pilot. let me know what you think. Craig


https://youtu.be/GSCRXDPWQFk4
https://youtu.be/-ZBsW3ql0XI
 
Yep, if you have ever watched young kids that HUP and the controls wouldn't last a month. They once thought about rigging up something to let people sit in the TBM early on and I put that to rest. Guests can sit in the F-8 and F-5 cockpits on special days as these are used to tour around the Bay Area. There have been a few times where the cockpit of the F-14 was open for some to sit in. That is very rare and I can tell you not an easy fit for those who are not slim. Outside of that no helos or other planes are open to anybody and must always be roped off.
 
I may have mentioned this in another forum/post, but that's similar in reckoning to why the battleship NORTH CAROLINA has engine/fire rooms encased in fencing along the tour route - to keep hands off of and removing items of interest (wheels, dials, plates, etc) - early on that was std. practice. The public, unfortunately, is nothing but THIEVES!!! if they can get away with it.

At least in this instance, the VR games will hopefully fulfill the kids desire to sit in the chopper - what a cool idea!!!
 
bbvet said:
I may have mentioned this in another forum/post, but that's similar in reckoning to why the battleship NORTH CAROLINA has engine/fire rooms encased in fencing along the tour route - to keep hands off of and removing items of interest (wheels, dials, plates, etc) - early on that was std. practice. The public, unfortunately, is nothing but THIEVES!!! if they can get away with it.

At least in this instance, the VR games will hopefully fulfill the kids desire to sit in the chopper - what a cool idea!!!
Click to expand...

You should have seen how much security the Hornet had, and how they were on their toes, the entire time Amway of China's event on board the ship and the well known propensity for souvenirs.
 
tbm3fan said:
You should have seen how much security the Hornet had, and how they were on their toes, the entire time Amway of China's event on board the ship and the well known propensity for souvenirs.
Click to expand...

That is EXACTLY the warnings I was giving future Battleship "owners" when I started inspecting them way back in 1997 for museum/memorial/educational centers.

O'myGosh! That was 20 years ago.
 
There has been a lot of talk in the museum ship world and on this forum about hull preservation.
Here is what the Iowa is doing about it.

1A.JPG
We came up with a coffer dam system to help maintain the most vulnerable part of the hull the waterline/splash line.
Because of the weight of the dam it was decided to add 55 gallon drums for buoyancy. It was thought that it would reduce the stress on the welds holding the pad eyes to the ship.

2A.jpg
On the left is the pad eye welded to the hull. A rubber gasket is used between the dam and the hull.
The dam also has a sump and pump to keep the crew dry.
You can really see how much more damage is done above the water line.

5A.jpg
As you can see some of the holes are deep!

4.jpg
On the left is the first section to be needle gunned and painted.
I have a feeling that this dam will continually circle the ship for many years to come.
 
Cruiser,

Very interesting indeed. Especially in light of the extensive cofferdam system that the NORTH CAROLINA group has employed to remedy the same situation along the waterline. Their application, however, involved welding new plate to the existing torpedo bulge at waterline. I think some pix are available somewhere online. You are probably correct in that your portable c.d. unit will be there indefinitely, much like the on-going paint crew at the Golden Gate Bridge.

Thanks for posting.
 
Those pits look familiar. I can even find them along certain sections of decking of the Island particularly on the 1/4" thick sections at O11. Knock big bubble of rust out and you get a big pit exactly like those.
 
This is the latest addition to the Battleship Iowa.
This is an old snow machine/motorcycle trailer that I donated (Getting to old to ride).
last February I started building the game stations I used mild steel and aluminum sheets with copper tubing spacers all cut on a CNC plasma cutting table.
We debut the trailer at last months "LA Fleet Week". We only ran the trailer for 13 hours and only had 3 laptops working but pulled in $1,150. I think with better planning we could double that.
The trailer will be deployed at air/car shows, festivals, concerts or any outdoor events. We plan to rent it out to corporate events, weddings and other gatherings.

IMG_3313.jpg

VRT 1.jpg

VR Game Station.jpg

small 2.jpg

small 1.jpg
 
I am proud to announce the Navy has awarded the Battleship Iowa and the Pacific Battleship Center as the location of brand new “Museum of the Surface Navy”. Below is a link to a video narrated by actor Joe Mantegna and featuring our new Chairman of the Board retired RADM Mike Shatynski and a PDF of the concept.
Originally the new museum was awarded to the Nauticus people out of Norfolk current stewards of USS Wisconsin. When that deal fell through the Navy ask us and we said yes.
Phase 1 of the museum will be aboard the Iowa with phase 2 being a shore side building. Of course all museum projects need to raise the money and that can be a challenge but I feel the national nature and status of the museum will help us raise money in every state.
Please consider supporting it.


https://youtu.be/skHvzCPXdMI
 

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