Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05

April 10, 2008 issue


Air Force Simulator at Rockingham Dragway
April 18 to 20

DSA2 Soars Into N.C. for Ihra Raceway Spring Nationals

It’s a bit of a drive, but if you’ve even wondered what it’s like to be a pilot in the U.S. Air Force, here’s your chance

DSA2, designed to introduce others into a day in the life of the U.S. Air Force, showcases its sophisticated movie theater on wheels, revolutionary technology and interactive elements at the International Hot Rod Association Spring Nationals at Rockingham Dragway, from Friday, April 18, through Sunday, April 20.

In its sophomore season, DSA2—the Do Something Amazing Tour of the U.S. Air Force—will educate and entertain nearly 80,000 people in an 11-month, cross-country adventure that will travel to nearly 70 cities and trek close to 150,000 miles. The tour provides an inside peek at the world of Air Force personnel as they fight on battlefields overseas, operate space satellites, defend cyberspace and safeguard the skies.  

DSA2 will be at the Rockingham Dragway on Friday, April 18, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; on Saturday, April 19, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; and on Sunday, April 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 

Rockingham Dragway is at the intersection of U.S. Highway 1 and Highway 177, 80 miles east of Charlotte and 75 miles south of Raleigh. International Hot Rod Association fans will enjoy the following DSA2 Tour elements at no additional charge:

• Spatial Disorientation – A sensation that pilots encounter and that visitors can experience while secured in the upside-down extreme equilibrium ride

• A Dog-Fight Mission Encounter – A three-part video game featuring F/A-22 Fighter (a dog-fight mission), Sky Surveillance (navigating the unmanned aerial vehicle) and Air Force Lifeline (humanitarian relief mission navigating a C-17)

• Surround Sound Inside a Semi – A short, high-powered movie about Air Force shown on a 6- by 14-foot movie screen

• Pilot Life – An authentic F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet, affording visitors the opportunity to peer into the cockpit

General information about the tour schedule and event locations are posted on the U.S. Air Force official website, www.airforce.com. For additional info about admission, directions and parking for the IHRA Spring Nationals at Rockingham Dragway, click to www.rockinghamdragway.com.