MOTION VERSUS VISUAL CUES IN PILOTED FLIGHT SIMULATION.

Two examples are presented to show that motion cues can be vital even when 'adequate' alternative visual cues are available. The first shows that practical, low gain, roll motion cues are better than nominally perfect peripheral vision cues for controlling a vehicle with an unstable dutch roll mode, and the second that motion can be vital even for developing items such as head-up displays for which it might not at first sight seem necessary. The paper concludes that for the prediction and evaluation of handling qualities using a piloted flight simulator it is not always sufficient for the pilot to achieve a similar performance in the simulator as in flight: it is also necessary that he should adopt the same control strategy. To achieve this it is often essential to provide the pilot with motion cues as no substitute in these circumstances has yet been found.