Raytheon (Technical Services Division), Indianapolis, Indiana
Eric K. Moore, Raytheon – RTC Systems Engineer
One of the neatest experiences I have
at AUSA is flying an F-16 combat aircraft to test out the new Raytheon Scorpion insert for a Helmet.
Did I say flying?
I’m actually in the demo area in the Raytheon Booth in its 4D simulator in the “situational awareness” suite. As I’m fitted into the Scorpion Helmet, Ms. D asks if we can record my experience – she knows I won’t be able to take notes and “fly” at the same time!
She’s right.
The simulator includes a Down Display, the eye piece and the Helmet non-display with 3-d audio.
I sit in the cockpit where combat pilots sit, helmet on and Eric asks me if I can see the horizon? The green line?
“Is it level?” Eric asks me. And I answer, “Well, I don’t think so, but I‘ve never done this before!”
So Eric adjusts the helmet and rotated it a little, and then I can see all the symbols on the down display. As he rotates the helmet, he asks, “Better or worse? See all these type of symbols on the down display. Whenever you look at the up display, look at the horizon. We’re on the ground.”
This is way cool. I’m in the cockpit and I’m the pilot with the Scorpion helmet and we’re getting ready to take off! I see the horizon.
Eric continues: “Once you get up in the air, when you actually need to see, ‘we’ (and he means the Scorpion) display more symbols. Let’s take off! Here’s the throttle, push it forward and leave it there. Hold onto the stick here. This is your air speed: 110 – 130. Pull back really fast. It’s sensitive!”
We’re lifting off!
Eric tells me I’m “doing it like a pro!”
I’m taking off – pushing the throttle – and then – a mass of birds!
Geez, I’m not quick enough! “BIRD STRIKE!” I’m the first guy to hit a flock of birds! “BIRD STRIKE!”
It seems about that time a lot of people start standing around the simulator, watching my Bird Strike. They tell me I’m the first one to have a Bird Strike. The windshield? “Broken.”
Back to the Scorpion Helmet and what my simulator experience is really about. The Scorpion’s completely digital and high tech. It’s modern technology equipment that connects to the aircraft’s computer system using sound and symbology (Eric used that word a lot!) and a lot more.
The helmet makes the pilot’s response time quicker. It seems I’ve seen it before in a movie! “Today, the Scorpion’s modernizing the cockpit of the combat airplane,” Eric says.
The 3D system hears the missile as the pilot (me) does. And the 3D system sends a message to the plane’s computer weapons systems.
I’m able to quickly lock down on the missile just by using the direction of my head in the helmet! So in combat, the Scorpion lets me quickly take care of that missile.
And I don’t even look down at the control panel in the cockpit.
I also learn that pilots can have multiple conversations coming into their ear pieces at once. The Scorpion allows each conversation to have its own channel, so the pilot can clearly hear each separately. And the helmet has so much more night vision and lots of digital technology flying support.
Eric decides I should get back to ground and start over!
This time I’m instructed to avoid the birds!
As I take off, I hear Eric tell me, “Full throttle again, avoid the birds. Get the air speed to 160-170 and then roll back. Nice, there you go! Nicely done, you’ve avoided the birds! So keep those hills in site. You should be able to see the symbology on the Scorpion.”
I do, and next I hear the sounds of a helicopter flying around me. I jerk the helmet toward the sound and see it coming. The sound is crisp in front of me, dull from behind.
And it’s only 9:20 a.m. on Day 3 at AUSA!
Do I want to be a pilot now?
Not certain.
But if I could master this “math” that seems to try and conquer me, yes, I’d love to fly…if I could have a Scorpion inside my helmet!
Article by Quincy Winder, Edited by Zia Johnson