Techniques for the Initial Evaluation of Flight Simulator Effectiveness.

This report presents an analysis of the development and initial evaluation of Air Force flight simulators. The objectives of the study were to determine the criterion variables most applicable to an initial flight simulator evaluation and to develop a general technique for the evaluation of these criterion variables. The research began with a review of current Navy, Army, and Air Force flight simulator development and evaluation techniques. This review, combined with information gathered from related sources, provided the basis for examination and selection of criterion variables. The variables examined by this effort were: aircraft flight time saved, training efficiency, transfer of training, fidelity of psychological simulation, fidelity of engineering simulation, and simulator effectiveness. The examination of these variables concentrated on their measurability during an initial flight simulator evaluation and their ability to predict how well a flight simulator would perform its intended mission. Following the examination of criterion variables, the research concentrated on the development of a technique for the evaluation of applicable criterion variables. The resulting technique is a combination of the traditional quantitative techniques plus some subjective techniques. The purpose of the subjective techniques is to identify simulator characteristics that are perceived to be different from the real work aircraft characteristics and to assess the impact that these differences will have on the operational use of the flight simulator. (Author)