Boeing Making Waves In Simulation And Training

Bill Carey | Aviation Week & Space Technology

The U.S. Air Force's choice of Boeing to supply the new T-X advanced pilot training jet to replace the Northrop T-38C Talon boosted the manufacturer's profile as a training and simulation provider, a shift overshadowed by the hard-fought competition over the aircraft itself.

With the T-X program in hand, Boeing dominates the U.S. lead-in fighter trainer segment, and it expects to prepare generations of Air Force pilots to fly fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft. A navalized version of its new jet would position the company for any future replacement of the T-45 Goshawk used to instruct Navy and Marine Corps pilots, closing the loop of U.S. services that operate fighters.

Boeing is no newcomer to the simulation field—it provides training devices and support for the F-22 Raptor, the F-16 and its own F-15, F/A-18, EA-18G, P-8A and AH-64 Apache. But the significance of the T-X award was not lost on peers exhibiting at the recent Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC). “Certainly, it's a pretty big program,” says Philippe Perey, CAE head of technology for defense and security. “Boeing will be the owner of that program for years to come.”

Full article: http://aviationweek.com/defense/boeing-making-waves-simulation-and-training