GB1341406A - Flight simulator apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1341406 Flight simulator BRITISH AIRCRAFT CORP Ltd 10 March 1972 [23 Dec 1970] 61008/70 Heading B7W A flight simulator includes a substantially part-spherical concave screen 12, Fig. 1, and a simulated cockpit 10 and pilot's station 11 generally equidistant from all parts of the screen and a projection device 14 comprising a translucent member which is shaped and tinted so that a light source 22, which is movable in three perpendicular directions by a system 23, Fig. 2, to simulate changes in aircraft position, projects sky and ground scenes on to the screen. The translucent member comprises a base 20 and a dome 21 of partly clear and partly blue tinted acrylic sheet, and there may be cutouts 24, 25 on the base for representing a daylight scene, or a movable perforated steel band (36), Fig. 3 (not shown) for simulating airport lights at night. The cockpit is tiltable about three perpendicular axes by a gimbal system 13 and the projection device is mounted so as to be tiltable about three perpendicular axes with respect to the cockpit on a system 15 comprising a shaft 16 rotatably mounted on a trolley 17 movable on an arcuate track 18 pivotable in bearings 19 on either the front (Fig. 1) or the roof (not shown) of the cockpit. If, for example, a control command corresponding to aircraft bank is given, the cockpit tilts, while the projection device tilts about the bearings 19 so as to remain level with respect to the screen; then as the bank angle is held the cockpit is slowly returned to level, the projection device remaining fixed with respect to the cockpit so that an appropriate simultated horizon angle is maintained. If the cockpit is of the kind having two pilot seats then inaccuracy of perspective may be corrected by providing windscreens which are prismatic, for example tapered tanks filled with liquid paraffin.