Flight Simulator Training and Flight Test - Assignment Example

FLIGHT SIMULATOR TRAINING AND FLIGHT TEST Name Institution Subject Instructor Date Introduction The airline and airplane industries have undergone have undergone spectacular improvements and developments in the recent past. These developments have been characterized by a series of research, production, improved products, ground testing as well as flight testing. It is in these tastings that flight simulator test comes in handy. The pioneers in these industries managed to obtain a combination of disciplines. The disciplines that they combined included the aircraft designer, aircraft manufacturer, material specialists, and aerodynamicist as well as, researchers. With the current technological developments, the aircraft industry has experienced increased complexities and it now requires various specialists to be in charge of the fields of developments. The uses of flight simulator tests have in the recent days started to improve and the former ones which were less complex are slowly dissolving (Lee, 2005). Flight simulator test and other tests in the aircraft industry have become activates that require the involvement of specialists and experts. The tests have further experienced development and changes that call for further specialization. The aircraft simulator tastings do not necessarily depend upon the subjective judgement of the aircrew but it is basically concerned with the assessment of the flying qualities and characteristics. In most situations, the simulator tests are performed, only on the basis of qualitative data analysis and not any other analysis. A program for manufacturing development is a very important thing in certifying the issues of engineering decisions. For the flight simulator test to meet the required and the necessary objectives, they must consider both the abnormal and normal system operation cases (Allerton, 2009). Discussion Experiment The performance of the laboratory experiments involved the simulation of aircraft flights. The simulation of flight took place in the case of open loop. In this particular case, the assumption is that there are no argumentations with regard to argumentation. This is an aspect of flight simulation that is mostly applicable in the configuration of flight control systems that are more advanced. During the performance of the performance of the flight simulation test experiments, the participants took part in the design and implementation of control systems that are longitudinal in nature and functionality. The other notable feature of the flight simulation tests is the rate feedback for angular pitch as well as, the angle of attack. The participant used the simulator facility in the laboratory to design new systems of control which were then subjected to implementation through the flight of particular tests data gathered. The initial simulation it can be identified that the variables included the heading or direction in degrees and the airspeed (Williams, 2006). Data and information collected from the flight test simulation experiment included the flight altitude, the heading or the direction of flight, the vertical speed per minute, the airspeed and duration of time taken by the flight. The data and information obtained were then sampled and various analysis graphs plotted. The laboratory experimentation was mainly concerned with the portion of lateral direction for the controlled system. The experiment was also concerned with designing and implementing control and true stability. With the flight simulation test facilities, those taking part in the experiments were able to make adjustments to the designs with regard to the responses obtained from the aircraft under simulation (Phillips, 2004). Following the simulator flight test sessions, the collection of useful data is done recorded and graphs plotted. The presentation of extracts of the data and graphical information is indicated as shown; Altitude vs. Time Time sec 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Altitude ft. 437 437 437 437 437 437 437 437 437 437 437 437 437 437 437 437 Tabular representation of a section of data for relationship between altitude and time Graph of Altitude (ft.) verses Time (Sec) In this analysis of the graphical behaviour of the relationship between altitude and duration of time for the flight simulation experiment, it is clearly seen that there is variability. From the start point, the aircraft rises in altitude at a constant rate within a very short time duration which is measured in seconds. According to a section of the sample of the data collected following the flight simulation test in the laboratory, there is a certain trend that comes out clearly here. The trend suggests that the aircraft ascends up particular given heights where it takes it quite some time flying at that particular altitude without further ascending or even descending. However, this only lasts for a while since after a given duration of time again, the there are changes in altitude effected by the aircraft. There is a certain level of attitude that the aircraft does not descend beyond as long as it is still flying. For this particular flight simulation exercise, that particular altitude level is identified as 437 feet. The aircraft only goes lower than this level of altitude when it is ascending and when it is descending otherwise it either flies at it or above it. Another notable feature as demonstrated through the graphical illustration is that after a given long duration of time, the aircraft further ascends to fly at higher altitudes with the highest altitude of flight being 3, 237 feet in more than 100 seconds in time duration. Direction vs. Time Time sec 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Direction (o) 343 343 343 343 343 343 343 343 343 343 343 343 344 346 350 353 350 Tabular representation of a section of data for relationship between direction and time Graph of Direction (o) verses Time (Sec) The analysis of the graphical presentation of data and information for the relationship between the direction in degrees and time in second indicates that there are indeed some variations. In the case of this flight simulation test experiment, the aircraft begins from time zero with its initial direction facing the true North. However, as time goes gradually changes direction away from the initial true North direction and this continues up to a certain time when the change of direction with time begins to display an irregular relationship. This can be majorly attributed to the environmental conditions that are experienced by the aircraft in the course of flight as time goes by. Another factor that determines the change in direction is the destination of the aircraft in relation to its location at any given point in time. The idea here is for the flight to take the shortest time possible to land at its destination regardless of the frequency of changes in direction experienced by the flight. In this particular flight simulation test, the largest change in direction from the initial ascending position covers 360 degrees between the 104 and 114 seconds of flight duration. Vertical speed vs. Time Graph of Vertical Speed ft. per min verses Time (Sec) The data and graphical presentation of the relationship exhibited between the vertical speed in feet per minute and time duration in seconds for the flight simulation suggests the existence of variation. At first, the vertical speed steadily increases with increase in times up to a given level of vertical speed just below 100feet per minute where it slightly decreases with time. What follows is an irregular fluctuation where the vertical speed increases and decreases irregularly with time. Airspeed vs. Time Graph of Airspeed (IAS) knots verses Time (Sec) The variation of airspeed in knots with time in seconds for this particular simulation test presents a relationship that initial exhibits itself to be linear. The relationship, however, assumes a non-linear nature after about 40 seconds of flights and begins fluctuate at a constant rate. This kind of behaviour as graphically illustrated is attributable to the fact that as time goes; the aircraft ascends to grater altitudes beyond the lowest possible altitude of flight. It is at this greater altitudes that speed of the air increases steadily and this only decreases when the flight descends to a lower altitude. In the flight simulation tests, there are several facilities that are very critical. These are the likes of cockpit motion facility, the test and development simulator as well as, the differential manoeuvring simulator among many others. Facilities used in the simulation of flight tests are required acquire international recognition and be capable of level three rating integration. These are indication of general enhanced systems and excellence in simulation engineering. The use of cockpit facility for motion as well as, research laboratory for meant for the simulation of fixed base flight facilitates the data collection process and data reliability. The design of the flight simulation tests offers a lot of support especially to the space flight aircrafts and aeronautics. Flight simulation tests are fundamental research study supporters especially in the field of aeronautics. They are also critical with regard to the realization of challenges and possible accidents that could occur during the actual flight (Allerton, 2009). Cockpit motion Facility This flight test facility consists of four base simulators that are fixed and one site simulator based on motion. These ones include the integration flight simulator, flight deck simulator for research, generic flight deck simulator and the other one is not clearly defined. Every one of those simulators is meant to function on the basis of motion simulation. However, there are some of them that are also adopted for use in the simulations that are fixed. The design of the cockpit motion facility employs the state-of-the-art design aspects which play a very significant role in the enhancement of its performance. During the flight simulation tests using this facility, other simulators are taken away from the sites of fixed bases to the motion bases by using a system of overhead bridge crane (Williams, 2006). The dual-dome Differential manoeuvring Simulator This facility offers simulation operations involving two different aircraft flights. It consists of inceptors that are capable of being programmed, a visual system with a field of view of up to 360 degrees and a generator system for the target image. The other components include glass instrumentation, high regulating visual system and a generic cockpit that is dome shaped. This flight simulation facility is applicable for both the space and aeronautical research study simulation. In addition to that the facility is also used in the conduction of classified research study experiments (Lee, 2005). The Development and test Simulator This is flight simulation facility that is generally used in is a fixed-based sites. It consists of configuration with two engines of aircraft transport dynamics. Both of the engines contain enhancements that have been realized through the use data and information. The facility also offers support to aeronautic research study through evaluation aircraft systems that are unmanned. This flight simulator is equipped with a system of visual panorama that is also adjustable to allow highly detailed operations of space and aircraft simulation (Phillips, 2004). Flight test Simulator Usage The use of flight simulators in performing experiments and tests started by making use of instrumentation and as well as, control classes. These were put into use as training tools. The simulators allow the students or the trainees to have an opportunity to make designs of control systems on their own and take part in their implementation through testing their functionality. In this case the simulators are very significant in offering avenues for the parameter adjustment and studying the effects of ding that in the outcomes presented and the behaviour observed. In addition all these researchers and those performing experimental research studies are in a good position of observing and identifying the real variables that are capable of altering the normal functionality of a given system. Both computer and laboratory flight test simulators are useful and in alteration of flight control features but when the two are combined, then more accurate and reliable outcomes are obtained (Williams, 2006). Conclusion In conclusion, the analysis and discussion of the outcomes of the flight simulation test exercise have clearly indicated the necessity of the test. The exhibited behaviour and nature of the simulated flight is a proper representation of the actual flights in the actual environment. The behaviour of the graphs following flight simulator test experiment carried out indicates that the stability variables involved are key contributors to the creation of various simulator analysis techniques. The previous flight simulation experiments have majorly been involved with the creation of generic devices with properly loaded flight controls. The flight control devices are also loaded with a motion system with at least three degrees of freedom. At this particular stage of flight test simulation, the simulator is a resemblance of a complete flight operation and controls. However specific aircrafts are replicated as may be needed in further analysis. As the performance of the simulation exercise continues, the variable module of stability becomes part of the process and the entire system constitutes an engineering flight simulator that is found to be very useful in investigation research and teaching. The module of variable stability allows adjustments in the stability of aerodynamics as well as parameters of control stability. The environment for the conduction of the flight test simulation was designed with consideration of the engineering design principles. It was one that is capable of capturing a lot of information and data from the flight simulation facility. The analysis of the data recorded during the flight simulation exercise is done either off line or on line following the completion of recording evaluation and sampling. The model of the flight simulation performed consists of the feature such as the aerodynamic data, the navigation data as well as speed and time duration data. References Allerton, D. (2009). Principles of flight simulation. Chichester, UK, Wiley. Lee, A. T. (2005). Flight simulation: virtual environments in aviation. Aldershot [u.a.], Ashgate Pub. Phillips, W. F. (2004). Mechanics of flight. Hoboken, Wiley. Williams, B. (2006). Microsoft flight simulator as a training aid: a guide for pilots, instructors, and virtual aviators. Newcastle, Wash, Aviation Supplies & Academics Read More