High fidelity flight training devices in the training of ab initio flight students

The ever-increasing power of computers and the associated decrease in acquisition costs is now enabling the application of high fidelity simulation for the training of ab initio flight students. A two-year study at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is examining a nonmotion flight training device with a wide field of view visual display, slow flight aerodynamic modeling and simulation of the slow flight envelope for use as the principle training medium for students earning a private pilot's certificate. A curriculum comprised of 60% simulated flight and 40% real flight is central to this study. The goal is to examine the degree of transfer effectiveness from flight training in state-of-the-art flight training devices to real aircraft.