The Troubadour: Biking to School, A Daily Adventure. The USS Glory, The Greatest of Home Simulators. Inspirational Video. The Imaginarium.

So that's how you look cool on a bike - short trousers and a pipe

Hello Troops,
I rode my bike to and from school today. That's a little over 17 miles. This is the point in the story where you say "good job" and admire me for my fortitude. It was dark with pending light the whole way there and diminishing light verging into dark on the way home. My trusty LED headlamp (an overgenerous term, I'm thinking a kerosine lamp hoisted over head on a long pole might do a better job) did its best to push the night aside. Perhaps a fog horn would be a good addition to the traveling menagerie (which is me on a bicycle in the dark) for safety's sake. Its constant and steady blast would be sure to warn anyone else on the Murdock Canal that an unsteady, unsure whirligig approaches. My toes, ears and nose complained bitterly of cold; but I soldiered on, thinking of the great explorers of the past, who overcame impossible odds to achieve greatness. If they could do what they did, I surely could ride my blue velocipede to and from Renaissance Academy each day - weather permitting of course.

Mr. W

The USS Glory. One of Utah Valley's Original Starship Simulators

A few months ago The Troubadour posted a list of simulators built over the last 30 years or so which ran missions based on my Space EdVentures model of interactive simulations. That list mentioned a simulator built by Matt Long, one of the Space Center's long time and most active volunteers, employees, programmer and all around giant in the industry. He built the USS Glory in his basement, programmed the ship himself and ran flights for public groups. It all came to an end as life interfered and the demands of high school and the Space Center became too much of a drain on his time. Matt is still with the Space EdVenture program, programming new controls for the Magellan simulator and working with me to build the Farpoint Cadet Program.
Matt was kind enough to send me a few photographs of his simulator. The USS Glory ran from 2004 to 2006.

Matt's dad jumping in to help train a crew. This is the front of the ship.

The front of the Glory. Not bad at all for a home simulator!

The Captain's chair with the two side stations.

The Glory held 6 crew.

Matt at work in the Glory's control room.

I'd be interested in finding information on other home simulators. Please contact me if you know of any other small home ships that I could highlight on this blog.

Mr. W.

Save Someone and Change the Future