The need for hard data regarding the contribution made by flight simulators during aircrew training has been widely recognised by many authors, including Caro, Rolfe and Roscoe, and many complementary strategies or experimental paradigms for obtaining such data have been advanced, ranging from the conduct of carefully structured and controlled experimental studies to the collation of data obtained during on-going training programmes.

Within the military context at least two current developments point towards the need for additional data regarding the effectiveness of flight simulators. The first is the increasing potential of complex full mission capable simulators, where developments particularly in the visual area, are extending the ability of simulators to replicate the most demanding segments of fast-jet combat missions including low level tactical manoeuvring and target acquisition and weapon delivery.