An Inside Look at How We Validate the F-100D’s Flight Model

[JNelson]

We’ve released the second revision of our Flight Model Methodology Report, detailing the real-world data and process behind the creation and validation of our F-100D flight model for DCS. You can see the full report here.

Methodology
The second revision of our flight model methodology report is available to view. The report encompasses real-world data that was used to build our flight model. This report was created as part of the flight model review by Eagle Dynamics, but we have released it publicly to share the development process with the community.

You will be able to see the pain-staking detail we captured by filtering through tens of thousands of data points to produce a hyper realistic replication of the F-100D handling in short and long period dynamics and performance. We are confident in saying the F-100D will have one of the most realistic flight models ever developed for DCS, and you can see why yourself.

The flight model and the corresponding report are work in progress and will continue to be tweaked and improved.

Flight Model Tool
We created a tool which simulates our flight model outside of DCS, programmable using python making full use of all the scientific tools available. This includes curve fitting, root finding, integrated plotting, and much more.

In order to validate our flight model against real data we developed a method to generate multiple repeatable tests quickly. Instead of hand flying multiple tests and plotting the telemetry against real-world graphs, we can script and run the test in seconds.

One example of this is the AI flight model. A series of tests can be used to match the AI flight model parameters as closely as possible to the player flight model such that the overall performance should be similar in game.

The tool contains a physics engine which allows us to not only simulate steady state conditions, but also dynamics. This pairs perfectly with the data we have for the F-100D as we have real-world tests with the recorded stick input and the resulting output.

Having a tool which runs near instantly and is repeatable allows us to quickly iterate on the flight model to quickly converge on real-life behaviour.

Follow our ongoing work on the F-100D Progress Tracker.

[KomandorAdam]

It's great that you're sharing your work on the F-100D. I also see on your website that it's 80% complete, which is also great. If everything goes as it is now, will you probably finish it within 12 months?

PS. I'm also curious what projects you're considering after the F-100D? It would be great if it were a Cold War project, something less obvious, like the F4D Skyray, F-11 Tiger, F9F Panther, F3D Skyknight, F-89 Scorpion, F-101 Voodoo, F-105 Thunderchief, or F-106 Delta Dart!

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

This goes quite a bit over my head, but the amount of work and attention for detail won't go unnoticed, I'm sure!