Beavercreek Township in Riverside in Montgomery County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Conair NC-131H Total In-Flight Simulatot (TIFS)

Photographed by Pete Skillman, June 28, 2025

1. Conair NC-131H Total In-Flight Simulatot (TIFS) Marker

Inscription.

Conair NC-131H Total In-Flight Simulatot (TIFS). . This one-of-a kind aircraft was created for the US Air Force in the late 1960s by the Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory of Buffalo, New York (later the Calspan Corporation). Engineers used it as an in-flight simulator to study how an aircraft would fly before building an expensive, full-scale prototype.

Originally a USAF C-131B transport aircraft, this airplane underwent extensive modifications. Its original piston engines were replaced by turboprop engines with nearly twice the horsepower, but the most noticeable modifications added the second cockpit on the nose and the vertical fins on the wings. It was redesignated the NC-131H with the "N" to indicate that the aircraft had been permanently modified.

The TIFS could be configured with two different noses. The first nose is a two-place cockpit from which onboard computers simulated the handling characteristics of various aircraft. It provided a large field of view and contained reconfigurable controls and instrument displays. The original cockpit carried two safety pilots who monitored the simulations and could take control in case of a problem.

In the second configuration, called the Avionics Systems Test and Training Aircraft (ASTTA), the avionics nose carried large prototype radars, infrared cameras, and other sensors. A crew station in the main cabin accommodated the system operators. Engineers found the TIFS especially useful for studying how large aircraft would handle during takeoff and landing. Vertical fins on the wings generated side forces to simulate crosswinds and provided test data.

The TIFS made its first flight in 1970, and its first research project simulated the B-1 bomber in 1971. During its long career, the TIFS simulated many military and NASA aircraft including the B-1, X-40, Tacit Blue, Space Shuttle, B-2, YF-23, and C-17. Civilian aircraft development projects included the Boeing Supersonic Transport (SST), 7J7, MD-12X, and Indonesian N-250. It also served to train test pilots. The TIFS come to the Museum in 2008.

TECHNICAL NOTES

Engines: Two Allison 501-D22G of 4,368 hp each.

This one-of-a kind aircraft was created for the US Air Force in the late 1960s by the Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory of Buffalo, New York (later the Calspan Corporation). Engineers used it as an in-flight simulator to study how an aircraft would fly before building an expensive, full-scale prototype.

Originally a USAF C-131B transport aircraft, this airplane underwent extensive modifications. Its original piston engines were replaced by turboprop engines with nearly twice the horsepower, but the most noticeable modifications added the second cockpit on the nose and the vertical fins on the wings. It was redesignated the NC-131H with the "N" to indicate that the aircraft had been permanently modified.

The TIFS could be configured with two different noses. The first nose is a two-place cockpit from which onboard computers simulated the handling characteristics of various aircraft. It provided a large field of view and contained reconfigurable controls and instrument displays. The original cockpit carried two safety pilots who monitored the simulations and could take control in case of a problem.

In the second configuration,

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called the Avionics Systems Test and Training Aircraft (ASTTA), the avionics nose carried large prototype radars, infrared cameras, and other sensors. A crew station in the main cabin accommodated the system operators. Engineers found the TIFS especially useful for studying how large aircraft would handle during takeoff and landing. Vertical fins on the wings generated side forces to simulate crosswinds and provided test data.

The TIFS made its first flight in 1970, and its first research project simulated the B-1 bomber in 1971. During its long career, the TIFS simulated many military and NASA aircraft including the B-1, X-40, Tacit Blue, Space Shuttle, B-2, YF-23, and C-17. Civilian aircraft development projects included the Boeing Supersonic Transport (SST), 7J7, MD-12X, and Indonesian N-250. It also served to train test pilots. The TIFS come to the Museum in 2008.

TECHNICAL NOTES

Engines: Two Allison 501-D22G of 4,368 hp each.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space.

Location. 39° 47.036′ N, 84° 6.529′ W. Marker is in Riverside, Ohio, in

Conair NC-131H Total In-Flight Simulatot (TIFS) Marker - wide view with aircraft image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Pete Skillman, June 28, 2025

2. Conair NC-131H Total In-Flight Simulatot (TIFS) Marker - wide view with aircraft

Montgomery County. It is in Beavercreek Township. It can be reached from Bong Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1100 Bong St, Dayton OH 45431, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Dayton Metro

and in the Miami Valley.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Belly Tank (a few steps from this marker); American Air Forces in England, WWII (a few steps from this marker); 8th Air Force Control Tower (a few steps from this marker); White Square (within shouting distance of this marker); Boeing EC-135E ARIA (within shouting distance of this marker); Lockheed AC-130A (within shouting distance of this marker); Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct

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line); McDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagle (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Riverside.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 30, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 30, 2025, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware. This page has been viewed 114 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 30, 2025, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware.