“People are going to be able to hop in the cockpit on their Xbox or computer and actually hear one of these F-16s inside their living room,” said Bolhuis. His company, Echo 19, is known for producing immersive audio experiences for flight simulators and video games.
During his visit, Bolhuis aimed to capture every possible audio detail of the F-16C, from internal switch sounds to engine noise in various operational settings. “It’s everything from switches in the cockpit, knobs, dials, buttons, even the sound of the battery coming on, the canopy closing and opening, and really everything in between,” he explained.
The recordings were made under a production agreement with the National Guard Bureau, allowing Bolhuis access to jets during start-up, taxiing, takeoff, and while stationed inside a hangar. The 177th FW played a key role in reducing background interference to ensure clean audio capture.
“The 177th has been awesome!” said Bolhuis. “They allowed us to get inside an F-16 in a hangar where 177th Airmen helped get one quiet enough to actually capture switches flipping without having to worry about wind noise or rustling in the background.”
Once the raw audio is collected, it will be refined and prepared for integration into the simulator by software developers. “When I get back home to Michigan, the real work begins,” said Bolhuis. “Editing, naming and preparing the files so that when the developers are ready for us, we’re not keeping them waiting.”
With this collaboration, users of Microsoft Flight Simulator can expect an unprecedented level of audio realism when flying the F-16C, bringing the sound of real fighter jets into homes around the world.
