Complex, highly integrated aircraft systems such as the Bell-Agusta 609 Vehicle Management System (VMS) require rigorous development processes to minimize the likelihood of development errors that could impact aircraft safety or performance. Development of complex systems typically involves many iterative cycles extending through a flight test program. This paper describes the application of hardware-in-the-loop simulation (HILS) to reduce the cost and risk of iterative development by allowing the BA609 VMS to be thoroughly tested prior to flight test. Test results are presented from extensive HILS testing using the BA609 VMS Integration Laboratory (VMSIL) interfaced with a flight simulator. The data illustrate that HILS is an effective means to identify system problems that might be otherwise undetected from bench testing and stand-alone simulation. The net result is a significant savings of flight test time.
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