GB874071A - Improvements in and relating to ground-based aviation trainers - Google Patents

Abstract

874,071. Grounded flight trainers. GENERAL PRECISION SYSTEMS Ltd. Sept. 12, 1957 [June 12, 1956], No. 18117 /56. Class 4. A ground based aircraft trainer has a dummy cockpit, means for tilting the cockpit about at least one horizontal axis in such a way that the sense and degree of tilt at any instant are representative of the sense and magnitude of the forces assumed to be acting on the aircraft simulated by the trainer and means for regulating the rate of tilting so that the displacement of the cockpit with time diminishes as the cockpit moves from one position to another so that the ultimate cessation of the movement is imperceptible. A dummy cockpit 2, provided with controls 4 and indicating instruments 6, is suspended above the student's 'head by a universal joint 8 and is tilted fore and aft by hydraulic rams 10, 12 connected to the cockpit through cables 14, 16. An analogue computer 18, the inputs to which are derived from the setting of the controls 4, continuously computes the accelerating or decelerating forces resulting from adjustment of the cockpit controls and provides voltages, representing the forces, which are applied to servomotors 20 to actuate the control valves 22 of the servomotors. The arrangement is such that sudden operation of the controls will result in the application of high acceleration forces to the cockpit but at all times the movement of the cockpit diminishes gradually. Further rams may be provided to apply lateral acceleration forces to the cockpit in accordance with supposed aerodynamic side forces and a visual impression of travel may be given to the student by projection equipment and a viewing screen which must move with the cockpit to retain the illusion of the application of acceleration forces.