F-18E/F Flight Model Re-host in D-Six
In support of U.S. Navy's F-18 E/F development & evaluation activity, NAVAIR required capabilities to perform independent simulation evaluation, flight data review and analysis. Bihrle was tasked to re-host Boeing F-18 E/F flight model in the
D-Six simulation environment. The model development also included the provision for full out the window graphics for carrier operations as well as a pilot control interface.
This high fidelity engineering model used was the same model in use in St. Louis and Patuxent River for engineering development and included multi-dimensional aerodynamic tables plus math models of the propulsion system, flight control system, and hinge moment characteristics. The
entire flight model was composed of greater than 6,700 Equivalent 2-D tables (more than 1.7 million datapoints) with more than 4,700 Variables in the flight model and FORTRAN flight control code (over 30,000 lines of code). Additionally, Bihrle provided the gear and tail hook model; so
that carrier landings can be performed.
In order to take full advantage of the performance offered by D-Six's native table look-up function, the model's data tables were converted from Boeing's CTAB format via AeroPort and expeditiously integrated into D-Six. Because of the complex nature of the flight control and hinge
moment model, the original Boeing MODSDF FORTRAN flight control code was recompiled and linked directly in D-Six. This capability to reuse existing code coupled with D-Six's built-in analysis tools such as Overdrive significantly minimized coding and verification efforts. As a result
the original hosting of this very complex simulation, including validation, was completed in fewer than four man-months. Additionally, the D-Six F-18 E/F model has supported many revisions to the aerodynamics model and changes to the flight control laws from 1996 to 2000 using Aeroport
and the other D-Six tools.
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