Back to the Skies!

The name “Link” has a double meaning in this project.
Not only is the Link Trainer named after its inventor, Edwin Albert Link, but it also represents the link that will soon be created between ingenious historical hardware and modern technology.

The goal is to bring this Link Trainer back to flight after many decades spent forgotten and gathering dust in storage. Original mechanical systems and instruments will soon be connected to contemporary electronics, software, and control systems — creating a unique combination of aviation history and modern simulation technology.






The Link Trainer

The Link Trainer was developed in the late 1920s by Edwin Albert Link, an American inventor whose family manufactured automatic pianos and organs. Using pneumatic and mechanical technology originally developed for musical instruments, Link created one of the world’s first practical flight simulators.

Introduced commercially in 1929, the Link Trainer became an essential tool for instrument flight training. During World War II, thousands of military pilots learned blind flying, radio navigation and instrument procedures using these simulators before entering real aircraft.

More than 10,000 Link Trainers were produced, making them one of the most important early flight training devices in aviation history. Their characteristic motion system and blue-painted bodies earned them the nickname “The Blue Box.”

The simulator shown here is believed to be a late military version, most likely an AN-T-18 or a related post-war variant.



Origin & Restoration

The exact history of this particular Link Trainer remains unclear.

Although the simulator is painted yellow today, traces of the original dark green / olive finish were found beneath the later repaint, suggesting an earlier military background. Several cockpit details and bilingual German / English markings indicate that the trainer was likely modified or operated in Germany after the war.

The simulator had been forgotten in storage for many years before eventually being transferred to LAT in Bremen. Despite decades of inactivity, the cockpit structure and most of the original instruments survived in remarkably complete condition.

After rediscovering the trainer, the idea emerged to preserve its historical appearance while bringing it back to operational life using modern technology.

Today, the simulator is privately owned and still located in Bremen, Germany, where restoration and technical redevelopment are ongoing.



The Project

This project aims to bring a Link Trainer that is more than 80 years old back to life.

Large parts of the original pneumatic, mechanical and electrical systems are incomplete or no longer functional, making a fully authentic restoration impossible. Instead, the goal is to preserve as many original components as possible while discreetly integrating modern technology behind the scenes.

Particular attention is given to preserving the original cockpit layout, controls and analog instruments. Rather than replacing historical hardware with modern displays, the original instruments are being reactivated using custom-built electronics and control systems.

X-Plane 12 is used as the flight model simulation and visual platform. A custom-developed Delphi application exchanges real-time flight data with X-Plane and distributes it to multiple Arduino-based controllers, which operate the original cockpit instruments and simulator systems.

The project combines historical preservation with modern simulation technology in order to recreate the atmosphere and functionality of the original Link Trainer as faithfully as possible.




Who We Are

Wigbert

With 35 years of experience in flight simulator maintenance and engineering, Wigbert has worked with a wide range of simulator manufacturers and aircraft types, including the Boeing 757 / Boeing 767 / Boeing 737, Airbus A320, and Cessna Citation CJ1, as well as numerous smaller aircraft platforms.

His experience ranges from room-sized computer systems of earlier simulator generations to modern Windows- and Linux-based platforms. The same applies to simulator interfaces and hardware systems, ranging from large industrial control equipment to compact modern embedded solutions.

Alongside professional simulator work, he has been involved in a variety of electronics, software, and DIY engineering projects over the years, combining traditional hardware with modern control systems and custom-built solutions.


Olaf

Olaf brings more than 40 years of experience and technical expertise in aircraft maintenance. Throughout his career, he has worked extensively on aircraft systems, troubleshooting, mechanical restoration, and technical operations within the aviation industry.

His deep practical knowledge, craftsmanship, and passion for historical aviation technology play a key role in preserving and rebuilding the original systems of the Link Trainer while maintaining as much authenticity as possible.


Now retired, we dedicate much of our spare time to the restoration and redevelopment of the simulator.

Future Plans

At the moment, this is purely a private project driven by the enjoyment of bringing historical technology back to life.

There are plans to make the Link Trainer accessible to others in the future. However, a suitable location for installation and operation still needs to be found.

One long-term goal is to preserve the simulator not only as a historical object, but as a fully operational “living” Link Trainer. Due to the small number of surviving operational units, this project could eventually become one of the few functioning Link Trainers in Europe.

What makes this project especially unique is the combination of:

  • original WWII-era hardware,
  • German post-war history,
  • authentic analog instrumentation,
  • and modern flight simulation technology.

In many ways, the simulator is becoming a hybrid between a historical flight trainer and a modern experimental restoration project.

Suggestions, ideas and recommendations are always welcome.