Retired aircraft welcomes aviation enthusiasts as a “science center.”

The Metropolitan Municipality converted an Airbus A340 model aircraft that had ended its flying life into a science center about 3.5 months ago.

The “Aircraft Park Aviation Science Center” opened in Çayırova District takes its visitors on a journey in the field of aviation history, the scientific basis of flight and system technologies.

The center, which offers a wide range of information from the laws of flight physics to engine technologies, from communications systems to pilot skills, has hosted 115,000 people since it opened.

In the center, which consists of three parts: the science center, the exhibition area and the workshop area, and covers a total area of ​​470 square meters, visitors have the opportunity to learn aviation history and theory, examine aircraft systems and experience piloting on the simulator.

In the exhibition area under the aircraft are important parts such as a moving section turbofan engine, a static jet engine, an auxiliary power unit (APU), an interactive 6-cylinder boxer engine, a 9-cylinder radial engine section, a mini-jet engine, experience areas for basic aircraft systems, real aircraft antennas and avionics display systems.

Flight training is also offered

The head of the center, İbrahim Yılmaz, said that visitors who are interested in aviation are welcome there.

Explaining that they provide flight training in the cockpit area of ​​the aircraft, Yılmaz said, “Our cockpit area is open only to aviation students and graduates with an appointment system and offers flight training. There may be high training and installation costs. Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality provides this service for free. It is a valuable work. Those who are interested in aviation can come here and get pilot and cockpit training with us. You can focus on this area and move on.”

Stating that there is great interest in the science center, Yılmaz continued as follows:

“We have students who are curious but have never seen an aircraft engine. Here they can experience aircraft engines, the panels inside the aircraft, the cockpit area and the flight simulation. We welcome anyone interested in aviation and flight to the Ucakpark Science Center. This is an aviation science center where everything from aircraft technicians to the steward or stewardess department to the pilot area and the duties of pilots is explained.”

The center's cockpit instructor, Hamza Kalkan, said they provide cockpit and flight simulation information to students and graduates in disciplines such as aviation, aircraft construction and pilotage.

Kalkan said, “We explain in detail what the buttons and panels do. We have scenarios. We explain the landing or takeoff scenario to our students and then they experience its application.” he said.