A new flight simulator has been developed at the University of Wisconsin’s College of Engineering, reflecting a growing interest in aerospace engineering among students and strong career prospects in the industry. The simulator, designed by mechanical engineering professor Christian Franck and teaching specialist Aidan Butula, is a detailed replica of a Cessna 172 Skyhawk cockpit and avionics.
Franck, who is also a licensed pilot with an aerospace engineering background, utilized his experience to create a realistic simulator that features wraparound screens providing a 180-degree view. This immersive setup aims to offer students an experience akin to sitting in an actual aircraft cockpit.
The simulator is intended for use in Franck’s course on Flight Dynamics and Controls. He explains, “Students learn the physics of controlling a flying aircraft in three-dimensional space. Some of these concepts can be difficult to understand just from working on math problems. My goal with the new flight simulator is to add a strong hands-on learning component to the course to enable students to gain a better intuitive understanding of the physics and math they’re learning, where the students can directly experience how the equations apply to aircraft control.”
Additional features include real-time flight performance data displays that allow students to analyze aircraft stability and verify calculations. It also offers potential applications for design projects involving experimental aircraft.
Franck notes that there is interest in establishing a full aerospace engineering major at UW–Madison and believes that this flight simulator represents an important step toward achieving that goal.
