Flight Simulator with Hardware and Virtual Reality for Aeronautical Engineering Education in Higher Education

Immersive flight simulators have become a key strategy to optimize learning in higher education programs in aeronautical engineering. This research reports the implementation and evaluation of a system that combines Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 with Meta Quest 3 head-mounted displays and specialized hardware (joystick, throttle, and rudder pedals) to replicate cockpit operations and strengthen the acquisition of theoretical and practical competences. We conducted a quasi-experimental study with 40 undergraduate students randomly assigned to a control group (desktop simulator without VR) and an experimental group (immersive VR). Data sources comprised a 30-item theory test (pre-/post-), simulator-based performance metrics (reaction time to failures, instrument reading accuracy, and maneuver stability), and Likert-type questionnaires on realism, ease of use, perceived utility, immersion, and satisfaction. The experimental group achieved significantly larger gains in theoretical knowledge (mean increase +16.3 vs. +8.1 points; p < .01), reduced reaction times by approximately 30%, and reported higher levels of realism, immersion, and satisfaction. These findings are discussed in relation to digital pedagogy in higher education, highlighting the reduction of the theory–practice gap, increased student engagement, and the transferability of immersive simulation to other engineering programs. We conclude that VR-enhanced flight simulators represent an effective, scalable, and motivating complement to traditional instruction in aeronautical engineering.