Simulation as a Fighter Design Tool,

Simulation has been playing a growing role in the development of fighter aircraft weapon systems. In the 1960s and even early 70s simulation was almost exclusively the tool of the engineers responsible for the flight control and flying qualities of the airplane. However, in the last 10-15 years, simulation has seen ever increasing usage for tactics, crew workload and mission avionics assessment. This paper reviews the current status of real-time, pilot-in-the-loop flight simulation. It presents examples of simulators and a brief discussion of the components of a flight simulator with emphasis on the features of importance to the user. Fidelity as it relates to the perception of the pilot and his task performance is discussed. Data is given on the motion and visual requirements. The paper also presents key topics in experimental design including task selection, pilot factors and data collection. The paper concludes with an enumeration of technology improvements already on the horizon which are expected to make a major impact on simulation. Because of the extreme breadth of the subject matter, an extensive bibliography has been included.