Acceptance testing of a rotorcraft flight simulator for research and teaching: the importance of unified metrics

The expanding requirements for rotorcraft operations in harsh environments along with the introduction of tiltrotor aircraft into both civil and military service and the extensive replacement of large numbers of airframes dating from the 1960s and 1970s, are some of the challenges facing the rotorcraft industry today. Successful completion of the conception-design-build-test/qualification-production-operation cycle of helicopters is highly dependent on the use of modelling and simulation. In addition, flight simulators have become integral to the manufacturing, training and research communities and their utilisation is expanding rapidly. The quantification of simulation fidelity underpins the confidence required for the expanding use of flight simulation in design, to reduce real life testing, and to provide a safe environment for pilot training. Current simulator standards do not provide a fully quantitative method for assessing simulation fidelity, especially in a research environment. This paper details the commissioning and acceptance process of the new research flight simulation facility at the University of Liverpool, HELIFLIGHT-R and its subsequent use in a new research project aimed at developing new predicted and perceived measures of simulator fidelity. Some initial results from both piloted simulation and flight tests using the Bell 412 ASRA aircraft are reported within the context of the rotorcraft simulation fidelity project.