Airborne avionics simulator system

Claim 2

An airborne avionics simulator system for use in a host aircraft, comprising: an avionics simulation system operable for installation into a host aircraft, which lacks one or more avionics systems, and for generating simulated avionics data indicative of a high performance aircraft having the one or more avionics systems that a host aircraft lacks, comprising: an information interface for receiving position data from the host aircraft: at least one display for communicating simulated avionics data of the one or more avionics systems that the host aircraft lacks to a pilot in the form found in the high performance aircraft; position module operable for acquiring position data of the host aircraft; and a pilot interface for interacting with the avionics simulation system in response to the simulated avionics data; and a main processor connected to the information interface, connected to the at least one display, connected to the position module, and connected to the pilot interface, and programmed to produce the avionics data indicative of the high performance aircraft the avionics data including radar data and navigation data.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 wherein the position module includes a global positioning system module.

Claim 4

The system of claim 1 wherein the simulated avionics data comprises at least one pre-programmed scenario.

Claim 5

The system of claim 1 further including a data communications system connected to the main processor for providing data exchange between a plurality of airborne avionics simulator systems.

Claim 6

The system of claim 1 further including: a data communications system connected to the main processor for exchanging position data between a plurality of airborne avionics simulator systems; and an anti-collision system utilizing the position data to warn a pilot of a potential collision.

Claim 7

The system of claim 1 wherein the information interface with the host aircraft comprises means for obtaining control stick or throttle data from the host aircraft.

Claim 8

The system of claim 1 wherein the information interface with the host aircraft further operates to obtain inertial navigation data from the host aircraft.

Claim 9

The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one display for communicating simulated avionics data to a pilot includes an audio/visual display device.

Claim 10

The system of claim 1 wherein the pilot interface comprises a plurality of programmable input devices which may be configured to simulate a variety of high performance aircraft.

Claim 11

The system of claim 1 wherein the simulated avionics data is selected from the group consisting of: radar data, radar warning systems data, weapons systems, weapons systems operation data, electronic defensive systems data and navigation data.

Claim 12

The system of claim 1 wherein the host aircraft and the high performance aircraft are the same model but the host aircraft lacks one or more of the avionics systems of the high performance aircraft being simulated.

Claim 13

The system of claim 1 wherein the host aircraft is a more expensive model than the high performance aircraft and the host aircraft lacks one or more of the avionics systems of the high performance aircraft being simulated.

Claim 16

The method of claim 13 further including the step of acquiring position data for the host aircraft.

Claim 17

The method of claim 13 wherein the step of generating simulated avionics data includes generating simulated avionics data according to at least one pre-programmed scenario.

Claim 18

The method of claim 13 further including the step of exchanging simulated avionics data between a plurality of host aircraft.

Claim 19

The method of claim 11 further including the steps of: exchanging position data between a plurality of host aircraft; and utilizing the position data to provide an anti-collision system to warn a pilot of a potential collision.

Claim 20

An airborne avionics simulator system for use in a host aircraft, comprising: an avionics simulation system for installation into a host aircraft for generating simulated avionics data indicative of a high performance aircraft, comprising: at least one display for communicating simulated avionics data to a pilot; means for acquiring position data of the host aircraft; a pilot interface for interacting with the avionics simulation system in response to the simulated avionics data; and wherein the simulated avionics data includes radar data, radar warning systems data, weapons systems operation data, electronic defensive systems data and navigation data.

Claim 21

An airborne avionics simulator system for use in a host aircraft, comprising: an avionics simulation system for installation into a host aircraft for generating simulated avionics data indicative of a high performance aircraft, comprising: at least one display for communicating simulated avionics data to a pilot; means for acquiring position data of the host aircraft; a pilot interface for interacting with the avionics simulation system in response to the simulated avionics data; and wherein the simulated avionics data includes radar data, radar warning systems data, weapons systems operation data, electronic defensive systems data and navigation data.

Claim 24

The method of claim 13 wherein the simulated avionics data is selected from the group consisting of; radar data, radar warning systems data, weapons systems, weapons systems operation data, electronic defensive systems data and navigation data.

Claim 25

An airborne avionics simulator system for use in a host aircraft, comprising: an avionics simulation system operable for installation into a host aircraft, which lacks one or more avionics systems, and for generating simulated avionics data indicative of a high performance aircraft having the one or more avionics systems that a host aircraft lacks, comprising: an information interface for receiving position data from the host aircraft; at least one display for communicating simulated avionics data of the one or more avionics systems that the host aircraft lacks to a pilot in the form found in the high performance aircraft; position module operable for acquiring position data of the host aircraft; and a pilot interface for interacting with the avionics simulation system in response to the simulated avionics data; and a main processor connected to the information interface, connected to the at least one display, connected to the position module, and connected to the pilot interface, and programmed to produce the avionics data indicative of the high performance aircraft, the avionics data including weapons systems data and navigation data.

Claim 26

An airborne avionics simulator system for use in a host aircraft, comprising: an avionics simulation system operable for installation into a host aircraft, which lacks one or more avionics systems, and for generating simulated avionics data indicative of a high performance aircraft having the one or more avionics systems that a host aircraft lacks, comprising: an information interface for receiving position data from the host aircraft; at least one display for communicating simulated avionics data of the one or more avionics systems that the host aircraft lacks to a pilot in the form found in the high performance aircraft; position module operable for acquiring position data of the host aircraft; and a pilot interface for interacting with the avionics simulation system in response to the simulated avionics data; and a main processor connected to the information interface, connected to the at least one display, connected to the position module, and connected to the pilot interface, and programmed to produce the avionics data indicative of the high performance aircraft, the avionics data including weapons systems data and navigation data.