The Origins Of Flight Simulation

Aviation training may seem highly complex now

, but there was a time when everything was a lot less high-tech and a lot more rickety. The origins of the flight simulators you will encounter as a trainee pilot today go all the way back to before the First World War.

Early flight training was of course completely analogue. It involved a series of steps or hops whereby the trainee pilot participated in exercises using a real aircraft but would not be allowed to leave the ground. By practising with the controls they would slowly gain confidence and move to a higher powered engine. Eventually, using this series of hops the pilot would get to take flight. Due to the hopping practice, this method was known as the penguin system, and it was widely used with various adaptations. When the first flight simulator was introduced in 1909 a simple mechanical structure made by French engine manufacturers Antoinette the foundations were set for the evolution of modern flight simulation.

It took several decades however for flight simulation to reach the heights it has today. Versions of flight simulators were developed throughout the Second World War 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, blazing a trail that eventually led to 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.

As a trainee pilot you will be receiving extremely comprehensive in-school training in flight simulation, but it never hurts to push yourself to succeed. A quick browse online should yield surprising results regarding the range and standard of flight simulation software available for you to use at home, on your computer or games console of your choice. You will find flight simulation controls from big name brands in the aviation industry including Boeing, Saitek and Trackir. Flight simulation software is also available from Orbx, VFR, Mega Airport and Extreme Airports.

Today we may have the luxury of flight simulation software, but dont forget that there is plenty of information to be learned the old fashioned way. Look out for training manuals, computer programs, CDs and DVDs to help you on your way to becoming a truly spectacular pilot.

by: Helen Turley

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