Virtual aircraft network

An aircraft network simulation system comprising:

• a memory having characteristics of components of aircraft networks;
• a processor unit;
• and
• aircraft network simulation software executable by the processor unit and configured to:
• identify the characteristics of the components of the aircraft networks on the aircraft, wherein the aircraft networks include a first set of networks configured for communications between in-aircraft components of an aircraft and a second set of networks configured for communication between a plurality of aircraft;
• generate virtual implementations of the components based on the characteristics of the components;
• perform a simulation of the aircraft networks that includes the virtual implementations of the components processing virtual flight test data generated by the virtual implementations of the components;
• compare the virtual flight test data for the components in the aircraft networks to actual flight test data from the components in the aircraft networks to form a comparison, wherein the virtual flight test data comprise data from the virtual implementations of the components in the first set of networks and the virtual implementations of the components in the second set of networks;
• modify the characteristics of the virtual implementations of the components in the simulation of the aircraft networks based on the comparison;
• and
• modify the characteristics of the components of the aircraft networks in the aircraft only after resolving threats identified from the simulation of the aircraft networks.

A method for managing threats using simulated components of aircraft networks, the method comprising:

• identifying characteristics of the components of the aircraft networks;
• generating virtual implementations of the components based on the characteristics of the components;
• performing a simulation of the aircraft networks that includes the virtual implementations of the components processing virtual flight test data generated by the virtual implementations of the components;
• comparing the virtual flight test data for the components in the aircraft networks to actual flight test data from the components in the aircraft networks to form a comparison, wherein the virtual flight test data comprise data from the virtual implementations of the components;
• modifying the characteristics of the virtual implementations of the components in the simulation of the aircraft networks based on the comparison;
• displaying a real time view of the processing of the simulation based on the comparison, wherein the real time view shows state changes for a selected plurality of the components;
• and
• modifying the characteristics of the components of the aircraft networks in the aircraft only after resolving threats identified from the simulation of the aircraft networks.