This is a thorough description of this increasingly important technology, starting from the development of head-up displays (HUDs), particularly specifications and standards and operational problems associated with HUD use. HUD involvement in spatial disorientation and its use in recognizing and recovering from unusual attitudes is discussed. The book summarizes the design criteria including hardware, software, interface and display criteria. It goes on to outline flight tasks to be used for evaluating HUDs and discusses the impact of HUDs on flight training. Recent work indicates that a HUD may allow a significant reduction in the time required to train a pilot on a particular aircraft, even considering non-HUD-related tasks. The author concludes with a review of unresolved HUD issues and recommendations for further research and provides an impressive bibliography, glossary and index. Within the military aviation sector the book will be of use to industry, research agencies, test pilot schools and air force training establishments. In the civil area regulatory authorities, airlines and industry will also have an increasing interest.

A piloted head up display (HUD) flight symbology study (TRISTAR) measuring pilot task performance was conducted at the NASA Ames Research Center by the Tri-Service Flight Symbology Working Group (FSWO), which served as a focal point for the FSWG to examine HUD test methodology and flight symbology presentations. HUD climb-dive marker dynamics and climb-dive ladder presentations were examined as pilots performed air-to-air (A/A), air-to-ground (AIG), instrument landing system, and unusual attitude recovery tasks. Symbolic presentations resembled pitch ladder variations used by the U.S. Air Force (USAF), U.S. Navy (USN), and Royal Air Force (RAF). Investigations were conducted in a NASA fixed-base simulation cab. The cockpit of the simulation cab was configured to resemble a Harrier aircraft cockpit with fast-jet HUD flight symbology dynamics and AV-8B Harrier aerodynamic equations of motion. Six HUD-experienced male fighter and attack pilots from the USAF, USN, and RAF participated in the study. Time histories of 83 variables were recorded during the simulation. Four task maneuver performance methods were examined and both subjective and objective data were obtained for each task. Subjective questionnaires revealed several interesting trends based upon each task, such as the preference for a quickened climb-dive marker and a variable-compression pitch ladder for AIG tasks. Objective data indicated decreased reaction times and increased spatial awareness with asymmetrical climb-live ladders (CDLs). The study was beneficial for working group researchers, providing a mechanism for exchange of test techniques and methods of presentations. Test techniques developed during the TRISTAR I simulation will be used during the TRISTAR II flight symbology evaluation.