Advanced Fighter Controls Flight Simulator for All-Systems Compatibility Testing

Abstract

McDonnell Aircraft Company has developed a flight simulator to serve as a test bed for control systems for advanced fighters. The cockpit of the simulator is adaptable to any fighter cockpit configuration and is located on the nose of a hydraulic, electrical and control system test bed. This paper contains a description of how this unique simulation facility was set up, checked out and operated in the all-systems compatibility testing of the F-4 fly-by-wire Survivable Flight Control System (SFCS). Actual SFCS flight hardware and electronics were mated to an existing control system mock up and to a digital computer simulating F-4 flight dynamics. The simulator flights included takeoff, landing, air-to-air and air-to-ground target tracking and system failures, as well as the usual flight test handling quality maneuvers. In addition, normal and emergency procedures were developed. Thus, through testing and training with the simulator, control system and interface problems were corrected and a high level of confidence in the design of the SFCS was established before an SFCS equipped aircraft was flown. These accomplishments, and a capability for rapid response in testing problems and modifications developed during flight test were major factors in keeping the program on schedule and on cost.