Click on the pictures to get more detail view.
I am a simulator fan, especially warplane
simulators. I came across a site located at
F-86 Sabre simulator
These simulators are mostly modified from old
airframes. The whole cockpit is cut out and mounted on a hydraulic platform
capable of making tilts on both planes. The tilting action is generated from a
control panel, which is linked with both rudder paddle and the cyclic-stick
inside the simulator. The cockpit is facing a screen where the
computer-regenerated image will be projected. I only have time to sit inside
the F16 simulator which uses real film images for scenery instead of computer
generated graphic. This has its good side and bad side. The images are very
real (taken from previous flight). But you cannot over-ride the original flight
route. You can't make 180-degree turn, which is not a problem at all in
computer-generated simulation.
F-111
simulator 
Simulator control, background with
A-7 and F-86 simulators.
The
hydraulic platform of the F-16 
The tour starts with a briefing on the rules
and some essential information about these simulators. That includes safety
issues, rules of engagement and what to do if you have to "puke".
Then you are sent to the dressing room to put on the flight suit. There is no
G-bladder provided. You won't be pulling G anyway. I am not sure if this is a
lost on an experience or is that a blessing. Anyway it is still quite an
experience on how to put on a real parachute harness and how to detach it.
Finally, you put on the flight helmet, gloves and climb into the ejection seat.
The canopy, ejection seat and the safety pins.
Inside the cockpit, you will be assisted by
ground crews to hook up the inter-com system. Once wired, you can start talking
with the simulation controller and more detail briefing will be provided. After
good communication is checked, the canopy will be lowered, locked up and light
in the whole room switched off. The only thing you see will be the slightly
illuminated equipment panel. Once airport image is projected on the screen, you
will start the tour in virtual reality. The stuffs around you are all real and
within touch. The feeling is strongest when you test the paddle and when you
experience air bumps in the flight.
F-16
cockpit
When you are on a simulator, you want
everything as real as possible! The ejection seat has safety pins. The seat
won't fire unless they are all removed. In real life, ground crew will remove
them after you are strapped up. The correct number of removed pins has to be
counted before closing the canopy. I forgot this procedure in my run. It cost
me one virtual life. A missile nailed me, I had fire
in the engine and must bail out. It is really embarrassed when I was told -
seat failed to eject!!
Overall speaking, the ride is not bad
although it could be better if the dials reflects
corresponding flight data like altitude, speed, angle of attack…etc. The actual
simulation took about 30 minutes in the cockpit and cost $40. Compare to a
roller-coaster ride, this is less violent, mostly under your control and fully
taped on a video for you playback in future. I would compare the experience
with a ride in an amusement park. We pay $5 for a 3-minute ride normally so it
does not sounds too far off.
A-7
cockpit 
F-111 cockpit
If you want an experience on a real
high performance training planes, visit the web site below and make a
reservation on a seat. I am seriously considering making a visit in my next vacation.