✍ Scribed by J.M. Rolfe
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
After tracing the development of flight simulators, the author refers to the simulators used for research at the RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine, describing seven examples of the Institute's research carried out with their aid. These cover a comparison of attitude indicators, pilot response, motion cues and landing performance, student pilots assessments, familiarisation behaviour, evaluating an airborne navigation display, and attitude and opinion surveys.
In the United Kingdom, behavioural research using devices which seek to reproduce the flight task on the ground can be traced as far back as World War I. Anderson (1919) devised an apparatus in which a candidate's response to disturbances of aircraft attitude could be measured. In this apparatus, the examiner was able to tilt the fuselage either laterally or fore and aft and the pilot had to correct this, the time taken being recorded. Devices of this nature were considered to be of value in the selection of the potential pilot. Reid & Burton (1924) described a series of experiments which measured psychomotor responses in relation to flying. Again, the basic apparatus was a modified aircraft fuselage with functioning displays and controls, The experimenters produced results indicating the relationship between variability of response, susceptibility to distraction, and assessments of pilot competence. The report concluded with the suggestion that a device which required subjects to make responses on the ground similar to those used to fly an aircraft could be used to: a.
Test the subject's 'ability to fly and land successfully'.
b.
Test the 'rate and progress of acquisition of flying skill'.
c.
Train 'pupils to acquire on the ground those particular co-ordinations necessary for aircraft control'.
Classify subjects for different forms of flying service'.
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