Chris could you tell us when you first started developing for flight simulators and what got you interested in it?

I first started developing custom scenery for X-Plane in October of 2014, but I didn't publish the airport I was working on until November of the same year. At the time I had just turned 13 and I was told that I would be the youngest scenery publisher for X-Plane! Not only did this inspire me to make custom scenery for X-Plane, but it also gave me the opportunity to meet lots of pilots and aviation enthusiasts along the way.

What do you consider your best or most popular work so far?

In my opinion, I believe that the best airport I've designed is Ponderosa Sky Ranch, a small little bush airport located in the foothills of Northern California. Although it isn't my most popular airport, adding all the grasses, bushes and weeds took days to represent (to the best of my ability) what the airstrip looks like. In the end, it looked amazing (and almost deserted!).

Chris, what do you find the most challenging aspect of a project?

One of the most challenging aspects of a project is to resist the urge to give up. Even if you've done something as simple as placing a single hangar at your airport, that's still time you've spent committed to a project (designing and having fun). I've learned this lesson in the past. I started to design an airport, spent a few hours on it, then decided to give up on it because I either didn't have enough information on the airport or I got sidetracked and never came back.

Who would you consider to be your inspiration and why?

Out of all the amazing and inspirational people I've met throughout my life, one person stands out. So much in fact, that I never really had to think twice about who this very special person was.

This gentleman, US veteran and in my opinion 'hero' helped guide me through the scenery designing process. He taught me everything I needed to know about custom scenery, everything there is to know about orthophoto images and how they work, and has shared lots of inspiring stories of his life. This person is none other than Rik Nilsson.

The first time I ever talked to Rik was when I was 12. I was messing around with the scenery designing program for X-Plane (WED) and I was very confused and almost (dare I say it) angry. I couldn't figure out what any of the symbols meant, what the buttons did and what that big grey line was in the middle of the screen (it was the runway!).

At first I was hesitant to ask Rik questions about creating scenery since he had no idea who I was and I didn't know much about him. We started chatting to each other here and there and after a while I decided to ask him how he created his scenery. That was when I was 13.

If you've ever seen any of Rik's amazing work, you'll understand why I wanted to learn his techniques, his unique way of blending orthophotos and what his process was in creating his sceneries. Rik explained to me that a friend from FlightSim.Com had asked him those very questions and so he wrote a tutorial based around them. He advised me to have a look at the tutorial and to give scenery designing a try!

Rik knew I was still just a kid, but he had hope in me and lots of it! Never once did Rik say, "You're too young for this!" Rik had so much enthusiasm and energy that he answered every question I threw at him. Rik has taught me so much and I am super grateful to have someone like him guiding me through the scenery designing process. Thanks Rik!

Chris, do you have any tips for other youngsters thinking of starting their first project?

Designing your first airport, like anything done for the first time, can be a little overwhelming and takes a little bit of getting used to. I use a free program called WED or World Editor to make my scenery. It is one of the easiest programs to use and is great for beginners and experts alike. There are quite a few tutorials out there on how to use WED, but most (I find) are irrelevant. The best way to figure out how to use any sort of scenery program is to try and figure most of it out for yourself (play around with the buttons, check out the different features, etc.).

However, nobody can figure out everything on their own, so, like myself, don't be afraid to ask a member of your flight simulator community for help. Also, it's better to start off on a small non towered airport, rather than designing some huge international. Lastly, never give up and above all else, have fun doing it.

Chris, do you have any experience in real aviation?

I have lots of experience with real aviation. My local airport, Reid Hillview is kind enough to give me ramp access (Yes, I'm a kid with ramp access to a towered airport). Reid Hillview is what I call my 'hang out' place. I spend every weekend there and during the summer I go there at least 4 times a week (since 2013). I usually spend over 200 hours at the airport a year, taking photos, meeting new pilots, riding around on my bike and doing anything the airport operations guys need help with.

At the airport my nickname is the "Airport Bum" which is 100% true. Whenever I talk to pilots at Reid, there is what I would call an 'Airport Chain' going on in my mind (what normal people would call a Food Chain). First task on my 'Airport Chain' is getting to meet the pilots. This is where I start up a conversation and become comfortable with them.

Next task on the 'Airport Chain' is to ask them if they need their hangar cleaned, their airplane washed or waxed, or if they need anything done around the airport. For the pilots that say yes, the third item on the 'Airport Chain' is payment. If you know me, then you'll know that I don't take money. What I do take though is airplane rides! Some people might say, "Well why don't you just take the money and spend it on something else?" Well, even if I did receive money, I'd only spend it on flying lessons, so why not just ask for a flight? The pilots are more than happy to give me a flight and that's how my version of the food chain ends.

Do you have plans to pursue your interest in aviation when you're older?

I live in the Silicon Valley, where thousands of high tech companies like Google, Apple, and Facebook are all headquartered. As much as I'd love to be the future CEO of Google or the Vice President of Facebook, none of these well paying jobs appeal to me as much as aviation does. To me, it's all about having fun.

My brother works for an aircraft sales company which has a hangar at Reid Hillview Airport. The CEO of the aircraft sales company comes by every once in a while to check on my brother and to make sure everything is running smoothly. The CEO thought it would be nice if he taught me how to tug a Mooney into a hangar. He showed me how to start the tug and then how to connect the tug to the Mooney. Once they were both connected, he showed me how to move it into a large hangar. After my first 'solo' of tugging the Mooney into the hangar, I felt proud, happy and above all, very very thankful that the CEO had taught me how to tug planes around. After thanking him I asked, "Is this what you guys do at work?"

He answered, "Yep, it's just another normal day here at Reid. One reason why I love working in the aviation business is because not only do you have a lot of fun, but you learn a ton!"

He was right on the money, as everything he said in those two sentences were spot on. My point is...as long as you have fun doing your job, everything else should be OK! As much as I'd love to be a world famous athlete, an entrepreneur (with the next amazing idea) or the CEO of a billion dollar plus company, I'd rather be the pilot of a Gulfstream, King Air or Citation who ferries them around!

I've already saved up nearly 3000 dollars towards my pilot's licence and I have no intention of turning back now! Every penny I earn is one step closer to accomplishing my dream. One day I hope to be that private pilot, who, along with his client, walks into the air conditioned FBO (Fixed Base Operator) area of an airport with a smile on his face. Accomplishing that, will be a dream fulfilled.

Could you tell us how your interest in aviation started?

Well, if it hadn't been for my brother introducing me to aviation, I doubt very much if I'd have any interest in it whatsoever, which in turn would probably mean no designing of scenery. Let me explain.

In 2011 my brother stopped at Reid Hillview Airport so as to take pictures from behind the terminal fence. One of the airport operations guys noticed him and asked if he wanted to go on the ramp for a tour and to get better pictures. My brother (not wanting to turn down this opportunity) said yes and went to the ramp. Having enjoyed the experience, he started going to Reid Hillview more and more.

In 2013, curiosity got the better of me and I decided to go to Reid Hillview with him. By this time, my brother had ramp access and so he explained the rules of the airport and what to do and more importantly what not to do! Neither of us had bikes at this time, so it meant a lot of walking around. However I didn't mind as it meant that I could get up close to the planes, which I found really interesting. I started going back more and more with my brother until it got to the point where the airport operations guys trusted me as well. After a while I gained my own ramp access onto the airport! Now, two years later, I do my best to stop by the airport each day.

How can we attract more young people with this hobby?

I believe that one of the reasons why not so many kids (of my age) are interested in aviation is because they don't get "up close and personal" with the planes, like I've been lucky enough to do.

Just think, if I hadn't been able to get up close to a Cessna Caravan the first time I visited Reid Hillview, I would probably have never gone back, but because of the kindness the community at Reid Hillview showed me, I did and I've never looked back!

In that time I've met hundreds of pilots from all around the world and all because the airport is so welcoming to new people. That's how I became attracted to aviation, but here's another great example of how kids become attracted to aviation.

At Reid Hillview and all across the United States (and possibly the world) there is a program called Young Eagles which is supported by the EAA or Experimental Aircraft Association.

There are different chapters (airports) with each having different dates for when a Young Eagles event will take place. When a YE event takes place, the pilots of that particular airport (or area) give kids (ages 5-17) free rides, which usually last about 30 minutes.

The experience starts with the pilot walking the kids out to the airplane. Here the pilot explains how the numerous functions of the plane work, such as where the rudder is and what it does. This normally lasts for around 5 - 10 minutes.

The pilot then helps the children get into the airplane, straps them in and takes them for a scenic flight. Sometimes the pilot will allow you to briefly fly the plane, such as making simple turns.

Since I've been going to Young Eagles for several years, pilots from the Reid Hillview chapter know who I am and usually ask me where I would like to go. On my last Young Eagles flight, I flew in a Diamond Star over Bonny Doon Village Airport, a little airstrip which I have also designed for X-Plane. It was such an amazing sight to see how the real Bonny Doon compared to the version I had made! Young Eagles is one of the great programs that involves young people in aviation and it has helped me become more comfortable flying and best of all, it's FREE!

Chris, do you have any memorable flights in real life?

One of the most memorable flights I've ever had was during last summer, when a pilot stopped by Reid Hillview in his AirCam (floats variant). At the time, I had no idea what this plane was and so I decided to take some pictures of it taxiing to transient parking.

Almost immediately, the AirCam drew a small crowd with students from different flight schools gathering around. Being interested in the aircraft, I too walked up to the AirCam and started talking to the pilot. After a while the pilot left the AirCam so he could go and purchase a hat at a nearby airport store. Before going though, he asked me if I could watch his plane. I thought he was joking because I was only 12 years old and he had no idea who I was. It was no joke though and so I did as he asked. I stood there next to his plane waiting for him to return.

After a while the students from the flight schools lost interest and wandered away. About 10 minutes later the pilot returned, complete with his new hat!

As he came up to me he said, "Do you want to go flying?"

"When?" I asked.

"Right now, in the AirCam." he replied.

"You're joking! I'd have to pay some serious money to fly in that!", I said.

"No it's on me. Call your parents and ask them if it's OK."

"Sure thing," I said.

My parents said it was OK (if they hadn't I'd have gone mad) and so the pilot helped me get into the AirCam. I took the back seat with the pilot in the front.

The AirCam (for those who aren't familiar) has an open cockpit and because of this the pilot said it would be chilly. He gave me his jacket to wear before we started up and I'm glad he did! I could already tell this would be a great flight. He let me taxi the AirCam to the runway and then after taking off (the pilot) we performed a quick pattern. Even though it was short flight, it was the most amazing 15 minutes ever! What's even better is that I got it all on video:

Later that month, I found out that the pilot was no other than the Senior Vice President of Google. I saw his name in an article in which he broke the world record for the highest free fall parachute jump in the world. Not only did this guy give me the flight of my life, but he also broke a world record! My life has been full of happy, sad, and inspired moments, and I hope I can inspire other people just as young as me to do what they love, whether it's making custom scenery, designing aircraft, or even making your own flight simulator!

As long as you're having fun, staying safe and doing what you love, you're on the road to success!

Christopher Leipelt
Download his scenery