Post by willi1 on Dec 14, 2023 11:08:23 GMT
The Convair NC-131H Total In-Flight Simulator (TIFS) was developed for the U.S. Army in the late 1960s. Air Force used as a flying flight simulator by engineers at the Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory in Buffalo (later the Calspan Corp.) to study aircraft before actually building an expensive prototype.
To achieve this, the original Convair C-131B Samaritan transport aircraft was subjected to extensive modifications. Its original piston aircraft engines were replaced by turboprop engines that were twice as powerful. The most visually striking changes, however, were the second cockpit in front of the bow and the vertical slats on the wings, which served to stabilize the flight and could simulate crosswinds.
To achieve this, the original Convair C-131B Samaritan transport aircraft was subjected to extensive modifications. Its original piston aircraft engines were replaced by turboprop engines that were twice as powerful. The most visually striking changes, however, were the second cockpit in front of the bow and the vertical slats on the wings, which served to stabilize the flight and could simulate crosswinds.
The TIFS first flew in 1970 and its first research project simulated the flight characteristics of the B-1 bomber. During its long and successful career, TIFS simulated many military and NASA aircraft, including the X-40, Tacit Blue, Space Shuttle, B-2, YF-23 and C-17. It was also used to train test pilots. The TIFS came to the museum on Wright-Patterson AFB after it was decommissioned in 2008 and is on public display in the Air Park.
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