Gladstone man builds simulator | Gladstone News | Local News in Gladstone

Flight Simulator, hand-built by Case Woudenberg of Calliope for his grandchildren. Jacob Collins, 10, shoots water at his cousins Nick, 9, and Bridie Smith, 5, and Catherine Collins, 9.

THE grandchildren of Calliope’s Case and Carolyn Woudenberg have just got the perfect Christmas present.

When Case found the plans for a moving model plane on the internet, he decided it was something he’d love to build for his grandchildren.

For nine months, Mr Woudenberg spent his spare time working on the fantastic rising, dipping and spinning aircraft. Starting in his back shed, he then took it to the workshop of shipwright friend Frank Bremer where they worked on the plane.

The craft is made from plywood and is painted in the colours of a US Naval aircraft.

A mechanism controlled by water pressure lets the plane rise (up to seven feet) and dip and a leaf blower motor powers the rotation. The craft also has wheels which rise and drop for take-off, navigation lights and a water gun which shoots up to 25 metres.

The pilot sits in the comfort of a leather seat and is held in place by retractable seat belts. The craft is controlled by joystick and foot pedals.

A cross-hair on the windshield allows the pilot to aim for the target.

Case’s wife Carolyn said they handed the plane over to their grandchildren from Brisbane last weekend, and the kids, Jacob, Catherine and Annabelle, just loved it.

“Jacob’s face was beaming,” she said, “he loved it when he came out here before it was painted, but he walked out the back and just stopped. You could see the disbelief on his face. It was wonderful.”