Find out what it is like in a spaceship or flying on a dragon

YOU’VE heard of 3D and virtual reality. Now a young entrepreneur is sweeping kids off their feet and into outer space.

YOU’VE heard of 3D and virtual reality. Now a young entrepreneur is sweeping Beenleigh kids off their feet with a 9D virtual reality machine.

Feel like getting lost in space or taking a trip to the moon?

Tim Pintilie, who grew up in Beenleigh, is offering these types of experiences — all from the seat of a special spacecraft-like capsule in the mall at Beenleigh Marketplace.

Pintilie, 21, is quickly gathering a following in the town, which does not have a movie theatre.

Once you strap yourself into the futuristic capsule and pop on the virtual reality headset, you’re ready to experience everything from rocket rides to outer space, dinosaur adventures, fun games or even a white-knuckle dragon flight.

The pod is reminiscent of the egg-shaped spaceship and preferred mode of transport for extraterrestrials in the TV show Mork and Mindy, starring Robin Williams.

The machine, which can move in eight directions, has air jets, vibrates and other special effects to generate a hyper-realistic sensation.

“It tricks your brain into thinking that you’re actually in space or falling down a waterfall,” said Pintilie.

“Above and beyond all of the machine’s high-speed, thrilling action adventures, my educational programs are the ones I’m the most excited about because they make learning fun for kids who don’t necessarily enjoy school.

“I’m working with a STEM hub (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) in Gympie to showcase this technology to school kids, as my machine also has some great space programs to teach astronomy and about the universe,” he said.

Pintilie and his virtual reality space machines will be at the Beenleigh Marketplace, 114-118 George St, Beenleigh.