Aviation
Military /
USA
Simulation
Virtual reality is used in the training of US Air Force F-15 Eagle pilots
F-15 EX Eagle II
Public Domain
Rafael Ramos
10/15/2021
The only school in the US for aspiring F-15C pilots, at the base at Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls, Oregon, requires a lot of training. Lt. Col. Julius Romasata, F-15C instructor, often uses the “fly in chair” method, which is the method in which the aspiring pilot mentally visualizes his entire flight.
"All of us 'fly chairs', it's the most important thing we do to prepare for any mission."
Although very efficient, the method presents problems, whereas imagining a tanker's approach to a student's first air-to-air refueling attempt is often very different from reality.
Therefore, the lieutenant colonel is implementing a new method, which should be well known to people who play on the computer: the use of simulation through virtual reality glasses. In addition, students can watch recorded real flight missions and fly simulated missions from their desk or at home.
This is an important training method, which the Lieutenant Colonel calls "enhanced chair flight." This includes practicing flying with dogfighting and flying in formation, as well as being able to fly side by side with a colleague, connecting two computers.
“When I say 'fly a chair', I usually mean that you can imagine what your mission will be. Well, now you can actually fly the mission and experience it, while controlling the aircraft yourself,” says Romasanta. "My initial task was to provide something that students could take home."
Importantly, this type of training does not replace the student's time on the simulator, but adds an important and low-cost complement.
Oculus Rift, an VR technology
Skydeas, CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
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Rafael Ramos
Aviation enthusiast from an early age, he had his first contacts with the area developing that good old habit of spending dozens of hours in front of the screens of Micrsoft Flight Simulator and other simulators. With a solid background in various technological areas, including engineering and chemistry, Rafael has rejoined aviation as editor and author of articles and materials on our portal, providing invaluable help to the dynamics and expansion of the website and the aeronautical community, bringing us the news and updates so indispensable for us to remain current in our area of operation.
   
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