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Link Aviation, Inc., was a pioneer company in the field of synthetic flight training. Started by Edwin Link during the 1930s, Link Aviation, Inc., helped train over 500,000 military airman during World War II via their 'blue box trainers.' After the war, Link grew to be the largest manufacturer of electronic weapon-systems trainers and flight and space-mission simulators. During the company's existence, Link manufactured the following types of training systems: visual display systems; commercial aircraft simulators; military aircraft simulators, including the first jet trainer and the first jet bomber trainer; general aviation simulators; and space mission simulators. Link was sold in 1995 to General Motors' Hughes Electronics Corp., Hughes Training Inc.

 Identifier

NASM.1997.0002

Creator

Link Aviation, Inc.

Date

[ca. 1930s-1970s]

Provenance

Hughes Training, Inc., gift, 1996, 1997-0002, unknown

Extent

9.81 Cubic feet ((9 records center boxes))

Archival Repository

National Air and Space Museum Archives

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of mostly technical manuals and reports relating to Link Trainer models, circa 1933-1976. Also includes as part of the collection is a microfilm copy of the early Link business records, with corresponding database. Three folders of photographs regarding Link Aviation, Inc., were transferred later and added to this collection on 02/18/99.

Rights

Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests

Restrictions

No restrictions on access

Topics

Aeronautics

Flight training

Link trainers

Flight simulators

Flight simulator industry

Type

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Manuals

Reports

Photographs

Publications

Business records