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A flight simulator is an electronic system or a machine that tries to give the user the experience of piloting an aircraft. Depending on the sophistication of the system, a flight simulator may be able to give visual, auditory and even kinaesthetic stimuli to make the experience as realistic as possible.
Simulators range from the basic video arcade or computer game types of flight simulator – which have a certain level of realism regarding flying basics such as calculating crosswinds and making landings – to highly sophisticated cockpit replicas that are fitted with the most up-to-date electronics and can simulate roll, yaw and pitch with hydraulic or other motion.
A flight simulator may even be larger than just the cockpit. Flight simulators that are designed to test aircraft systems may even involve a complete replica aircraft, known in the aerospace manufacturing industry as an "Iron Bird".
Flight simulators are most widely known as training modules for pilots, allowing a beginner to get the general feel of an aircraft before actually taking to the air. They are also used when qualified pilots are wishing to add a new type rating to their licence and learn the general layout and systems of a new aircraft.
Flight simulators are also used to test avionics. Avionics are electronic systems applied to the world of aviation and involve both hardware and software. Examples of avionics that would first be tested in a flight simulator before being used in actual flight could be communications systems, display units or warning systems. The flight simulator in this case, feeds signals into the avionic device and measures its performance and/or compatibility with other in-flight systems.
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