F/A-18 Simulation Validation and Verification - Making a Good Product Even Better

The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) F/A-18 flight simulator has numerous uses in the Test and Evaluation and fleet communities which include flight test risk reduction, pilot proficiency training, mishap investigation, and basic research. It is imperative that the simulation accurately model the F/A-18 airplane for valid training or efficient flight testing. To ensure that the F/A-18 simulation properly models the aircraft in flight, it was necessary to collect dynamic data across the entire flight envelope of the F/A-18 airplane in several weapon loadings. This paper discusses the results of a flight test program that will improve the fidelity of the F/A- 18 simulation by providing the necessary flight data to update its aerodynamic data base throughout the flight envelope. Specific topics to be addressed include scope of the test conducted, test methodology used, and instrumentation systems developed specifically for this flight test program