The handling qualities simulation program for the augmentor wing jet STOL research aircraft

Aircraft have been simulated on computers for a variety of reasons. The training of pilots and crews on operational flight trainers, for example, is a common use of simulation. Subsystems of aircraft are often simulated to firm up the design of the hardware and frequently the whole aircraft must be simulated to help in the design of the subsystems. This is the case in the simulation of the Augmentor Wing Jet STOL Research Aircraft, a modified de Havilland C8-A Buffalo, in which the total aircraft was simulated to determine final design values for control systems and devices which augment control of the aircraft. For research and development simulations such as this one, simulation software and hardware must have general application while in piloted "man-in-the-loop" simulations speed of computation is the overriding concern. Thus the aircraft model and computer software and hardware must be merged to provide an accurate simulation which meets the needs of the research objectives.