A test system and method for testing a coupled hybrid dynamic system in simulated motion along a path (242) includes a physical test rig (206) configured to test a physical component (208). A processor (30) is configured with modeled test data (218), a first virtual model portion and a second virtual model portion of the coupled hybrid dynamic system, the first virtual model portion (204), the second virtual model (202) portion and the physical component (80) comprising the coupled hybrid dynamic system. The processor (30) is configured to control the test rig (206) such that the component under test (208) responds to the second virtual model portion (202), that in turn receives a first input (272) comprising the modeled test data (218), a second input (216) being motion of the first virtual model portion (204) of the coupled hybrid dynamic system, a third input (214) being a control mode response from the test rig having (206) the physical component (208) under test and a fourth input (272) comprising guidance controls for the coupled hybrid dynamic system.