Know All About the High Altitude: History of the Flight Simulator

You might have heard a lot about flight simulator and how safely it helps you to travel from one place to another. Some of you might even have experience live Boeing 737 flight simulator, but, have you ever wondered who came across with this innovative idea or when did it all start? We all know Wright Brothers but flight simulator is as important as the jet or airplane. So, today let’s know more about the discovery of this unique technology called flight simulator.

Couple of years later from the discovery of flying machines, in 1910, the first flight simulator was structured. This was not based on wind but only for training purposes. In the simulator back in time, there consisted of two barrel halves, one placed on a pedestal and the other one represented a swinging cockpit. The pilots used to sit in the upper half of the barrel as it had to be moved manually and control various flight attitudes (orientation relative to the Earth’s horizons).

Then at the World War I during 1914-1918, the first flight training machines were developed. It was the training period for pilots where a lot of skills and techniques were required. The "Ruggles Orientator" was controlled electrically by both the instructors who turned the "cockpit" on its axis. The trainees and students also tried to keep the cockpit horizontal or level.

1920 to 1930’s was an exciting time, Edwin Link from Binghamton, New York, USA started building a device that he named Link Trainer in 1927. This design of the early flight simulation device was pate by him and finally it was available for sale in 1929. The design of Link Trainer was like a basic metal frame flight simulator mostly found in blue.

Next during World War II, the principal pilot trainers used the Link Trainer. In the meanwhile the technical developments in aviation increased substantially. Since flying an airplane was quite a complex task and thus, trainers were specialized in the flight performance and cockpit layouts of specific aircraft types. There was a different type of World War II trainer that used to navigate at night by the stars.

At the time, there was a particular section for everyone starting from the pilots in the cockpit mock-ups and then the bomber crew. Since there were other electronic developments happening rapidly, the flight training procedures started with various devices. The new computers helped to calculate the rules of aerodynamics using variables in equations. Also the computers assisted in incorporating various outputs into the simulation.

Only after the World War II these simulators were introduced in civil aviation. The first airline simulator was manufactured by Curtiss-Wright for Pan American Airways. At that period, the Boeing 377 Stratocruiser did not move and had no visual system, yet the cockpit was completely simulated upto the last detail. Since it was the first try, training procedures were going on and they were prepared for emergencies yet all the crews were out all flight.

Even after ages, we are using flight simulator and no one is questioning the technology as it is incredible but the development continues till date. By far the most popular of all is Boeing 737 flight simulator and there are various trips to enjoy the experience of watching the simulator live as well.

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