The Concorde Simulator
Concorde Simulator History:
The British Airways Concorde simulator was built at a cost of around £3 million (£20 million at today's prices) and entered service in late 1975. It was a joint venture between Link-Miles, who built the cockpit and the hydraulic platfom and Redifon Flight Simulation who were responsible for the computer, interface and visual system. The sim was based at the British Aircraft Corporation facility at Filton, near Bristol. It stood on a six axis motion system (pitch, roll, yaw, heave, sway and surge) consisting of large hydraulic jacks. Originally the view out of the cockpit windows was generated by a Redifon 'Duoview' closed-circuit TV system which consisted of a small camera moving over three giant model landscapes that were mounted vertically in an adjacent room. The images from this camera were then projected onto large screens in front of the cockpit windows.
By 1987 the sim had undergone a major visual system upgrade, at a further cost of £3 million, and which brought it in line with all the best sims around the world. The upgrade included a collimated projection system that involved 'back projecting' onto a mirror that gave pilots a 165° view of the computer-generated images. The updates to the system also vastly increased the scope of the artifical landscape that it was possible to fly over. The original sim setup was limited to the single airport and surrounding scenery of the giant model, whereas the new system enabled pilots to 'fly' to many of the major airports around the world - all accurately computer generated. Air France also had their own simulator. This was built by Le Matériel Telephonique (LMT) and was based at the Aéroformation training school in Toulouse (see photo).
Access to the simulator was via a retractable bridge. The large hydraulic jacks that gave the sim its motion meant that the structure containing the cockpit and the projection system stood about 15 feet in the air. Once inside the simulator cockpit, pilots would immediately feel like they were on the flight deck of a real Concorde. The instrumentation, lighting and functionality of the systems matching their real-world counterparts. The simulator was operated by technicians who could program the system with artificial fuel and passenger loads, weather variations, determine whether it was day or night and also generate a myriad of aircraft system and hardware failures for the pilots to deal with. The technicians would also simulate Air Traffic Control. Every emergency procedure was practised to perfection. Single or double engine failure, pressurisation failure followed by emergency decent and failure of electrical signalling to the flying controls were typical examples of the sorts of procedures learnt.
Pilots said that 'flying' the simulator was extraordinarily realistic. The response to control movement was extremely accurate, all the instruments behaved as they would in the real aircraft and pre-recorded ambient and system noises played through speakers inside the sim added an extra bit of authenticity. Added to all this was the motion system which enabled the pilots inside to experience the usual sensations of flight - acceleration, turning, climbing and descending. Despite its accuracy and realism though, the Concorde simulator was not as advanced as today's more modern simulators and as such it was not 'zero-hour rated'. Zero-hour rated simulators allow converting pilots to carry out their first flight in the real aircraft while carrying passengers - albeit under the supervision of a highly experienced training Captain. Despite this, the Concorde simulator was still an extremely effective systems trainer. The simulator training course lasted a total of 76 hours (19 x 4-hour sessions) and over the 28 years the simulator was in service, 134 British Airways pilots and 57 flight engineers were trained on it.
The Concorde Simulator at Brooklands:
When Concorde operations ceased at the end of 2003, British Airways decommissioned the Filton based simulator and it was subsequently donated to Brooklands Museum to ultimately be displayed alongside Concorde Delta Golf. In 2004 it was transported to the museum in two halves - the pilot's seats, instrument panel and flying controls in one half and the engineers panel and instructors station in the other (see photo). The plan was to get the simulator working again, albeit in a simpler manner than when it was used by BA. When it was decommissioned the sim's motion system was scrapped so it is now a fixed base simulator.
In January 2008 the simulator was moved into a newly refurbished room in a building next to Concorde Delta Golf and work got underway to rejoin the two halves and get the sim operational again. In June 2009 the simulator was officially opened to the public and it is now open for viewing, when operational constraints allow.
The project to get the sim operational again was a joint venture between the University of Surrey (UniS) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). It involved the integration of the existing simulator cockpit with modern flight simulation software. This was engineered by XPI Simulation Ltd, who are specialists in simulation software and hardware. The simulated environment is projected via 3 modern projectors onto a large screen in front of the cockpit windows and Concorde is 'flown' using the original flight controls and system controls inside the simulator. This includes the control columns, trim switches, rudder pedals, throttles, reheat switches, landing gear lever, parking brake and the nose and visor lever. The AFCS (Automatic Flight Control System - a.k.a. the autopilot) is also partially operational too. Alongside all this, many of the original cockpit instruments, such as the ADIs, ASIs, HSIs, VSIs, primary engine instruments, pressure altimeters and radio altimeters are also operational. As of the end of 2011, several sections of the flight engineers panel have now been brought back to life as well. This includes Concorde's complicated fuel control system.
Please note that occasionally operational constraints may prevent the simulator being open for public viewing. Please phone the museum before travelling to avoid disappointment.
Flying the Concorde Simulator:
Fancy the chance to fly the Concorde Simulator, with tuition from a real Concorde pilot? Brooklands Museum offers a limited number of special 'At the Controls of Concorde' events which can include up to 30 minutes actually flying the Concorde Simulator, plus a meal with a former British Airways Concorde Captain and a visit to the real Concorde cockpit on G-BBDG. The following two special packages are available.
To make a booking or check the latest prices and availability, please contact the museum directly on 01932 857381 ext. 237, or by email at flyconcorde@brooklandsmuseum.com.
Gold 'At The Controls' Package
Entrance to Brooklands Museum
Champagne Welcome Reception and Briefing with your Concorde Captain in the Members’ Bar of the Brooklands Clubhouse
3-course Captain's lunch in the Ford Room with soft drinks, tea or coffee
Concorde Experience flight and visit to the flight deck of Concorde G-BBDG
Two hours on the Concorde Simulator with thirty minutes at the controls
Concorde Simulator Certificate signed by your Captain
Silver 'At The Controls' Package
Entrance to Brooklands Museum
Welcome Reception and Briefing with your Concorde Captain in the Members’ Bar of the Brooklands Clubhouse
The Concorde Experience Flight on Brooklands Concorde G-BBDG
Concorde Experience flight and visit to the flight deck of Concorde G-BBDG
One hour on the Concorde Simulator with a minimum of fifteen minutes at the controls
Concorde Simulator Certificate signed by your Captain
Short 'History of Brooklands' tour of the museum
The 'At The Controls' experiences are suitable for all abilities, whether you are a complete beginner or a professional pilot.
Please note that I have included the above details for information only and am personally unable to take bookings for the simulator experiences or offer advice on any booking related queries. Instead, please contact the museum directly using either of the contact methods mentioned above. Thanks.
To get an idea of what to expect during your time 'At The Controls' of the simulator, check out the following videos filmed during a 'Gold' experience with Captain Terry Henderson in the co-pilot's seat:
Simulator photos:
Simulator videos:
French simulator photos:
