Simulator Helps Train Pilots

Marine Corps News ^ | July 21, 2005 | Lance Cpl. Kamran

[SandRat]

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz.(July 21, 2005) -- People all over the world can get thrills from the video arcade flight simulators found in nearly any mall, and these games might be the closest these people will get to flying a multi-million dollar jet. The Marine Corps, however, has spent top dollar on flight simulators that people at the mall could not even imagine.

The Radar Night Attack Weapons System Trainer is used to train station AV-8B Harrier pilots. It is a fully functional Harrier cockpit and canopy, which works the exact same as the actual aircraft, said Capt. Michael D. Trapp, Harrier pilot and Marine Aircraft Group 13 assistant operations officer.

Other than the 360-degree field of view surrounding the cockpit for a pragmatic sense of motion, the simulator also uses advanced software to replicate the aircraft, adding to the realism.

"We actually use Harrier flight software in the simulator’s computers, so we simulate all the sensors in the aircraft and send signals to the computer so it will look the same as it would in the real aircraft," explained, Ron G. Spencer, station flight simulator contracting officer representative.

One of the simulator's benefits is the ability to program any type of condition or scenario, which may not be obtainable during actual flight.

"We can program any kind of environmental condition, such as day, night and weather,” said Trapp, a Tampa, Fla., native. “We can program friendly or enemy aircraft to fly against. We can also recreate just about every scenario in this simulator, (such as) bombing practice, air-to-air (combat), ship-board operations — we'll fly off an aircraft carrier — and we practice instrument work. Most importantly, we practice takeoffs and landings." Capt. John C. Banton, Harrier pilot, VMA-214, a Lynchburg, Va., native, said what he likes best is the simulator's ability for diversity such as performing a number of emergency procedure scenarios.

The only way to practice emergency procedures is in the simulator, because pilots cannot safely exercise emergency procedures while in flight, said Spencer. In order for pilots to learn successfully, they must practice in the simulator, which allows them to experience trial and error.

"It allows us to make mistakes and learn from them,” said Trapp. “It allows us to put the pilot in demanding situations for training. We can simulate any emergency you may encounter in an aircraft, such as an engine fire, hydraulic failure (or) electrical failure, and we can practice our procedures in here without going to the aircraft."

Harrier pilots from all squadrons visit the simulator two to three times a week for one hour per session to practice proficiency and emergency procedures, according to Trapp.

Because flying an aircraft costs thousands of dollars, the simulator is also a money saver, which allows pilots to practice more, said Spencer.

"It takes thousands of dollars to put an aircraft in the air for one hour," said Spencer. "It costs more to supply the same scenarios in the aircraft rather than the simulator."

Although pilots may get their kicks from the simulator, Banton said a drawback is that the simulator does not come close in comparison with actual flight.

“There is no replacement for actually being in the aircraft,” agreed Trapp. “The sense of flight, the smell, the sound, the feel — you can't recreate those in here."

[SandRat]

photos at source

[SandRat]

MARINE Pilots Training

[writer33]

SR...Don't you ever get tired of supporting the military? :)

Just kidding! Thanks for the ping.

[GSlob]

Could the whole simulator cubicle be mounted on a centrifuge arm with the ability to direct the acceleration?

[SandRat]

Cut my right arm and it bleeds Red White and Blue and cut my left arm and it bleeds CAMMO. Just kidding but you get the idea.

So to Answer your question, nope!

[sonofatpatcher2]

Hey, my simulator, Bettybot, helps me!!!

Bender, I don't think that is the type of simulator they are talking about.

[SandRat]

That's a question for the Aerospace Engineers on FR.

[WildTurkey]

“The sense of flight, the smell, the sound, the feel — you can't recreate those in here."

He left out "fear" when you almost lose it.

He left out the g-forces and the loss of equilibrium.

[EsmeraldaA]

It is always good to practice, practice, practice and then practice again! :)

[writer33]

Got it, SR. :)

[jettester]

You probably could if you wanted to...and had the cash to do it. But why?

The purpose of a simulator is to give the flight crew a training device that allows them to "fly" without "flying" and yet keep the costs down and safety up.

The full-up, multi-axis simulators built today are pretty good at producing many of the physical effects of real flight (heck, take a ride on some of the simulator-type rides at you amusement parks today to see for yourself).

So, why would you want to?

[birbear]

Yeah, but can it simulate a 747 doing a loop?


Nah, this stuff is really cool. When I went to the United States Space Academy, in Huntsville, Ala, we got to play with a flight simulator package that could mimic many different aircraft (including landing the shuttle). The funniest was trying to loop a 747 without it cracking to pieces... nobody ever succeeded.

FWIW: In this particular simulator, woman had better luck landing the shuttle than men did... woman had a softer touch on the stick. Men tend to shove the nose too hard into the ground snapping the landing gear.

[jettester]

Sorry, you amusement = your amusement