All Weather, Inc. Partners with McClellan Aerospace Learning Center Foundation
By Ron Smith, Operations Manager
When McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, CA, closed, the Base Reuse Committee
supported the idea of retaining the already established aviation museum with
its fine collection of military aircraft. So a dedicated group of folks formed
the McClellan Aerospace Learning Center Foundation, a nonprofit organization
with a strong focus on providing educational experiences in aerospace and
aeronautics to educators and students. In addition to the 30 plus aircraft
the foundation is planning on developing, a $7M Aerospace Learning Center
will be constructed. This new facility will house 21 highly engaging displays
to give visitors the feeling and hands-on experience related to aviation.
From pilot to mechanic to air traffic controller, the visitor/student will
learn about the various careers associated with aviation.
One of the main Learning Center displays concerns weather. The Foundation
has chosen All Weather, Inc. to develop a hands-on, real data, weather station
for visitors to learn how weather information is collected, interpreted, and
disseminated. As a world leader in Automated
Weather Observing Systems (AWOS), AWI will begin working with the well-known
firm, Claro Creative Studios, to design the exhibit for maximum interaction
and educational benefits. Visitors and students will have hands-on experiences
with the weather sensors/equipment and learn how they perform their tasks.
In addition, they will be able to observe real time weather, interact with
various screen displays, and hear the radio broadcast that goes out to pilots
over the airways.
To complement the weather station, designers envision the visitor experiencing
rain, lightning strikes all around them, cold winds, and tornados developing
on the horizon. The possibilities are almost endless.
Until the Learning Center is complete, a scaled down version of the weather
station will be supplied. AWI and its employees, who are donating all of the
equipment and time to the Center, are excited about working with the Foundation
and contributing to the McClellan Aerospace Learning Center in this most worthy
community project.
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