These pistons support a large horizontal platform. On this platform is a carriage that can move from side to side across the entire building. In addition, there is a large cable assembly supplying power and moving computer signals between the simulated cockpit and the rest of the building. Although the motions of the system are normally fairly restrained since it is used to simulate the movements of a real aircraft, the system is capable of some truly impressive action. Then it quickly moves back to where it started.
Visitors usually wind up in open-mouthed amazement that something so big can move so fast.
Folks with sensitive stomachs look away because just watching the thing can tumble your gyros. Obviously, a piece of equipment like this represents a huge investment and you would like to keep it as busy as possible. Four ICABs exist, and are configured to simulate different types of aircraft such as fighters, helicopters, transports and the Space Shuttle. At any given time, one ICAB will be mounted in the VMS doing research and one or more of the remaining ICABs will be sitting on the ground nearby being configured for the next research project. In this way, the actual motion simulator is used as much as possible and each newly-configured ICAB can be largely checked out on the ground.