Up close and personal with Flyover, a multi-sensory experience coming to Navy Pier

A media event for the upcoming Flyover attraction was held at Chef Art Smith’s Reunion restaurant recently with the principals of the experience on hand to describe what all the buzz is about. A simple answer is that it’s a “love letter to Chicago” that will open March 1 at the Pier, in the old IMAX space, but it will be so much more according to its creators.

On hand for a Q&A were Lisa Adams (COO and executive producer), Rick Rothschild (creative director), David Mossop (film writer and director/ associate creative director), Rich Daniels (music director), Elliott Wheeler (score composter and executive music producer) and Dr. Walt Whitman (founder/CEO Soul Children of Chicago).

After the guests mixed and mingled and enjoyed Chef Art’s delicious appetizers, the group (mentioned above) sat down for a lengthy discussion. Adams stressed the mission of Flyover, “to amplify some of the epic places on the planet and be true to that.” Rothschild spoke about the new technology used to make this attraction possible and noted his love for our city. “Chicago has one of the most beautiful urban landscapes in the world and certainly in America.”

The ride seats 61 people who will view a 65-foot spherical screen as they glide on a flight journey through Chicago. The attraction uses a state-of-the-art moving platform with six degrees of motion that will enable guests to feel every sweeping movement of the experience. Special effects, including wind, mist and location-specific scents, will heighten the immersive experience as guests hang suspended with their feet dangling above stunning natural and urban wonders.

Rothschild added, “The ride is fully immersive, not a VR, goggled or glasses experience. It is exceedingly high resolution with a 3-dimensional soundtrack. It’s the most immersive environmental system we’ve ever put into a ride. We hope it reveals the soul of Chicago, both of its people and the city.”

David Mossop shared, “Everything is so beautiful here. Even more so is the beauty of its people, their grit, spirit and integrity. Chicago is just cool, it’s cooler than the other cities, easily. Chicago is where it’s at. People from Chicago are so proud to be Chicagoans. We wanted to find out what makes this place tick. First off, you guys never give up. Everybody here is so hard-core and has such a can-do attitude. We came here in the dead of winter and people are out in their shorts jogging! There’s no problem too big. If the city burns down, you rebuild it and when the river was polluted, you reversed it. There’s magic here in this city and I think the world can learn a thing or two from you.”

Native Chicagoan Rich Daniels helped create the music for Flyover, pointing out exciting artists in the blues, jazz, soul and hip-hop fields that were included in the score. Dr. Walt Whitman’s Soul Children played a large part in the sound as the oldest internationally acclaimed, Grammy-Award winning youth gospel choir in the country.

All in all, this experience will pay homage to Chicago, its people and the music that makes it great. Whitman closed the discussion with, “This group has captured the heart of the city.”

(Flyover opens Friday, March 1, tickets and info can be found here. Adult tickets are $24.95, children 13 and under, $14.95 and military $19.95. The press event was arranged by Noreen Heron Agency. To view the trailer, click here.)