Aero India 2025 – Axial Aero’s Revolutionary Flight Simulator
Axial Aero, a start-up established by former Indian Air force (IAF) pilots Flt. Lt. (Retd.) Ramesh K. and Flt (Retd.) Praveen Bala, has engineered a cutting-edge flight simulator known as the Axial Aero 360° 6-DOF FFS (six Degrees of Freedom Full Flight Simulator), purpose-built to deliver a realistic pilot training experience.
The Axial Aero simulator employs advanced mechanical design and motion-cueing/motion-cancellation algorithms to surpass the limitations of conventional Stewart platforms [1]. This design facilitates a full 360° freedom of rotation around the X,Y and Z axes. Furthermore, translational movement along the 3 axes is ingeniously achieved using advanced mechanical actuators integrated into the seat, utilizing advanced motion-cueing algorithms that are custom-built. Motion-cueing algorithms are integral to the functionality of flight simulators, as they are responsible for generating the sensation of flight movement for the pilot.
The Axial Aero 6-DOF FFS boasts a complete 360° range of motion across all three axes, helping combat pilots to experience actual combat condition roll, pitch and yaw rates encountered during real flights. This is facilitated through an advanced mechanical design coupled with motion-cueing algorithms, which overcomes the limitations inherent in traditional Stewart Platforms.
To amplify the realism of the training experience, the simulator integrates ‘G-Force Feedback’ through proprioceptive feedback.
The Axial Aero 6-DOF FFS is capable of simulating a diverse array of aircraft types, including fighter jets, helicopters, advanced drones, and e-VTOL aircraft. According to Axial Aero, its continuous 360° motion capability renders it particularly suitable for Helicopter Spatial Disorientation Simulator (SDS) and Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT). Moreover, the incorporation of advanced actuators within the seat enables realistic translational movement enabling proprioceptive feedback, thereby creating a deeply immersive training environment.
Coming to technical specifications, the Axial Aero 6-DOF FFS minimum roll rate is 120°/s, while minimum pitch and yaw rates are both 60°/s. The simulator is available in two different configurations, single-seater and two-seater, which respective mass are 1.8 and 2.5 tonnes.
A dust-free air conditioned (best temperature range is 18-21°C) square room with minimum side of 5 metres and a 4 metres height is required to host the simulator; its floor must be sufficiently resistant to ensure that the bolt-on simulator will not “take off” during manoeuvres. The Axial Aero 360° 6-DOF FFS needs around 12 KVA electric power to operate, a generator backup being needed to ensure uninterrupted operations in case of power failure.
Photos by J. Roukoz
[1] A Stewart Platform is a type of parallel manipulator with six degrees of freedom. It consists of a fixed base, a moving platform, and six legs that connect the base and the platform. The legs are actuated by linear actuators, which allows the platform to move in three translational and three rotational directions.
