Khalifa University – Merlin MP521 Simulator

Khalifa University of Science and Technology, a leading research-intensive institution in the UAE, is committed to advancing aerospace education through hands-on, practical learning. In 2023, the university integrated Antycip’s Merlin MP521 Flight Simulator into its aerospace curriculum, enabling students to directly apply theoretical knowledge to real-world flight dynamics and aircraft design challenges.

This simulator has become a pivotal tool for undergraduate and postgraduate courses, student research projects, and participation in global aerospace competitions.

The Merlin MP521 Flight Simulator features Excalibur III software, a real-time, non-linear simulation environment with six degrees of freedom. This platform allows students to design, test, and evaluate a wide variety of air vehicles, including:

• Gliders and rockets
• Fixed-Wing and Fixed-Wing VTOL
• Multirotor Rotary Wing and Tilt Rotor

Through the S-function driver interface, the simulator integrates with Matlab/Simulink, enabling students and researchers to develop advanced control systems and directly interact with real-time flight simulations.

This hands-on approach bridges the gap between classroom theory and practical aerospace applications, fostering interactive learning and enhancing understanding of flight dynamics, stability, and control systems and directly interact with real-time flight simulations.