Merlin Products Ltd. – manufacturers the MP520 and MP521 Engineering Flight Simulators for use in Aeronautical Universities.

Merlin’s Engineering Flight Simulators are the originals – the only products in the field with a proven track record over the last ten years. Merlin’s unique simulators are the only ones which have been designed specifically for aeronautical universities, and are widely used for both research and teaching.

The Simulators are single seat capsules on a motion system, with visual and HUD display, and active controls systems. All instrument displays in the simulator are duplicated on the instructor station. A communications system provides the voice link between the instructor and the student.

The Simulators use Merlin’s unique Excalibur flight software - a fully non linear six degree-of-freedom flight software, especially designed to meet the requirements of the aeronautical engineering sector. Excalibur provides the flight software necessary to simulate single-engine piston prop trainers, heavy multi-engine turboprop, turbo jet airliners, gliders, VSTOL and Rotary wing aircraft, without the need to write computer code. All data is entered through user friendly GUI’s.

The Simulators use Merlin’s Mirror visual scene graphics, overlaid with a HUD – which is reconfigurable by the User – giving unparalleled flexibility.
The visual also supplies the cues necessary for hover – therefore enabling development into VSTOL and rotary wing aircraft. The scene quality meets the requirements of the JAR FNPT category of flight training device. (link with www.virtalis.com)

The MP520 uses a Merlin two axis electric motion base.
Apart from the 18” screen showing the visual graphics, there is space for two optional 6.4” screens, which may show primary flight instruments and a user configurable instrument panel using software developed specifically for use by avionics students.

The MP521 is a much larger capsule than the 520, giving ample space for three 12” LCD screens in the cockpit – for instrumentation and multi function displays, and an 18” screen displaying the visual and HUD graphics.

The MP521 has the benefit of a six axis hydraulic or electric motion base manufactured by Rexroth Hydraudyne, and thus is able to give precise latency comparable to that of a full flight simulator. (www.rexroth-hydraudyne.com).

Merlin can supply the MP521 with interchangeable controls/instruments enabling the simulator to be used for both Aeronautical and Automotive applications.

Options Available on Merlin’s Engineering Flight Simulators include:-

VSTOL
Autopilot
Flight Controls Systems
Aircraft Systems
Rotary Wing
Interface with actual equipment outside the simulator – e.g. wind tunnels, or driving an actual aircraft surface actuator for system illustrative purposes.
Three 19” screens on the MP521 simulator to provide a greater than 90 degrees visual scene – necessary for hover and rotary wing versions.
Student Module – enabling student written C code to be included into the simulation. Matlab and Simulink C code may be included also, enabling students to design their own dynamics model (flight, and systems) and interface to the simulation.

Support:-

Merlin offer full maintenance support contracts for all their simulators
All upgrades to the simulators are designed to be retrofitted, ensuring university investment is not limited to initial purchase, but can be extended to meet course expansion

Merlins Engineering Flight Simulators are being extensively used for research and teaching in many subjects, aeronautical, aerospace, electrical, mechanical and systems engineering, avionics, psychology, computer science, and automotive engineering.