National Air and Space Museum Archives

Link Aviation, Inc. Collection

Summary

Collection ID:
NASM.1997.0002
Creators:
Link Aviation, Inc.
Dates:
[ca. 1930s-1970s]
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
9.81 Cubic feet
(9 records center boxes)
Repository:

Scope and Contents

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.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
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.

Administration

Immediate Source of Acquisition
Hughes Training, Inc., gift, 1996, 1997-0002, unknown

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Use
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

More Information

General

General
NASMrev


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Aeronautics Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Flight training Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Link trainers Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Flight simulators Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Flight simulator industry Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Manuals Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Reports Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Publications Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Business records Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Link, Edwin A. (Edwin Albert), 1904-1981 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Link Aviation, Inc. Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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