Full motion Spitfire / Mustang simulators

I also remember flying in a simulator at either Chivenor (presumably, therefore, a Hunter) or it might have been Marham, as a cadet. This would have been in the late ’60’s or conceivably 1970/71.

It didn’t have any motion, that I recall (maybe it was locked down), and the entire cadet flight took turns in the seat.

At the end we were reliably informed that we’d been flying underground for several hundred miles!!!

I think the terrain was modelled somewhere in England?

I believe it was Wales and Scotland – I remember being asked to overfly the Severn Bridge.

I successfully avoided the giant martian spider.

I think there were nine massive computers being used. Of course, this was at just about the advent of the microprocessor. We’re talking 1975 or so, 37 years ago.

Does anyone have any pictures of it?

If I remember correctly, the source for the visuals mentioned by RobAnt on the Jag sim at Lossie was quite a vast small scale 3D model with a camera mounted overhead….can anyone confirm ???

Indeed you are correct. I was specifically warned not to crash into the terrain, as it would damage both the flying camera head, and the model.

The model was contained in at least three hangers, if I remember correctly.

There was one of these simulators at Coltishall as well.
I seem to remember there were 2 layouts, side be side. Germany may have been mentioned as a replica but it was a long time ago (20 years or so).

John

If I remember correctly, the source for the visuals mentioned by RobAnt on the Jag sim at Lossie was quite a vast small scale 3D model with a camera mounted overhead….can anyone confirm ???

Thats correct! Must have been smaller than 1:144 scale. It took up a large building. The model sat on an elevated platform with raised vertical sides. There was a gantry which ran on tracks mounted either side of the diorama with a camera mounted, the head of which ‘flew’ the camera at the eyelevel of the Jaguar. I think the terrain was modelled somewhere in England?

When you flew the Sim camera out of the area the camera stopped and the image greyed out, same as in a loop, you went into the ‘clouds’. There were banks and banks of lights up and down the room which together with the massive analogue computer holding it all together cost a fortune to run.

I was initially disapointed when I saw the model, however once in the cockpit and flying I have to say that the analogue nature of the visuals displayed had a quality that surpasses the computer graphics even today.

There was a very LARGE spider on the final approach to the airfield too!

I did fly the Jaguar simulator at RAF Lossiemouth in the mid 70’s, and that was a full cockpit on massive hydraulic rams – but visuals were limited to a monitor sitting in the front windshield.

If I remember correctly, the source for the visuals mentioned by RobAnt on the Jag sim at Lossie was quite a vast small scale 3D model with a camera mounted overhead….can anyone confirm ???

I remember a flight sim with pretty much full motion in the basement of the Trocadero (Piccadilly). The cockpit seat was encased in a gimbal arrangement, which enabled the seat to be spun through huge degrees of rotation in any direction. It didn’t provide (obviously) any vertical sensations, however.

Spent ALOT of time on that machine!!! i remember it very well.. aircraft carrier – F15. it wasn’t very popular so I never had to queue up for it!

i always wondering how the machine could be adapted for vertical sensation etc.. they could have installed a seat with hydraulic harness that applies pressure on the front when going up and the back of the seat pushing in etc. i guess there might be other way to do it. but the machine was joy! oh the endless rolls with any kills.. good memories 🙂

I can see no reason why this wouldn’t be possible.

But for mass/home production you might have difficult with the Health and Safety people.

I remember a flight sim with pretty much full motion in the basement of the Trocadero (Piccadilly). The cockpit seat was encased in a gimbal arrangement, which enabled the seat to be spun through huge degrees of rotation in any direction. It didn’t provide (obviously) any vertical sensations, however.

I did fly the Jaguar simulator at RAF Lossiemouth in the mid 70’s, and that was a full cockpit on massive hydraulic rams – but visuals were limited to a monitor sitting in the front windshield. Such a design would give the H&S directorate kitten constipation in an unregulated environment.

But otherwise the technology resides in an everyday PC these days to provide the various inputs and resulting output instructions.

If a “domestic” design could pass their rigorous inspections, and the cost could be kept to a sensible limit (say that of an expensive armchair) I’d be one of the first to go and buy a new piggie in which to stash the required cash!

Aside from the ubiquitous fairground attractions, I don’t think a real full motion sim would be worthwhile.

What would be more interesting is some device that could fool your senses, without actually moving you at all. Even then, it would probably make you so dizzy, that if you weren’t properly restrained when someone comes calling, you’d most likely stumble around like someone drunk while trying to reach the front door.

It might be okay for an airline simulator, but a fully aerobatic fighter or sports plane would be somewhat more difficult to consider.

Wow !

How difficult would it be to build these to faithfully replicate the two types in terms of the experience and make them a useful training tool?

Have you seen this one David?

http://www.simhardware.org/index.html

Just curious as most of us won’t be getting our hands on the real thing!

David

I suspect that the building of a simulator would be no great problem, always assuming a demand!

Regards

Eric