Training effectiveness and validation of a VR HMD-based simulator for air force pilots

Abstract

Virtual reality (VR) head-mounted display (HMD) was examined for Air Force training modernisation. In Experiment 1 (E1), Novice pilots performed the Overhead break (OHB) manoeuvre and flight proficiency scores were measured and compared to Expert pilots OHB performance in a VR HMD-based simulator. Cybersickness was also measured. Experts performed significantly better on the OHB manoeuvre than Novices. Both groups improved significantly over the course of the experiment and cybersickness was negligible. E1 indicated that the VR HMD flight trainer can be valid, effective and safe for training the OHB maneuvre. Experiment 2 (E2) compared an established Flight Training Device (FTD; not the VR simulator) and Live Flight OHB scores for Novice pilots from E1 to Novices not in E1. There was no difference in FTD and Live Flight scores between both groups. E2 revealed that completion of E1 was insufficient to translate to superior performance in FTD and Live Flight.