In terms of human performance, only one out of twenty can become a true pilot as the psychophysical stress loads are too high, so are the requirements to health, intellectual ability and stress resistance. Well, what shall you do if you’ve been dreaming of becoming an airline pilot but the door to the sky is shut for you for whatever reason?
If even a recreational flight school won’t admit you then computer simulators may be a good alternative. To date, there are a whole lot of computer games that make piloting an airplane on a PC display as similar and close to real-life flights as possible (a display picture, flight controls, dashboards, simulation of emergency situations).
A more interesting solution is the Boeing 737NG flight simulator based on the augmented reality technologies (cockpit motion, accelerations and overloads imitation, warning sounds and super high resolution visualization of the environment). To date, it surpasses other flight simulators in conveying the sensations of pilots operating a modern aircraft as well as naturalistically simulates various flight situations and ensures full immersion in the world of aviation.
The cockpit
The Boeing 737NG flight simulator is a simulator that thoroughly imitates the control and handling of a real aircraft. It can easily and rightfully serve for practicing take-offs & landings, desired route flight and pilot’s response protocol in different weather conditions. So if you happen to hold the yoke in your hands consider yourself handling a real airliner.
The flight simulator’s cockpit is a full replica of the Boeing 737NG original cockpit. Pilot seats, dashboards with true-to-life flight parameters displayed and yokes, with the cockpit’s instant response.
The co-pilot seat is designated for an instructor pilot who is to guide you through the flight and train you in the instruments and cockpit indications rapid reading, i.e. altitude & speed parameters and horizon glow. During the flight he will be assisting you in comprehending the instrument data, appropriate responding and decision-making.
The cockpit is mounted on the six-degree-of-freedom (6DoF) motion platform.
Apart from the visual perception of what is going on, an “operator” gets physical sensations of overloads similar to those in reality. While inside the simulator, he feels all the impacts created by the platform’s upper part deviations and equates them to virtual reality.
With flight simulators, pilot’s inertia about pilot seat is considered to be the basis for creating any motion or transposition illusions, that is to say the difference in the inertial effect upon an «operator» and his vehicle.
The real-flight effect is reinforced by the spherical screens that display the picture of the outer environment projected, as if behind the windows of a real Boeing 737. It is changeable depending on this or that flight scenario and your actions while handling the yoke. “Through the window”, you will have a chance to enjoy the sights of world’s best airports - in high definition - as well as the rushing runway and the fading earth beneath, lights of distant cities and thunderstorm clouds in the sky. Synchronous visual, tactile and inertial effects in the cockpit actually deliver full immersion in the real-life piloting.
Flight scenarios
So, after the pre-flight instruction & brief from an instructor pilot and upon familiarization with the dashboard you commence to perform the true checklist, taxi to the runway, increase the engines power and start to accelerate. The cockpit tilts backward, the overload pushes you into the seat, and you feel the fuselage vibration and runway seams. Upon reaching the lift-off speed you smoothly pull the yoke, the runway goes down then, the overload increases and the climb with a constant vertical speed starts.
After reaching the preset altitude the thrust decreases, the plane flies smoothly sinking into air pockets and reverberating from side bumpiness at times. You perform a smooth U-turn to take an overflight of Dubai - skyscrapers, wave-built archipelagos, picturesque coastline. The bird's-eye view is stunning and absolutely real.
After making a circle over the city and the sea you start to perform a stepdown descent and runway approach at one of the biggest airports in the world. Then you set your landing speed, release the thrust and control the roll along the centre-line until the main landing gear hits the ground. Congratulations! You have landed!
At your choice, you can fly over the English Channel from London to Paris, perform maneuvers in the snowy Alps (Munich - Innsbruck) or over the Bay of Kotor in the Andriatic, with a complex landing at the Tivat Airport, or choose a flight from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.
If this is not enough for you TFT.aero is always ready to offer you a number of flight scenarios covering emergency situations, such as weather storm, failed engine or emergency landing on the Hudson. These are the options for a strong nervous system - extremely realistic, with a whole lot of impressions and adrenaline rush.
Follow the series of articles:
The TFT.aero Boeing 737 high-tech attraction in Dubai scow is an unforgettable experience:
Dubai’s “adrenaline” attractions
How to become the hero of your own movie in the role of an airplane pilot!