Mikhail KRIVENTSOV, Pilot-instructor of the Kiev Paragliding Club “Aero”. He is main consultant for development Paraglide Simulator and use it for initial training of pilots.

 

• Important part of the paragliding pilot training program is high quality theoretical learning. As a rule, modern paragliding schools have necessary training facilities and give pilots enough quantity of literature and films. Is it sufficient? Are young pilots satisfied with requests? Will they be ably to get the answer to question "What’s happens if …" with enough confidence and without risk for their health and infarct condition of instructor? Modern scholastic literature and video materials keeping big volume of useful information. But, pilot Burkhard Martens has mention that he always interested contact with nature in the plays manner while remembering his theoretical studies in his “Thermal Flying”. For my opinion, just with use the computer simulator we can create necessary element of plays with nature of beginner pilot; fill up the gap between purely theoretical learning pilot on book, video and independent flight.
  Necessary to note that fly-simulator is not than-that new in training pilots of light aviation. This good way for spare fly-hours and possibility to coach safe action for pilot in "force-majeur events".
  In world practice are used two main methods of teaching of paragliding:
  
• First – use only computer programs for training skills of piloting;
  
• Second – use the technical symbiosis of the computer programs and executive mechanisms.
  In any case, the main element of simulator is a computer program which has defined level of correspondence with real conditions of flight installed by programmer.
  Herewith, necessary to take into account the difficulty and unique development of the paraglide simulator. If the main moment of training gliders pilots and planes concentrated on correct use of information from cockpit-instruments then for training of paragliders is very important to consolidate understanding the dynamic loads sending from wing to seat. Additionally, pilots of gliders and planes are saved from “force-majeur situation”, bounded, for instance, with asymmetric collapse of wing.

Sergii MUKOSII, pilot of the Kiev Paragliding Club “Aero”. Servicemen. One of the consultants of the Internet-project for development Paraglide Simulator for theoretical studies of beginner pilots.

 

• The most known simulators, which are used in preparation pilots, including paragliders, today are next:
• “HangSim” simulator. ("http://www.hangsim.com/). Author Papini. It is no bad simulator with many connected plug-in`s. There are different scenario and flying machines, including paraplane and motor-paraplane. It is well made aerologic, there is dinamic`s from hill as well as possibility to visualizations thermal flow. Unfortunately, the wing looks like unmodified structure;
  
• “Micro Flight” simulator. (http://www.hangsim.com/mf). Author also Papini. It is a new version of HangSim simulator. It has models of hang-glider, paraplane with motor, helicopter, glider, air ball etc. However in initial version of the simulator the model of paraplane is absent but it is provide possibility for an additional installation. Also no scenarios of competitions and to use it. At desire, foreseen possible creation it by self. In the new version had changed control system by paraplane but not in the best way. Herewith “unmodified” wing did not change. But in contrast with previous version greatly improved graphics, had added network option, editor landscapes, flying machines etc.;
  
• ÑÑSS - Condor Competition Soaring Simulator (http://www.soaringsim.com). Authors from Slovenia, Uros Bergant and Gregor Rozman. Pretty good simulator. There are fly-models hang-gliders, gliders and others. Termal and dynamic flows close to realities. Good detailed landscape and land objects, there is network option.
  All simulators mentioned above have ergonomic user interface, photorealistic details of the models and landscape. The instruments of navigations and control have programmed well and comfortable readable. Aerologic thermal and dynamic flows are present.
  The general disadvantages of the existing simulators possible to systematize as follows:
  
• Intention to show the different types of the flying machines within one simulator. As a result, this reduces the granularity of the actions of each of them; for paraplane models no possibility "to play" with wing "on ground". An important element such as up and stabilization of the wing before take off are absent completely;
  
• the wing of the paraplane painted as unmodified design. Main modes "big ears", "Â-collapse", "frontal collapse " or "failure of the flow" are absent. And as a result, impossibility of the drill pilot action in complex atmospheric situation;
  
• extreme modes of the paraplane in comparison of speed and loads reflected in wrong way;
  the thermal flows remain unchangeable with its structure depending on altitude and power of winds.
  So, principle of the development of the existing simulators, absence beside of them elements gratitude’s and clear methods of teaching based on principle "from simple - to complex", insufficiency of the explanations in the sequences action and possible mistake of the pilot, allows to consider simulators sooner as toys than as instruments for learning. Therefore attempt to use them for drill flight on a paraplane has not brought to desired addenda to course of theoretical training in paraglide schools.

Igor Cherkashin, “day off” paraglider pilot. The fly experience with Kiev Paragliding Club “Aero” since 2005. His job is designer. He is author of the internet-project on development of the computer simulator for theoretical learning beginner’s pilots. Within the framework of project are prepared three test versions of the simulator, each of them were actively tested and discussed by pilots on para-forums.

DemoFly 1.0 2005

The analysis disadvantages of the existing simulator generated in my brain idea to write simulator based on both principles of the simple education and of the maximum realism. The first attempt was an Autumn 2005. It began with painting the most small details anime model of the paraplane "Diskaveri-1" on which I learnt to fly. Aerologiñ and aerodynamics in the first version of simulator "did not smell". In principle, it was simply interesting computer toy. Probably, this should be ended if not approving reviews from pilot at forum Paraplan.ru. Under their support I wanted to do not simply model with anime, I considered important to describe the physico-mathematical model of the paraplane behavior. In fact that in Internet content "tons of" information about how paraplane flying and any information WHY they fly exactly so. The pubs about it are practically absent (not taking into account explanations about general aerodynamics without support it by mathematics).

 

DemoFly 2.0 2006

The next stage of the work start in library with mountain guides to aerodynamics and physics. And as result, virtual model "has flown" approximately in seven months. And not has simply flown - a speed and dynamics of the flight were numerically close to passport given by real analogue.
There is no need to tire the reader by mathematics, I have say only that physic-mathematic model was described by complicated formula occupied on programming language "C++" at 1500 lines.
So, at Paraplan.ru forum second trial version of simulator shows up in January 2006.

DemoFly 3.0 2007

It was so important for me to draw confirmation of right direction of the work. The forum reaction was a big amount of the letters, remarks and suggestions. It is necessary to say that pilots were frank and unanimous in their own offers and remarks on result of the second version testing. Their possible divide into three groups:

• First, it is improvement of aerologic. Repeatedly marks needs of thermal and dynamics flows painting by more realistic models;
  
• Second, the adjustment of aerodynamics models of the paraplane and suggestions on extreme mode of the flight;
• Third, ergonomics of program itself, suggestion and remarks on details of landscapes and land objects.
  Concerning last point, I believed that for the reason to spare time, on testing stage it so important concentrate efforts to achievement of the main principle - a maximum realism of aerodynamics and aerologic.

• Totally, in development of simulator were taken into account, corrected and added more than 30 remarks and offers. As result third test-version of simulator, to my mind, has a unique particularity, which hasn’t most known simulator. First of all added mode of play with wing on the land (preparation to start, up of the wing and stabilization it in directed and opposite way, movement to point of the take off, slalom on the land with wing etc).

What new were in third version:

• Fluent transition installed between mode "land" and "flight". It possible to balance with raised wing on edge of the dynamic flow, expect to approach of the next thermal, training in landing on slop and top of hill; added control and stabilization of the paraplane through clearly description types of the line. For instance, up of the wing by both À-lines or only one A-line, choice of the effort of the jerk at up of the wing, stabilization of the wing by À-lines and breaks, moving pilot on the land in left, right and back directions.
• And what is more, added control of paraplane by "weight" (the redistribution of the mass of the pilot in sit); there is image of the dynamic loads from dome to lavaliere, also provided ability to train practical skill to control wing “without looking” at wing (feeling of “blows” from one console of wing to sit and “whipping” lines in zone of sinks flows);
• Thermal flow has been simulated by changing on height and power of winds from "boiling bouillon" on small height to extensive zones of the turbulences during disinteration therms in clouds.

DemoFly 4.0 – February 2008

The next, fourth version of simulator updated at 80%. Change concerned all aspect of the program. Greatly extended and are added new functions flight dynamic of paraplane, aerologic and indicator. Briefly about changes and novation:

• Optimized mode of play with wing on the land. Now possible not only stand, but also fast running before take off.
• The wing became more realistic in condition of the turbulences. Asymmetrics, frontal collapse, back collapse and transition between them and normal flight look the more realistic.
• Added indication of the overloading (the effect of the darkening in eyes). Read more...