The University of Oklahoma’s Sooner Flight Academy, in collaboration with Trifecta Communications, will release its first educational augmented reality app on Saturday, Oct. 2, at the 15th Annual Aviation Festival. The free festival will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Max Westheimer Airport, 1700 Lexington Ave., in Norman.

Using a smartphone or tablet, users can scan a flat surface, such as the floor of a large room or gym or the ground in a yard or park, and the app will “place” a life-size digital airplane into their environment. Users can then explore and interact with the aircraft, learn about the parts of the plane and test their knowledge about airplane functionality.

“One of the most exciting aspects of coming to SFA for a field trip or summer camp is getting to interact with the airplanes,” SFA curriculum coordinator Jenny Bailey said. “Not everyone can come to the airport, however, and when we take our programming on the road, we aren’t able to take the planes with us. SFA’s new AR app helps bridge that access gap and gives users an excellent, simulated experience of interacting with a real-life airplane.”

The app is the first of its kind in an aviation education setting and an important new tool for the future of digital learning at Sooner Flight Academy.

“This project is an excellent demonstration of augmented reality’s potential,” said Brent Wheelbarger, CEO of Trifecta Communications. “Who would’ve thought you could bring a massive object to life, with correct dimensions and true-to-life functionality, and then allow for it to be fully explored like it’s sitting in front of you – all with a tablet or phone. This is truly a glimpse of the future.”

During Saturday’s launch at the Max Westheimer Airport Aviation Festival and Open House, participants can try the app for themselves and sign up to win one of 10 virtual field trips sponsored by Trifecta Communications. Each field trip includes access to the app for each student and a remote aviation lesson taught by SFA staff.

The app is free to download from iOS or Android app stores and includes access to the teaching and testing portions of the app. Access to the augmented reality section of the app requires an access code that can be purchased for 30 days of access. Group discounts for schools and other groups are available.

Visit the Sooner Flight Academy website to learn more about the educational opportunities they offer.