Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

Leonardo brought its full-scale Virtual and Extended Reality Simulator (VxR) to Heli-Expo 2024 and is offering demonstration flights this week during the show. The VxR simulator, configured as an IFR AW119Kx, includes a motion base attached to the cockpit and an instructor station.
The simulator’s motion base is a six-degrees-of-freedom short-throw device, which is possible because it doesn’t need larger actuators to support a visual system dome. This also means that it occupies less space. By wearing a virtual reality (VR) headset, the trainee can interact with the simulator’s real controls, knobs, and buttons while seeing the outside view superimposed inside the headset.
Capable of replicating VFR and IFR helicopters, the VxR is designed to meet FAA flight training device level 6 and 7 qualifications. Initial FAA certification is planned for this year, with EASA qualification to follow in 2025. Two VxR simulators have been completed and will be placed at Leonardo’s training academies in Sesto Calende, Italy, and in the U.S. in Philadelphia.
Leonardo can reconfigure the simulator to replicate the AW09, AW119, and AW109 helicopters using previously qualified level-D full-flight simulator flight dynamics and performance data, as well as cockpit components. The helicopter manufacturer is also making the VxR simulators available to helicopter industry clients.

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

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Capable of replicating VFR and IFR helicopters, the VxR simulator is designed to meet FAA flight training device level 6 and 7 qualifications.

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Heli-Expo 2024

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