Development of the AH-1Z Full Flight Simulator for the US Marine Corps

The AH-1Z attack Helicopter Full Flight Simulator (FFS) has been developed by Bell Helicopter and its subcontractor FlightSafety International. The AH-1Z simulator "cockpit" is enclosed within a 24-foot spherical dome placed on a six degree of Freedom (6DOF) Electric Motion system. The AH-1Z FFS has a 270 x 70 degree field of view seven channel display system projected on the dome surface. This paper will focus on three key areas of customer design solutions for the AH-1Z FFS: 1) Development of the 24-foot dome and image generation technologies, 2) Simulator "sensation of flight" cues through motion, control loading, and Aerodynamics model, and 3) Avionics systems data correlation into a 24-foot dome display system for resolving parallax and symbology error of the Helmet Mounted Site Display (HMSD) tactical sensor. The paper will also examine the systems engineering processes used in simulator development for meeting customer objectives.