Archives of Flight Trainers

This simulator was designed and built in 1963-1965 under great secrecy by Link—the company founded by Edwin Link, who fabricated his first flight simulation device in 1929. It is the only one ever produced and it was used to train SR-71 crews of the Air Force’s 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Beale AFB, California.

Not all flight tools simulate actual flight. Some tools enable familiarity with a particular aircraft. This cockpit layout demonstrator is designed to help pilots know where to look to find specific instruments or practice routine functions.

Not all flight tools simulate actual flight. Some tools enable familiarity with a particular aircraft. This cockpit layout demonstrator is designed to help pilots know where to look to find specific instruments or practice routine functions.

This simulator was built by Link General Precision in 1967 in Binghamton, New York (now Link Simulation & Training in Arlington, Texas). It was used to train both the Pilot and Weapons System Operator (WSO) in a cockpit mounted on a 3 degree of freedom motion platform. All instrumentation was simulated and navigation and attack modes could be practiced by the crews. Special folding seats were mounted to the outside of the cockpit to allow instructors to observe and instruct when needed. This was only done with the motion system off and the canopies in the open position. Only the cockpit portion of the simulator is displayed here; when it was operational the simulator was accompanied by a room full of computers as well as the hardware necessary to provide hydraulic pressure for the motion platform.

This simulator was designed and built in 1963-1965 under great secrecy by Link—the company founded by Edwin Link, who fabricated his first flight simulation device in 1929. It is the only one ever produced and it was used to train SR-71 crews of the Air Force’s 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Beale AFB, California.

Inspired by the idea of reducing the expense of flying lessons, Edwin A. Link developed his first “pilot trainer” from parts obtained from his father’s organ factory and received a patent on his device in 1931. Link had limited success selling his trainers prior to the outbreak of World War II, but after the conflict started the U.S. military ordered thousands of Link Trainers for the Army and Navy. Nearly all Army Air Force cadets took blind-flying training in the Link.