18.1 FLIGHT SIMULATION IN ACADEMIA PROGRESS WITH HELIFLIGHT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL

Developments in affordable, PC-based simulation technologies have allowed flight simulators to be acquired and operated by academic institutions for both research and teaching. This paper describes the ongoing activities of such a system at the University of Liverpool – HELIFLIGHT with 6 degrees of freedom motion, wide field of view visuals and programmable force-feel system. Used in combination with the FLIGHTLAB modelling environment, HELIFLIGHT is a high fidelity research tool available to both professional engineers and undergraduates, enabling the examination of handling qualities and pilot-vehicle technology issues. In addition to industry-related applied research activities, the facility has also been utilised as a valuable interactive teaching device in undergraduate degree programmes and encourages the development of new problembased-learning (PBL) modules. The progress in various research activities is described in this paper, including; the European Commission funded project to develop handling qualities criteria and active control technologies for civil tilt rotor aircraft, the development of simulation fidelity criteria for helicopter real-time simulation, skyguides research as well as a novel approach to the teaching of Flight Handling Qualities to undergraduates using PBL. Examples from undergraduate project work and the 2003 Academy of Engineering HEADSTART Aerospace Focus programme will also be drawn on to describe progress after 4 years of operation with HELIFLIGHT at Liverpool. During this period, the Liverpool Wright Brothers project has included the development of simulations of the Wright brothers’ flight vehicles from 1901 to 1905.