Fixed-Base Flight Simulator (FlightSim)

Why Barron Associates’ FlightSim?

While testing in a full motion simulator and/or in-flight is often necessary for certification of new cockpit technologies, this type of testing is cost-prohibitive during the design process. Nonetheless, pilot feedback during the design process is crucial to the development of a successful end product. The Barron Associates fixed-base flight simulator is a low-cost alternative to conduct initial pilot evaluations of new crew systems technologies.

System Requirements:

FlightSim is a standalone integrated hardware and software package delivered by Barron Associates.

System Usage:

The Barron Associates fixed-base flight simulator uses two gaming computers with high-end graphics cards, four LCD monitors (three for the out-the-window view, one for the instrument panel), Stirling Dynamics Next Generation Inceptor (used as a force-feedback side-stick), CH Products Pro rudder pedals, Precision Flight Controls two-engine jet throttle quadrant with flap lever, speedbrake lever, and gear switch, and Saitek PRO Flight radio panel for tuning COM1, COM2, altimeter, and squawk code.

Flight simulator showing four display monitors, controls, and pilot chair.

The Barron Associates simulator uses X-Plane to provide the out-the-window visualization. The full X-Plane scenery package covers the Earth in high resolution from 74 north to 60 south latitude. Barron Associates has developed a capability that enables the user to interface a custom simulation with X-Plane.  The physics model within X-Plane is overwritten with key data from the custom simulation including latitude, longitude, altitude, and Euler angles.

Instrument panel for flight simulator.

The Barron Associates simulator features a high resolution glass-cockpit-style instrument panel.  An example instrument panel is pictured above and includes clockwise from top left: the primary flight display (PFD), navigation display, engine indicating and crew alerting system (EICAS), annunciator panel, and clock.

Easy User Customizations:

The software components utilized within the simulator are fully customizable based on the needs of the user. Most existing flight simulator facilities do not allow extensive user customization making it impossible to test most new technologies efficiently. Options include:

  1. customizing the aircraft simulation including the aerodynamic model, sensor/actuator subsystems,  and inner and outer-loop control laws,
  2. customizing the force feel of the side-stick including adding custom tactile and/or haptic feedback, and
  3. customizing the instrument panel by adding new instruments/annunciations, changing the existing instruments, or modifying the layout of the panel.

Barron Associates can either provide the user with an API to allow easy integration of user-supplied code or Barron Associates can implement user-specified customizations.

For pricing and ordering information, contact sales@barron-associates.com

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