AN EXPERIMENT WAS CONDUCTED BY MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A GROUND PILOT TRAINER USED TO DEVELOP PRIMARY AND INSTRUMENT FLIGHT PROFICIENCIES. THE STUDY REQUIRED DIFFERENTIAL USE OF THE DEVICE WITH THREE GROUPS OF CANDIDATES, AND COMPARISON OF TRAINING PROGRESS AND ATTAINED PROFICIENCY VERSUS THAT OF GROUP OF PILOT CANDIDATES TAUGHT BY THE USUAL METHODS--WITHOUT A GROUND TRAINER. IN THE INSTRUMENT RATING EXPERIMENT, TEN PILOTS, ALL WITH MINIMUM IFR EXPERIENCE, WERE TRAINED IN FLIGHT PERFORMANCE REQUIRED FOR INSTRUMENT RATING BY MEANS OF THE FLIGHT TRAINER COMBINED WITH FLIGHT INSTRUCTION. THE GROUND AND AIRCRAFT TRAINING HOURS REQUIRED TO DEVELOP PRIMARY AND INSTRUMENT PROFICIENCIES WERE REPORTED. FINDINGS INDICATED THAT THE GROUND TRAINER DOES NOT REDUCE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF HOURS OF INSTRUCTION NEEDED TO ACHIEVE FLIGHT PROFICIENCIES BUT DOES REDUCE THE AIRCRAFT INSTRUCTIONAL TIME NORMALLY REQUIRED. THE GROUND TRAINER PROVED OF MOST VALUE IN DEVELOPING NAVIGATIONAL COMPETENCE AND COMMAND ABILITY. THIS DOCUMENT, AD-653-733, IS AVAILABLE FROM THE CLEARINGHOUSE FOR FEDERAL SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION, SPRINGFIELD, VA. 22151. MICROFICHE $0.65, HARDCOPY $3.00. (AUTHOR/LY)