Even though they were always the ultimate games machine, as Computergram was saying a decade ago, flight simulators were once only put to serious use in training would-be pilots but the use of simulator technology in the entertainment industry seems to be the latest trend. Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp of Salt Lake City, Utah will install one of its Virtual Glider simulators in London’s Trocadero Entertainment Arcade following a deal struck with United Artists Theatre Circuit Inc to install machines in Starport entertainment centres in the Dallas and Indianapolis (CI No 2,776). Similarly, Crawley, East Sussex-based Thomson Training & Simulation Ltd has branched out from the relatively unexciting world of civil aircraft, power plant and weapons simulation to supply Ventura 2 simulators in Europe, Middle East and Australia. The Ventura 2 is a coin-operated two-seater pod. Players sit in the pod, select one of five games and then stare at the video screen. Simulations include a futurisitic roller-coaster ride called Astro Cannon Coaster, a road rally in a Ford Escort Cosworth or the opportunity to skim fast and low over treacherous terrain in a Harrier jump jet. Thomson supplies the games on a video disk and issues five new updates every six months.

Rediffusion

The three-axis motion system used in the simulator was originally developed by Phil Denne, a former UK Ministry of Defence employee who designed an electronic warfare unit that simulated anti-aircraft missiles and radar jamming devices for the British Royal Air Force. Thomson, formerly Rediffusion Simulation Ltd, acquired the three-axis motion system when it bought Denne’s company, Denne Developments Ltd, in 1990. Thomson then added simulation technology of its own to develop Ventura 2. The company has also developed a 30-seater version of the simulator for theme parks known as Ventura 30. Since its launch in June, Thomson has sold 50 Ventura 2 systems. The entertainment division of the company is one of the fastest-growing areas of business and is growing at around 30% a year, said Paula Bernard, marketing development manager at Thomson, who said that the UK arm had a turnover of $800,000 last year. Thomson Training & Simulation Ltd is owned by French defence electronics major Thomson-CSF SA. The company says the simulator is personal computer-based – seems a little unlikely.