Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre to deliver revamped virtual reality experience

The Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre is working with the Human Interface Technologies (“HIT” Team) of the University of Birmingham to create an interactive, aerospace visitors centre and multi-functional education facility for schoolchildren and other visitors.

The partnership will leverage Virtual Reality (VR) technologies to enhance the education and inspiration of visitors to the site, as the museum relocates and their lease on Cornwall Airport Newquay comes to an end.

Led by Plymouth-born Professor Bob Stone, the HIT Team is a regular visitor to Cornwall and Devon, undertaking projects to capture the rich heritage offered by the two counties using a range of 3D image and scene capture equipment, together with drones and underwater submersibles. 

The HIT Team also has an extensive track record in defence and aerospace, working with the likes of BAE Systems, the RAF and the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine in projects as wide-reaching as future cockpit design, avionics training and the training of defence paramedics who are flown into the battlefield to save lives.

Prof Stone said, “We were really impressed with the welcome and support we received from the team at Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre when we visited their fantastic location in late 2022. Our aim was to support their endeavours to prepare for their new home by using the latest VR, 3D scanning and 360 photography technologies”.

In just two days, the Team was able to 3D scan the interiors of the VC10, BAC 1-11 and the Varsity, and to capture 360 cockpit images of the Tornado F3, Hunter, Harrier GR4, Canberra, Sea Hawk and the very rare Boulton Paul Balliol T2.

Prof Stone continued, “Viewed on-screen or using the latest “stand-alone” VR headsets, we can use these images for future STEM activities, or help visitors who may be unable to climb stairs into the aircraft or cope with cramped cockpit spaces, to experience these fantastic historical exhibits”.

Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre Director, Richard Spencer-Breeze said, “We are tremendously excited to be working with the Human Interface Technologies Team to develop ways in which we can share our wonderful exhibits with a wider audience. As many of our cockpits are challenging from an accessibility point of view, we aim to develop a fully immersive experience in partnership with the HIT Team whilst utilising cutting-edge 3D and VR technology. If we can secure our new site, our objective is to create an exciting - purpose built suite to provide virtual aircraft tours to our visitors.”