As you would except from the team behind Avatar, the visuals are spectacular. The huge screen size wraps around you, and envelops you in the world of Pandora. The ride vehicles somewhat resemble motor cycles, and guests ride them in a similar way. Straddling the seat, with a leg either side, chest resting on a support, and hands on a rail either side. The vehicles are individual, but groups are seated together in the same room alongside each other. Once seated, in an Alien Encounter-like moment, various restraints move into position around your legs and back. At first they appear too constrictive, but then loosen up to give you some breathing space. Once everybody is ready, the ride begins. In a very convincing transition, the wall in front of you vanishes, and you are suddenly in flight aboard a banshee. You can even feel the banshee breathing beneath you on the link chair. To say the ride experience is convincing would be an under-statement. It is without question the best screen based attraction anywhere. The feeling of flight is so immersive, that you quickly forget you are in a simulator, and just begin to take in the sensational joy of flight.  The 3D imagery is beautifully clear, and doesn’t suffer from any distortions or artifacts. Staying true to the realistic nature of the experience, there are no cheap 3D tricks at play. Motion of the ride vehicle, wind, scents and water effects bring the experience to life physically. The creative team went beyond just the basics of flight, they even built crosswinds into the simulation model. On a first ride, you are likely to be so immersed in the physical and visual effects that you may not notice, but there is a wonderful musical score that accompanies the ride, recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra. Perhaps slightly surprising, is that like Na’vi River Journey, there is no mission or real story to the actual ride sequence. There is of course a larger story of the whole attraction and what you are doing there, but there isn’t the classic Disney “Something has gone wrong” storyline. There are a few tense encounters, and sudden drops, but overall, the ride is a flight experience of convincing physical and visual sensations. The ending to the 4.5 minute ride is abrupt, but even so, it leaves you very satisfied and with that all important feeling of a great ride – can’t wait to ride again! Once again our RSA team helped make a concept into a reality that will be experienced by millions of people around the globe!