The Use of Modelling and Simulation to Give Students a HEADSTART into Aerospace Engineering

© 2017, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc, AIAA. All rights reserved. This paper describes the developments and experience gained with the use of a range of flight simulators to support the Aerospace Engineering undergraduate teaching programs at the University of Liverpool. A range of fixed base and motion simulators have been developed to provide a powerful teaching aid for the undergraduate degree programs. Details of these activities and the evolution of new interactive learning opportunities is described. Such facilities also provide an insight to A-level students who are considering studying aerospace engineering at a University. The HEADSTART Aerospace focus program is presented to show how flight simulators provide a ‘vehicle’ to reinforce concepts introduced within a more traditional lecture structure, allowing students to investigate flight dynamics and control problems through physics based models and performing real-time piloted simulations trials.