US 2003/0152893 A1 · Portable flight simulator

Abstract

A portable flight simulator is installed upon a conventional vehicle trailer for storage and transportation to various sites. The apparatus includes a folding video screen which when erected provides a relatively wide and long field of view for the operator of the simulator, rather than a relatively small and close video monitor display. The screen and video projector are immovably affixed to an operator cab or cockpit when the simulator apparatus is erected for operation, with cockpit movement and attached screen and projector being controlled by the operator in the cockpit. A conventional personal computer and flight simulator program provide the video signal for the projector, which projects the video program onto the screen. The operator reacts to the video program by using a control stick to control the orientation of the video program conventionally. Audio output may also be provided for realistic sound effects, or music for the operator.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A portable flight simulator, comprising:

a mobile trailer base having an operator cockpit installed thereon;
a video screen foldably extending from said cockpit and immovably secured thereto by a plurality of removable arms when said video screen is erected for operation, for providing a large field of view for an operator disposed within said cockpit when said video screen is erected for operation;
video projector means;
computer means communicating with said projector means for operating a video program, and a video program installed within said computer means for selectively projecting upon said screen by said projector means;
a pitch mechanism and a roll mechanism for pivotally securing said cockpit, said projector means, and said screen to said trailer base and for selectively arcuately moving said cockpit, said projector means, and said screen about corresponding pitch and roll axes;
hydraulic actuation means for said pitch mechanism and said roll mechanism;
and
control means disposed within said cockpit and communicating with said computer means for controlling said video program and said hydraulic actuation means.

5 more elements

A portable flight simulator, comprising:

a mobile trailer base having an operator cockpit installed thereon;
a video screen extending from said cockpit;
video projector means;
computer means communicating with said projector means for operating a video program, and a video program installed within said computer means for selectively projecting upon said screen by said projector means;
a pitch mechanism and a roll mechanism for pivotally securing said cockpit, said projector means, and said screen to said trailer base and for selectively arcuately moving said cockpit, said projector means, and said screen about corresponding pitch and roll axes;
hydraulic actuation means for said pitch mechanism and said roll mechanism;
and
a control stick disposed within said cockpit for controlling said video program;
said control stick having a base arcuately mounted to an underlying support;
a plurality of electric switches disposed beneath said control stick base;
and
said switches communicating with said hydraulic actuation means for selectively actuating said pitch mechanism and said roll mechanism when said control stick and said base are correspondingly manipulated.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Portable flight simulator

Life of this patent

Portable flight simulator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20