Apparatus for pilot training

Claim 1

A pilot training apparatus for selectively occluding the vision of said pilot along a forward line of sight exterior of an aircraft cockpit when said pilot is positioned therein, said apparatus comprising: a lens having a vision occluded region and portions defining a vision permissive region adjacent thereto, said vision occluded region having a first portion being positioned above said vision permissive region and including a generally horizontal lower edge defining an upper portion of said vision permissive region, said vision occluded region also having a second portion being positioned lateral of said vision permissive region and having an inner edge being outwardly angled and defining a lateral portion of said vision permissive region, said vision occluded region being effective for occluding substantially all vision of said aircraft cockpit, said vision permissive region being effective for substantially permitting vision of said pilot along a forward line of sight interior of said aircraft cockpit and said lens having a contour enabling entrance of non-occluded natural peripheral light for enhancing training conditions and enables non-occluded peripheral vision by the pilot; and detent means being mounted to said lens for selectively moving said lens between first and second positions and for keeping said lens in one of said positions, with said lens in said first position said vision occluded region being positioned to occlude substantially all vision of said pilot along a forward line of sight exterior of said aircraft cockpit and said vision permissive region being positioned to permit non-occluded pilot vision along a forward line of sight interior of said aircraft cockpit, with said lens in said second position said vision occluded region being positioned out of said forward line of sight of said pilot thereby allowing for pilot vision exterior of said aircraft cockpit.