Flight Simulation Software Past And Present

The training tools available for a pilot-to-be are so highly developed these days

both mechanically and technologically that you might assume flight simulation to be a very modern invention. And it is in the strictest sense of the word, but it has been around in various forms since before the advent of the First World War.

It all began in 1909, when the first version of the flight simulator was developed for pilots training to fly a French Antoinette aircraft, a monoplane. Antoinette, a French manufacturer of light gasoline engines, operated a flying school in Chlons, France. Its very first model of a flight simulator was decidedly analogue: it consisted simply of a seat mounted in a half-barrel and two wheels. The whole unit was pivoted so that two assistants outside could pitch and roll the device in accordance with the pilots use of the wheels, using long wooden rods attached to the barrel structure. The whole machine was operated by the assistants outside the structure responding to the action that the trainee pilot took.

Versions of flight simulators were developed throughout World War II and during the Cold War; many of these did not move but were exact replicas of the cockpit and controls. It was during the Cold War that visual simulators gradually began to be developed, laying the foundations for the technology we have today. In fact, the use of digital computers in flight simulation began in the 1960s; by the 1980s it was commonplace in commercial pilot training.

Today, the spectrum of flight simulators is quite vast. They range from simple Part-Task Trainers (PTTs) these include relatively low-cost training devices such as a Flight and Navigation Procedures Trainer (FNPT) and a Flight Training Device (FTD) to Full Flight Simulators (FFS) with comprehensive aerodynamic and systems modelling. Pilots in training will no doubt be familiar with these, but it may help you on your way if you have an outlet away from your flight school that will help you practise what you learn on site.

Browse online for the latest in flight simulation software; theres quite a range available, so there is something to suit all budgets. Different simulation software is compatible with different platforms, so you can choose something to work on your PC or Mac, PS3 or X Box. If you get serious about continuing your training at home, you might also want to look into buying some complementary hardware to go with it: this will really complete the experience.

by: Helen Turley

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