Air-To-Air Combat Skills: Contribution of Platform Motion to Initial Training

Abstract
This study was conducted to assess the contribution of six-degrees- of-freedom platform motion to the training effectiveness of the Simulator for Air-to-Air Combat (SAAC) for training initial air-to-air combat skills. A transfer-of-training scheme was used. Two classes of Air Force pilots receiving initial training in the F-4 aircraft were divided into three groups. Two of the groups (eight pilots each) received training in Basic Fighter maneuvers (BFM) using the SAAC, one group using platform motion and the other group not using platform motion. The remaining group (six pilots) did not receive SAAC training. All three groups followed the same syllabus in the aircraft. Instructor pilot ratings of student performance on BFM tasks in the simulator and in four aircraft sorties for each student were collected. Analyses of Variance (ANOVAs) of ratings in the simulator were used to assess initial differences and learning effects in the simulator. ANOVAs of ratings in the aircraft were used to assess transfer of training effects. Although learning effects in both simulator and aircraft were noted, the data did not show a transfer of training effect. For the tasks investigated, SAAC trained students did not perform better than those who did not receive SAAC training. Performance differences between the Motion and No-Motion groups were negligible. Potential reasons for this non- effectiveness, and possible simulator and training program modifications for improving this training effectiveness, are discussed.