Behind the Scenes With HEC-TV Explore! Flying Live Broadcast

By Carmelo Turdo

HEC-TV's Explore! Flying live broadcast to school districts around the country was held yesterday at the Ladue Horton Watkins High School Marshall TV Studio.  The Explore! Flying program uses the Who, What, Where, When, Why and How questions to investigate the science of flight and introduce students to special guests who participate in some area of flying activity. 

The program engages students in the production of the broadcast, from creating video demonstrations for broadcast to working the camera equipment in the studio.  HEC-TV Explore! producer and host Tim Gore moderated the series of four 30-minute sessions, each including a guest to provide insight into different realms of flight:

Mr. Jeffrey Meshach, Director of the World Bird Sanctuary: bird anatomy and feather design for flight

Captain Bill Switzer, former U.S. Navy Blue Angels pilot, and Mr. Mark Sutherland, author of Being a Blue Angel: supersonic flight and the effect of gravity forces on pilots

Mr. Patrick McAlee, commercial airline pilot and aerobatic pilot: careers in the airlines and flying in airshows

Mr. Chris Hartley, Coordinator of Science Education at the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House: butterflies and bees in flight

A complete set of program materials for participants were available to participating school classes, and students called in live or sent questions to the guests via email.  The HEC-TV staff is currently preparing the program for access through their web site.  Check back in about a week for the videos.

The Aero Experience was privileged to work with Producer Jacqui Poor to provide some background materials for the program and to observe the broadcast of the Explore! Flying program.  Here is a behind the scenes look at the studio broadcast of Explore! Flying:

The Set:

The Guests:
 


Host Tim Gore with Jeffrey Meshach before Session 1

View from the camera prior to Session 1

 

Captain Bill Switzer and Mark Sutherland after Session 2 

Patrick McAlee in the control room prior to Session 3

Tim Gore and Patrick McAlee prior to Session 3

The Aero Experience again thanks the HEC-TV staff for their hospitality and their contribution to the understanding of flight through the Explore! Flying program.  Be sure to check with HEC-TV for the video of the sessions available soon.