Air Force receives F-35 simulator

ORLANDO, Fla., April 19 (UPI) -- The first F-35 Lightning II Full Mission Simulator system has been delivered to the U.S. Air Force's 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

Lockheed Martin said preparation and assembly of the system is under way at the base's F-35 Integrated Training Center, which will start training on the system in the fall.

The Joint Strike Fighter FMS includes a high-fidelity, 360-degree visual display system and a reconfigurable cockpit that simulates all three aircraft variants for U.S. and international partner services.

The system is the highest fidelity trainer in the F-35 pilot-training-device suite, accurately replicating all F-35 sensors and weapons deployment.

"JSF training technology brings a revolutionary new capability to the joint services," said Air Force Col. Arthur Tomassetti, 33rd Fighter Wing vice commander. "The smooth surface, high-resolution dome is a dramatic improvement over legacy fighter simulators.

"The high visual acuity and utilization of a significant amount of real aircraft parts and source code will allow us to train a wide variety of mission tasks previously not accomplished in simulators. The F-35 FMS will be our primary pilot training device and we are anxious to start putting it to good use."

Actual aircraft software is used in the simulators to give pilots the most realistic experience and allow software upgrades in step with the F-35 development. Small group training events with pilot and maintenance instructors are being conducted at the ITC using maintenance, desktop and mission trainers.

"This is a tremendous milestone for the F-35 training team," said Joanne Puglisi, director of F-35 Training and Support at Lockheed Martin Global Training and Logistics. "We are committed to providing the next generation of F-35 fighter pilots and maintainers with the most advanced training systems in the world. The FMS is a key component in that capability."