Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info

End-of-Year Fundraising Drive In Progress. Please visit our home page to see this and other announcements: https://www.mmdigest.com     Thank you. --Jody

MMD > Archives > December 2014 > 2014.12.31 > 05Prev  Next


Link Aviation Trainer
By Bob Taylor

Previous posts under this title have been a fun read.  Adding to
that, here is my own small contribution.

After Ozark Airlines and Trans World Airlines (TWA) merged in 1986,
the main training facility was located at the former Ozark facility in
St. Louis, near Lambert Airport.  In the large lobby of that building
was a museum relating to airline history, with the emphasis being on
navigation.  Display cases were full of sextants, charts, plotters,
and other navigation tools.

Located prominently on the lobby floor was an exquisitely restored
vintage Link trainer.  Peeking inside, one could see ladder chains and
air motors along with other pneumatic devices.  It was my understanding
that the restored Link was owned by a private individual who loaned it
for display.

Of course, further back in the building were modern day simulators
built by various companies which were used to keep the pilots trained.
When TWA had its former training center in Kansas City, at
13th & Baltimore, some of those modern trainers were actually built by Link.
I'm not certain, but I believe the Boeing 707 trainer was a Link.

Simulators have become super sophisticated.  When I visited Vance Air
Force Base, Oklahoma, this past summer I got to fly a T-38/C simulator.
I was able to shoot missiles, drop bombs, make takeoffs and landings,
plus rendezvous with a KC-10 refueling tanker.

Bob Taylor
Missouri


(Message sent Wed 31 Dec 2014, 18:02:38 GMT, from time zone GMT-0600.)

Key Words in Subject:  Aviation, Link, Trainer

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page