Teaching Aircraft Flight Performance in Aeronautical Engineering Using PC-Based Flight Simulation

This paper describes some ways in which PC-based flight simulation can be used to teach aircraft flight performance and flight testing to aeronautical engineering students. Two PC-based flight simulation programs are used here for this purpose: the Jeppesen FS200 PCATD and Microsoft Flight Simulator 98. Examples of student flight test assignments using these programs are given for cruise (straight and level, unaccelerated) flight, climbs, descents (power off glide), and for (level) maneuvering flight. Simulation flight test data from these assignments are presented and compared to theory. It is concluded that PC-based flight simulation can be a valuable tool for illustrating flight performance and flight testing to aeronautical engineering students and can be challenging, interesting and fun for students.