The Link Trainer

The Link Trainer was designed by American Inventor Edward A. Link and Patented on April 14, 1929. It was the first ground - based flight trainer that could generally simulate the behavior and responses to controls of an airplane in flight. The trainer was developed and built in the basement of his father's piano and organ factory and used initially as an amusement ride.

The Link Trainer consists of a system of electric motors and bellows that react to manual stick and rudder control to simulate the motion of flight. Link's invention led to the development of the complex flight simulators used by astronauts, commercial and military pilots today.