Military Embedded Systems

BAE Systems delivers new F-35 Lightning II simulator for flight trials

News

March 31, 2017

Lisa Daigle

Assistant Managing Editor

Military Embedded Systems

BAE Systems delivers new F-35 Lightning II simulator for flight trials
Simulator image: BAE Systems

LONDON. BAE Systems has developed a new F-35 Lightning II flight simulator facility aimed at enabling pilots to prepare for trials on the U.K. Royal Navy's new aircraft carrier. The ?2m (approximately $2.5 million) simulator facility is intended to be an immersive experience for naval pilots to practice takeoff and landing on the navy's new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier under challenging sea and weather conditions.

The custom-made simulator is made up of a cockpit moved by an electronic motion platform and a faithful representation of the ship’s flying control tower (FLYCO), where a landing signal officer onboard the carrier controls aviation operations.

The simulator will be used by U.K. and U.S. military test pilots who are experienced in flying F-35s on U.S. carriers. Using the simulator, pilots will practice thousands of ski-jump short takeoffs and vertical landings that use both the vertical thrust from the jet engine and aerodynamic lift from the F-35's wings, allowing the aircraft to take off and land on the carrier with increased weapon and fuel loads compared to previously used aircraft.

The new BAE Systems simulator replaces a previous trainer, which was first built in the 1980s to develop technology for the Harrier jump jet and Hawk advanced jet before being converted for F-35 simulation.

 

 

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