Challenge

The RNAF / BDF had recently purchased a new type of aircraft, and needed to train the pilots about the aircraft systems without resorting to tying up an operational aircraft.

Solution

Lawson Modelmakers manufactured a set of six interactive animated “wall charts” that provided visual interactive depictions of:

Fuel System
Engine and Engine Controls
Electrical System
Flying Controls
Landing Gear
Environmental System
The Fuel System and Engine panels were interlinked so that an action on one panel showed the corresponding effect within both systems.

Conclusion

In practice these systems could have used desk top PC’s, however quite apart from the expense, these would not have given the trainee pilots the kind of hands-on feel that they got from using panels with full size operating controls. Overall, the panles were well accepted once they had been brought into service.