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The present research was conducted to determine transfer of practice from a formation simulator to actual aircraft flight for the wing aircraft component of the formation flying task. Evidence in support of positive transfer was obtained by comparing students trained in the formation simulator with students who were essentially untrained and with students trained in the aircraft. This design provided data for a direct comparison of five simulator sorties with two aircraft sorties in an effort to quickly establish a training cost/transfer comparison. The results indicate that the simulator has at least the training effectiveness of two aircraft sorties. (Author/JB)

This report reviews the literature as it relates to the use of platform motion systems in flight simulators for flying training. Motion is discussed in terms of its effect on compensatory, pursuit, and precognitive tasks, within both the simulator and transfer contexts. Although both skilled and unskilled behaviors are addressed, the former are emphasized. The report concludes that for most tasks, platform motion is not required to produce rapid, efficient, economical training and that other, less expensive means of imparting motion information are equally viable alternatives. The following are recommended: (1) Whenever feasible and affordable, simulator systems should be equipped with the largest field-of-view visual system that is consistent with mission requirements, and (2) simulators that do not include a platform motion system can be safely procured for most aircraft without compromising training effectiveness. (Author)