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Swedish Flight Simulator Adds G Forces
jonerik writes "According to this article in Aviation Week and Space Technology, Sweden's Dynamic Flight Simulator (DFS) is believed to be the first flight simulator which actually allows fighter pilots to experience G forces under simulated conditions. Designed and built by California-based Wyle Laboratories, the DFS is essentially a flight simulator capsule (in this case for Sweden's JAS 39 Gripen fighter) located at the end of a 30-foot centrifuge arm. 'We wanted to give pilots the ability to "fly" and interact with the environment rather than just be a passive [centrifuge] rider,' said Will Roberts, program manager for Wyle Laboratories' DFS programs. 'We've come a long way in being able to translate the six degrees-of-freedom you get in an aircraft into the three degrees-of-freedom that we can control in a centrifuge. It's not perfect, but we think it's pretty good. There's room for more research to make it even better.'"
No poor standards as far as we know (specifically), but the US has always made a point to make advances in training. Early on there were the T-38 trainers. Eventually the Navy started the whole TOP GUN program. The Air Force has it's advanced facilities out in Dreamland. Much of the military training programs were started to meet a specific goal, but some were simply because the advance was possible.
If you can effectively train a pilot to handle the effects of G-forces in a cockpit-like environment before sending them up in a multi-million dollar (and potentially classified) plane (with added liability, potential for damage), moreso the better.
It's also interesting that this is getting investigated from a security perspective, as the possibility of foreign nationals being trained inside our our jets becomes a larger concern. Publicity on longer "grounded" training could discourage moles/spies from enrolling in the programs, knowing in advance that they wouldn't be granted access to real equipment.
Nothing but the finest in meaningless drivel
What is it exactly that the Swedish use these fighters for? [..] I'm just thinking that I can't recall hearing in recent memory of a Swedish border conflict, or a Swedish peace-keeping force.
That's because there weren't any. They're that good.
SCO employee? Check out the bounty
Sweden was a big power back in the 15th-17th centuries, then the rise of Russia stole thier thunder.
In the Second World War they got really spooked by the Russian invasion of Finland and ramped up thier aviation industry by licensing German designs, then British designs and tossing that in with home-grown technology while making a profit from selling raw materials and arms to both sides.
In the Cold War Sweden took a slightly pro-western approach but was openly neutral, and thats when thier aerospace industry really took off.
They had a series of 3 great fighters from the 50s to the 80s with the J35A Draken, J32B Lansen and JA37 Viggen.
During the Post-War/Cold-War era the Swedes also bought American and British aircraft, araments and technology.
The current fighter the Swedes are building is the Gripen, there have been foriegn sales - Switzerland and South Africa IIRC and Saab Aerospace has been bought by British Aerospace recently.
The Gripen is less "home-grown" that previous Swedish fighters
Flight control system, product series 1, Lear Astronics, USA
Flight control system, product series 2, Martin Marietta, USA
Basic engine F404, General Electric, USA
Air conditioning control, Hymatic Engineering,UK
Landing gear, AP Precision Hydraulics,UK
APU and engine start aggregator, Microturbo, France
Emergency power and transfer, Lucas Aerospace, UK
Inertia navigation, Honeywell, USA
Cannon, Mauser-Werke, Germany
Ejection seat, Martin Baker, UK
Main generator, Sundstrand, USA
Hydraulic system and transfer, Dowty, UK
Brakes, Aircraft Breaking Systems, USA
Fuel system, Intertechnique, France
Sidewinder AIM-9 AAM, USA
AMRAAM AIM-120 AAM, USA
http://www.sci.fi/~fta/sweden4.htm
Sweden takes part of peace-keeping missions all the time, mostly under U.N. flag, but they also have troops in Kosovo; I believe in the British sector.
Although it may not be that recent, Sweden did have a long-standing maritime border conflict with the USSR, during which Soviet MiG fighters would violate Swedish airspace on a regular basis. JAS 39 Gripen was designed in part to make sure that the RSAF would be able to outfly the Soviets. A little obsolete right now, though, especially since those areas are now the Baltic countries with which Sweden has excellent relations.
The end of the Cold War definitely has put the role of the traditional Swedish military in question. The threat of an invasion is currently zero, and the only realistic way that could change would be a major and very sudden change in Russia. This is also true of NATO; I personally suspect that we'll see a major realignment of the role of NATO, the EU defence force (WEU), and the neutral countries (Sweden, Finland, Austria and Ireland) within the next decade.