On May 8, 2009, Environmental Tectonic Corporation's (ETC's) National AeroSpace Training and Research (NASTAR®) Center hosted a visit by a retired Navy and USAF Reserve fighter pilot and graduate of the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN), Robert L. (Bob) Shaw, author of the popular "bible" of air combat, Fighter Combat - Tactics and Maneuvering (Naval Institute Press, 1985). Mr. Shaw is also an esteemed adjunct instructor for RedStar flying and training events, nationwide. His visit was to experience, evaluate and comment on ETC's Authentic Tactical Fighting System (ATFS-400™). The ATFS-400 "Phoenix" is a high fidelity, interactive, tactical aircraft cockpit that is integrated into a state-of-the-art high performance "flyable" motion platform. The ATFS-400's modular design enables it to authentically simulate the cockpit, dynamic performance, mission systems and interactive elements of a specific type and model aircraft, in a specific tactical environment.
 
Following a thorough preflight briefing covering the standard flight procedures and capabilities of the ATFS-400™, Shaw (call sign "Mouse"), strapped into the simulator to put it through its paces.  For over one half hour, Shaw flew training events in both the air-to-air (tail-chase) and air-to-ground (low-level flight and bombing) missions.   Upon exiting the F/A-18C cockpit module, the sweat-soaked "Mouse" remarked, "the simulator provided about all the workout I could take." 

 

Following a detailed debrief administered by Dick Leland, President of NASTAR® Center, Shaw offered his impression and evaluation of the realism, performance, and potential benefits of the ATFS-400™ for fighter pilot training. Among Shaw's comments were that "fleet air-combat training in actual tactical aircraft is not the most efficient and cost effective training option. The ATFS-400™ definitely has the potential to greatly improve on the quantitative effectiveness of that experience and at the same time provide the tactical training much more (cost) efficiently.  Though not all simulated tactical aircraft training requires the realism of crushing instantaneous or exhausting sustained G forces, tactical training in close-in Air Combat Maneuvering (ACM) would be greatly enhanced with realistic G forces. The ATFS-400™ supplies instantaneous and sustained G's in a simulated ACM or Close Air Support (CAS) training event to avoid the negative learning transfer that a pilot may otherwise experience in a non-motion flight simulator." 
 In ultra-maneuverable manned fighters, the pilot is likely to be the limiting factor, determining which maneuvers and tactics are successfully employed in the within-visual-range (WVR) environment.  About the realism of the ATFS, Shaw stated,  "beside unmatched G acceleration range and fidelity, the ATFS-400™ has the capability to provide a high resolution and nearly *360 degree visual system, as well as a faithfully modeled cockpit and simulated weapon system, features critical to WVR air-combat training."
 
Bob Shaw's book can be obtained at www.amazon.com.
 
(Editor's note: "These features are currently in development and will be incorporated in the ATFS-400™ "Phoenix" by the end of 2009.)