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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.'"
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