L-3 Link Simulation & Training (L-3 Link) announced today that two CH-47F Operational Flight Trainers (OFTs) it installed at the U.S. Army’s Flight School XXI Warrior Hall facility have been released for training. L-3 Link performed work on the CH-47F OFTs under a contract modification from CSRA, prime contractor on the U.S. Army’s Flight School XXI program. The two new trainers join the first L-3 Link-provided CH-47F OFT installed at Warrior Hall, which began training aircrews in January 2013.

Flight School XXI is recognized as the largest helicopter simulation training program in the world and L-3 Link is its biggest supplier of flight simulators, which includes delivery of 17 OFTs and 18 Reconfigurable Collective Training Devices.

“The CH-47F OFTs provide features, including an enhanced visual system, a highly realistic training environment and an electronic motion system, that enable the Army to deliver cost-effective, aircraft-equivalent training across all modes of flight and operational scenarios,” said Frank Casano, L-3 Link’s vice president of programs. “These new CH-47F simulators also support routine maintenance training tasks that previously had to be conducted on an actual platform.”

Each CH-47F OFT installed by L-3 Link is integrated with a high-performance visual display system and LED projectors. The LED projectors for the simulators’ out-the-window and chin window displays offer high resolution and brightness, while providing longer operational performance at a reduced maintenance cost. Geo-specific databases provide a realistic, high-fidelity virtual environment that immerses aircrews in dynamic training scenarios. Aircrews will be able to use their actual flight night vision goggles when conducting simulated nighttime missions.

Flight School XXI annually trains 1,000 new student pilots, who have no previous flight experience, to become combat mission aviators. In addition, each year 1,600 rated Army aviators undergo simulator training toward qualification to operate new aircraft platforms.