VR for new Navy flight trainers

ORLANDO, Fla. - Naval Air Systems Command is looking to leverage virtual reality (VR) technology to build flight simulation trainers for the T-45 Goshawk, TH-57 helicopter, and F/A-18 Super Hornet that are deployable and make better use of real flights. The Naval Aviation Training Systems program office is developing those new trainers, according to Chris Foster, program office for aviation warfare training development. His comments were part of a Nov. 28, panel discussion here at the 2017 Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference. Two TH-57 part-task trainers (PTTs) will be aimed at making trainees more comfortable before their first low-level familiarization flights. Low-level flights for beginning TH-57 students “are quite overwhelming," Foster said. The design is to put students through a few VR familiarization flights on a desktop trainer to improve performance before they take a first low-level flight in the TH-57. The T-45 systems will also have two PTTs utilizing VR to render the trainer improved fidelity and cutting down on the high-life cycle of current T-45 dome simulators. The PTTs will use an actual operation T-45 flight trainer where the trainee sits while outfitted with VR goggles. In addition to the new flight trainers, VR could also play a key role in new immersive mishap awareness training, managed by the Naval Air Warfare Center Training System Division’s battle laboratory in collaboration with the program office and the Pensacola-based Naval Survival Training Institute. (Source: Naval Air Systems Command 11/30/17) Central Mississippi Note: NAS Meridian, Miss., is among three air stations that fly the T-45C Goshawk. NAS Whiting Field, Fla., trains TH-57 helicopter pilots.