An assessment of a potential test technique - Virtual Flight Testing (VFT)

The Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC), located at Arnold Air Station, TN, is known as a world-class aerospace flight simulation test facility. AEDC continues to strive to be the leader in ground simulation by providing innovative services and uses of the many ground simulation facilities located at AEDC. One such service that AEDC is currently pursuing consists of linking various test and evaluation (T&E) facilities, both on-site and offsite, to provide simultaneous T&E of individual aerospace system components. The idea is simple and creates a vision with unlimited possibilities. Linking ground testing facilities with other evaluation capabilities is not a new idea, but is now practical because of the advances in high-speed data acquisition, computation, and electronic communication. By networking individual T&E facilities, multiple hardware, and software subsystems, an aerospace system can be constructed and operated in a simulated flight environment. Hence, the term "Virtual Flight Testing" (VFT) is used to indicate the integration of multiple test and evaluation facilities in a simulated flight environment.