Advances in computer, visual display, motion and force cueing and other technologies in the past two decades have had a dramatic effect on the design and use of simulation technology in aviation and other fields. The effective use of technology in training, safety investigation, engineering and scientific research requires an understanding of its capabilities and limitations. As the technology has as its primary goal the creation of virtual environments for human users, knowledge of human sensory, perceptual, and cognitive functioning is also needed. This book provides a review and analysis of the relevant engineering and science supporting the design and use of advanced flight simulation technologies. It includes chapters reviewing key simulation areas such as visual scene, motion, and sound simulation and a chapter analyzing the role of recreating the pilot's task environment in the overall effectiveness of simulators. The design and use of flight simulation are addressed in chapters on the effectiveness of flight simulators in training and on the role of physical and psychological fidelity in simulator design. The problems inherent in the ground-based simulation of flight are also reviewed as are promising developments in flight simulation technology and the important role flight simulators play in advanced aviation research. The readership includes: flight simulation engineers and designers, human factors researchers and practitioners, aviation safety investigators, flight training management and instructors, training and instructional technologists, virtual environment design community, and regulatory authorities.

Get ready to take flight as two certified flight instructors guide you through the pilot ratings as it is done in the real world, starting with Sport Pilot training, then Private Pilot, followed by the Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot, and Air Transport Pilot. They cover the skills of flight, how to master Flight Simulator, and how to use the software as a learning tool towards your pilot’s license. More advanced topics demonstrate how Flight Simulator X can be used as a continuing learning tool and how to simulate real-world emergencies.

Principles of Flight Simulation is a comprehensive guide to flight simulator design, covering the modelling, algorithms and software which underpin flight simulation. The book covers the mathematical modelling and software which underpin flight simulation. The detailed equations of motion used to model aircraft dynamics are developed and then applied to the simulation of flight control systems and navigation systems. Real-time computer graphics algorithms are developed to implement aircraft displays and visual systems, covering OpenGL and OpenSceneGraph. The book also covers techniques used in motion platform development, the design of instructor stations and validation and qualification of simulator systems. An exceptional feature of Principles of Flight Simulation is access to a complete suite of software (www.wiley.com/go/allerton) to enable experienced engineers to develop their own flight simulator – something that should be well within the capability of many university engineering departments and research organisations. Based on C code modules from an actual flight simulator developed by the author, along with lecture material from lecture series given by the author at Cranfield University and the University of Sheffield Brings together mathematical modeling, computer graphics, real-time software, flight control systems, avionics and simulator validation into one of the faster growing application areas in engineering Features full colour plates of images and photographs. Principles of Flight Simulation will appeal to senior and postgraduate students of system dynamics, flight control systems, avionics and computer graphics, as well as engineers in related disciplines covering mechanical, electrical and computer systems engineering needing to develop simulation facilities.

This book offers the first complete account of more than sixty years of international research on In-Flight Simulation and related development of electronic and electro-optic flight control system technologies (“Fly-by-Wire” and “Fly-by-Light”). They have provided a versatile and experimental procedure that is of particular importance for verification, optimization, and evaluation of flying qualities and flight safety of manned or unmanned aircraft systems. Extensive coverage is given in the book to both fundamental information related to flight testing and state-of-the-art advances in the design and implementation of electronic and electro-optic flight control systems, which have made In-Flight Simulation possible. Written by experts, the respective chapters clearly show the interdependence between various aeronautical disciplines and in-flight simulation methods. Taken together, they form a truly multidisciplinary book that addresses the needs of not just flight test engi neers, but also other aeronautical scientists, engineers and project managers and historians as well. Students with a general interest in aeronautics as well as researchers in countries with growing aeronautical ambitions will also find the book useful. The omission of mathematical equations and in-depth theoretical discussions in favor of fresh discussions on innovative experiments, together with the inclusion of anecdotes and fascinating photos, make this book not only an enjoyable read, but also an important incentive to future research. The book, translated from the German by Ravindra Jategaonkar, is an extended and revised English edition of the book Fliegende Simulatoren und Technologieträger , edited by Peter Hamel and published by Appelhans in 2014.

Although the complexity and capability of flight simulators have matched the growth of aerospace technology, there has until now been no textbook dealing specifically with the design and construction of flight simulators. This is a primary purpose of Flight Simulation. Written in collaboration with a number of internationally known specialists, the book considers the subject in three sections. Firstly it introduces the concept of simulation in order to identify the essential elements which make up the modern flight simulator. The development of these elements is also traced through the historical evolution of flight simulation. The main section of the book commences with an exposition of the mathematical models into dynamic physical devices capable of representing the response of a specific aircraft and its systems. The simulation of the flight environment is also covered in relation to cockpit motion systems and methods of representing the external visual scene. Another important aspect of simulation, the design of instructor and operating stations, is given separate attention. The final section considers the application of flight simulation to research and training and concludes with an appraisal of future prospects and developments.