REAL TIME PRESENTATION FOR RAFALE IN-FLIGHT TESTS

Abstract

The current control rooms at Dassault Aviation, Istres were built in 1978 for the flight tests of the MIRAGE 2000 GENERATION. After 13 years of gradual improvements, the time has come to renew our instrumentation. New concepts and future technologies have been taken into consideration and the new equipment that is implemented must allow flight tests to be performed throughout the current decade. These changes have occurred to enable testing of a new breed of combat aircraft, i.e. the RAFALE, for the coming years. However, this improvement is in keeping with what has already been achieved over the last 22 years at DASSAULT AVIATION. A brief background reminder will allow assessment of the company’s real time philosophy. A ground control room provides two types of displays, namely: # a decommutator controlled display for minimum refresh rates. It is concerned with flight monitoring and hence safety. # a second display is connected to the host computer dedicated to data handling during flight time. A more accurate description will show how a locally available item of equipment was customized to match specific requirements and to enhance its basic functionalities so as to make up the display chain needed for flight safety.