PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Negative G possible in commercial airline simulator?
Old 5th Feb 2016, 10:28
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IsDon
 
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Sydney
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No. Not possible.

It's just a box, bolted to the floor, with six hydraulic jacks in between.

It creates the sensation of acceleration by tilting the box backwards while keeping the vision constant. Your eyes don't register a change, but you get pushed back in your seat, so your brain interprets that as linear acceleration, which it isn't really.

All other sensations are created the same way.

So while it can create an instantaneous jolt to register a rough landing or simulate turbulence, it can only do so for a very short period which is limited by the travel of the jacks. So it can't, for example, even simulate the two gs you would experience in a constant 60 degree angle of bank turn. It can simulate the stick forces, but not the g.

I've flown several jet simulators under the Sydney Harbour Bridge inverted, just for fun, with varying levels of success. While the "aircraft" is inverted, with all the visible cues you would get in an inverted aircraft, the motion just tends to give up past about 60 degrees of bank. Of course the sim is still right side up. It's actually an odd feeling. Your eyes telling you your upside down, but your butt telling you you're right side up.

Probably easier to just try it in the real aeroplane, no false sensations making it difficult. Now there's a thought. We'd make the news.

Last edited by IsDon; 5th Feb 2016 at 10:47.
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