Case Study: Gulfstream Aerospace achieves accelerated flight-control development and a successful first flight with MathWorks

Gulfstream Aerospace Develops Pilot-in-the-Loop Aircraft Simulator

Gulfstream Aerospace needed to build a flexible pilot-in-the-loop simulation lab, including a six-degrees-of-freedom real-time aircraft model, to prepare for a scheduled flight test of a modified G550 on a tight timeline. To enable concurrent development of high-fidelity subsystems and rapid evaluation of control laws, Gulfstream used MathWorks tools—including Simulink, Aerospace Blockset, Simulink Coder, MATLAB, and Control System Toolbox—to create an interactive, modular modeling and simulation environment.

Using MathWorks’ Simulink, Aerospace Blockset, and Simulink Coder, Gulfstream translated legacy dynamics into modular Simulink models, generated real-time code, and integrated cockpit emulation and FlightGear visuals to test control laws in pilot-in-the-loop scenarios. The MathWorks-based solution let engineers rapidly modify and validate control systems, supported a successful first flight on schedule, accelerated development so the deadline was met, and provided a realistic simulator for pilot flight-test preparation.

Gulfstream Aerospace

Nomaan Saeed

Flight Sciences Engineer