In-flight Simulaton
Fly a Prototype Before it Leaves the Ground
Calspan's industry-leading In-Flight Simulation (IFS) capabilities are highly effective, versatile, and proven. Decades of extensive IFS operations have been instrumental in the development, refinement, and troubleshooting of dozens of aircraft types. This unique capability leverages Calspan's Variable Stability System (VSS) to faithfully replicate relevant stability, control, and/or handling qualities characteristics of nearly any design, all in a protected actual flight environment. Simulations can vary from a conventional bare airframe to a highly augmented prototype with a fly-by-wire flight control system. Beyond the software elements of simulating flight models and control laws, Calspan's VSS-equipped IFS aircraft are also capable of integrating actual hardware and sensors from the vehicles they simulate. This integration can further extend to autonomy testing of the simulated vehicle. An extensive suite of automatic Safety Trips and a Safety Pilot envelop all IFS operations.
True Flight Environment
With IFS, pilots experience real visual, motion, and force cues, with the added stresses of high-workload tasks. Sensors and computers operate on true flight data in real-world conditions.
Adaptable for Autonomy
Calspan IFS aircraft act as flying SIL and/or HIL test platforms for flight models, control laws, and autonomy functions. Integration and test scope are tailored to customer objectives.
Safe, Versatile "Sandbox"
A suite of automatic and manual Safety Trips, coupled with a Safety Pilot, creates a robust "sandbox" within which to test experimental flight models, controls, systems, and maneuvers.
A Real-World Sandbox for Flight Control Development
Calspan’s IFS program enables high-fidelity simulation of novel aircraft behaviors in real flight environments. Whether testing manually flown control laws or autonomous behaviors, IFS missions offer full visual, motion, and force cues—alongside true environmental variables like turbulence, temperature, and workload stress. Our Variable Stability aircraft can act as either Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) or Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testbeds, depending on customer goals. We routinely simulate everything from basic stability modes to high-order digital flight control systems.
Each IFS aircraft includes:
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Variable Stability System (VSS) for real-time simulation
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Configurable onboard compute for custom flight models
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Interfaces for autonomy payloads and flight control computers
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Safety Pilot and automatic safety trip mechanisms
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Live telemetry and data capture capabilities
This “sandbox” environment is ideal for developers looking to refine vehicle dynamics, test sensor-driven flight logic, or validate full control laws under true flight conditions.
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