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Aviation History
1954
1954 - 1142.PDF
508 FLIGHT IN ON THE GROUND FLOOR Twin Simulator with Mechanical Computor Air Trainers, Ltd., THE flight simulator has come into its own. What used to be a small blue sweat-box perched high on a pedestal full of pneumatic tricks has developed into the vastly complicated and ingenious device now referred to as a flight simulator. Hitherto only the airline companies have used electronic simulators for crew training and familiarization, but now the Sendees, too, have taken them up. Tremendous ingenuity is being used to reproduce in an essentially life less machine all the characteristics of a live aircraft, and the "boffins" who design these machines have succeeded in reproducing practically every one of the great variety of flight conditions to which an actual aircraft is subjected. Basically, ground trainers can be divided into four main types: those which represent a specific aircraft; those which do not; the fixed-base type whose frame does not move on its mounting; and the movable machine which pivots like the traditional Link Trainer. When Flight visited Air Trainers, Ltd., of Aylesbury, recently, they were making all four types. They first pro duced the basic Link Trainer, which was originally designed in America. Then, after the war, they brought this design up to date by equipping it with pitch and boost controls, flaps and undercarriage. The developed machine became known as the D4 (Services D4 Mk 1), many of which are now used, both in the Services and by civil companies. Last year, Air Trainers produced the D4 Mk 2. This is a moving machine externally similar to the D4 Mk 1, but equipped to simulate approxi mately the performance of a Meteor. It is fitted with G4F compass, retractable under carriage and flaps, I.L.S., dive brakes, pistol-^rip control column, and sliding throttle of the Meteor type. It is "single-engined." The D4 Mk 2 was described briefly in Flight, April 10th, 1953, and at that time deliveries to the R.A.F. were just beginning. Many of these machines, An artist's impression of the complete AT110 installation. The cockpit of the new AT110 ground trainer, showing the instrument and control layout. called AT50 by the makers, are now being produced for export to several foreign governments, and they are at the moment being built at Aylesbury on a production-line basis. Air Trainers have now produced the electronic AT30, a twin-engined jet-fighter simulator for the Meteor. As one of the accompanying photographs shows, the cockpit layout, apart from the two top rows of instruments, is identical with that of the Meteor. The non-standard instruments include I.L.S., zero reader, clock, radio altimeter, D.M.E. and radio compass. The AT30 is so far a "one off" machine, and has been installed at R.A.F. Station Driffield for experiments in simulated instrument flying for pilots undergoing jet conversion. The machine is of the fixed-base type, but it reproduces high-speed buffet by actual shaking of the cabin, and it also allows the simulation of the traditional gamut of hair-raising failures. The aircraft track is recorded by a creeping needle on a rectangular plotting board. This replaces the tradi tional crab and table. The cockpit canopy is made in frosted material, through which it is impossible to see, but which allows daylight to enter; this gives an excel lent impression of flying in cloud. For simulated night flying, black cloth covers can be fitted externally and secured with pop fasteners. Displayed at Farnborough last year was the AT100, a twin-engined side-by-side two-seater moving trainer, corresponding approximately to Convair 240 performance. It has a cruising speed of 165 m.p.h. at 16,000ft, maximum speed of 326 m.p.h. and a sea-level stalling speed, with flaps and without power, of 100 m.p.h. The instructor mans a conventional desk and crab. One climbs into the AT100 from the back, and walks for ward to the large pilot's compartment, where the full flying and engine instruments and controls are fitted. Automatic radio compass, manual loop, manual and automatic radio- range equipment, D.M.E., I.L.S. and three-fight marker equipment are mounted in a panel in the ceiling. The AT100 is therefore capable of reproducing realistically the full range of blind-flying and airline procedures. Flight's representative made a short flight in the ATIOO, which handles pleasantly enough, being light, sensitive, and responsive. He did notice the familiar "feel" of the D4, but, as the device is not designed to reproduce a particular air craft, it can do no more than simulate the behaviour of aero planes in general. It is, however, extremely useful for general training, and has what is probably the unique characteristic of a moving cabin for a two-seat twin-engined trainer. The moving trainer undoubtedly has great advantages in flight simulation, since a large part of a pilot's reactions are
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