Merlin Flight Simulator Lab

• Provides a rich, hands-on, fun learning environment in aerospace.
• Demonstrates how airplanes move in three-dimensional space.
• Initiates aero students into the world of airplanes and flying in an inspirational and transformational manner.
• Demonstrates basic aerodynamic, propulsion, flight dynamic, structural and design principles through hands-on interaction.
• Provides study/experience on the complexities of aircraft flight dynamics and controls.
• Explores fundamental air vehicle design parameters through immediate physical feedback.
• Closes the loop on the air vehicle conceptual sizing process by trying to fly the plane you've designed.

The lab's MP521 engineering flight simulator takes the outputs from a conceptual aircraft sizing details from existing aircraft and uses that information to model the handling characteristics.

Students enter their geometric, aerodynamic, weight and propulsion characteristics through the graphical user interface. Their details are used in a physics-based flight mechanics module to recreate an accurate representation of how their air vehicles would fly. Included in the physics modeled is non-linear aerodynamic behavior based on real input airfoil performance data, thrust lapse with altitude, of lift shift in the transonic region, of gravity shift with dropped/deployed payload, basic aeroelastic effects and more.

The MP521 sits on a Stewart platform enabling freedom of motion, providing physical feedback on how the air vehicle would handle.

• The simulator can simulate airships, helicopters, VSTOL aircraft, human powered vehicles, multiple non-planar lifting surfaces and exo-atmospheric space planes. Students easily output stall performance, takeoff performance, the vehicle static and dynamic responses to step inputs (control singlets and doublets) and many more parameters.
• The UAV station has essentially the same soft functionality, but without the simulated cockpit and motion.
• The Air Traffic Control Station enables verbal communication with the MP521 and UAV stations and can simulate traffic direction in the air or on the ground at the airport site. 

• Introduction to Flight (MEE 225): Like most Mechanical Engineering (B.M.E.) students with a Concentration in Aerospace Engineering, you've likely been attracted to the discipline because air vehicles evoke an emotional response from you. You might not be sure whether or not you want to be an aerospace engineer because you don't really know what aerospace engineers do. But, you find aerospace vehicles interesting and engaging. How do you decide if you want to be an aerospace engineer? Answer your questions by seeing and feeling the answers in our flight simulator, where exercises represent experiential and hands-on learning in unique ways.
• MEE 425 Aerospace Design (MEE 425): Design the airplane of your dreams. What will it feel like to to have your airplane take flight for the first time? It probably won't fly the way you wanted it to, or even the way you expected. Once you make modifications, members from the Society of Experimental Test Pilots will evaluate the handling qualities of your design. They'll put your airplane through its paces, pointing out its strengths and areas for improvement. This feedback from professional experimental test pilots will help you learn how to further adjust your design. SETP members also evaluate students designs for the Advanced Aerospace Systems Design and Integration (AEE 505) course and the annual It Flies! Competition.

• Flight Vehicle Performance (MEE 440): Learn about how an airplane behaves in three-dimensional space. You'll experiment with changing the center of gravity of the airplane, and analyze how the plane reacts. Mathematics will be explained, physically manifested and sensed through the simulator model. The simulator’s reaction will be documented, output, analyzed and modeled.

The lab has been used in numerous outreach activities, ranging from preschool all the way to seasoned professional engineers.

Research projects have involved modifications to existing competing designs for the U.S. Air Force's T-X program, as well as models of the Wright "B" Flyer Inc.'s "Brown Bird" and "Silver Bird."