Convair NC-131H Total In-Flight Simulator - Dayton Ohio - Static Aircraft Displays on Waymarking.com

This Convair C-130 variant was permanently modified to be an inflight simulator. Even though it is a propellor aircraft they could simulat advanced jet aircraft. It is displayed on the Airpark outside the museum.

"This one-of-a kind aircraft was an important in-flight simulator primarily used to study how an aircraft would handle before building an expensive, full-scale prototype. It was created for the U.S. Air Force in the late 1960s by the Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory of Buffalo, N.Y. (later the Calspan Corp.).

Engineers found the TIFS especially useful for studying how large aircraft would handle during takeoff and landing. Vertical fins on the wings generated side forces to simulate crosswinds and provided test data.


The TIFS first flew in 1970, and its first research project simulated the B-1 bomber’s flying characteristics. During its long and successful career, the TIFS simulated many military and NASA aircraft, including the X-40, Tacit Blue, Space Shuttle, B-2, YF-23 and C-17. Civilian aircraft development projects included the Boeing Supersonic Transport (SST), MD-12X and Indonesian N-250. It also served to train test pilots. The TIFS came to the museum in 2008 and is on public display in the Air Park.


TECHNICAL NOTES:

Engines: Two 4,368 hp Allison 501-D22G turboprop engines"
(visit link)

Type of Aircraft: (make/model): Convair NC-131H Total In-Flight Simulator Tail Number: (S/N): N793VS Construction:: original aircraft Location (park, airport, museum, etc.): National Museumof the United States Air Force inside / outside: outside Access restrictions: Can be viewed outside the museum. Other Information:: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Photo of aircraft (required - will be interesting to see if the aircraft is ever repainted or progress if being restored)
Photo of serial number (required unless there is not one or it is a replica)
Photo(s) of any artwork on the aircraft (optional but interesting)

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