From the Beginning..

Ed Link was just a boy in the early days of aviation when that new and expanding technology captured his imagination and challenged his mechanical skills.

Born in Huntington, Indiana, in 1904, Ed’s family moved to Binghamton four years later. Throughout his childhood, Ed Link demonstrated an aversion to formal schooling, but had an aptitude for science and mechanics. He could fix any machine, and when his curiosity was aroused as it was by the first crystal radio sets, his appetite for information was insatiable,

He had an ambition to fly, but learning to pilot a plane was an expensive proposition in those days. Lessons costing as much as $50 each provided instructors an opportunity to perform amazing stunts, but gave eager student pilots little hands-on experience.

Aviation Pioneers Charles Lindbergh (left) and Ed Link (right) in 1927.

However, aviation became the consuming interest in his life and all of his spare time and money went towards learning to fly and earning his pilot’s license. He saw the need to develop a device which could be used to teach people to fly. Using the scientific principles and mechanical skills he had acquired in his 24 years of life, Ed directed his energies to building the first pilot trainer—a project that would usher in the multi-million dollar high technology simulation industry. In 1929 the first trainer was ready.

One foggy day in the early I 930’s Ed flew to Newark, New Jersey, to demonstrate his trainer to a group of Army Corps officers. His own ability to land in that weather demonstrated the value of his trainer and resulted in his first contract for six trainers at $3,500 each.

Link Trainers produced during World War II

The "Blue Box" trainers provided by the now viable and newly incorporated (1935) Link Aviation Devices, Inc., were initially used to train Army pilots responsible for delivering the U.S. Mail. But the direction of pilot training soon changed as the country began building its resources to meet the threat of World War II.

Refurbished "Blue Box"

Trainers provided by Link boosted the Allied effort during the war as the device became a vital part of pilot training for more than half a million Allied airmen. "Link Time" became a common term in pilot circles. The company employed 1,500 people and turned out a trainer at the rate of one every 45 minutes.

In the years following World War II, Link Aviation continued to keep pace with the growing aeronautics industry. With the emergence of computer technology, the company designed and constructed a computer-actuated flight trainer and the first jet instrument trainer.

Link continued to grow and expand. The introduction of more sophisticated simulation techniques not only led to the training of pilots for commercial jets, high-performance military aircraft and helicopters, but it also played a leading role in the training of astronauts for the Gemini and Apollo space programs. One of Link’s contribution to the space program—the Shuttle Mission Simulator—was developed to train the crews in all phases of the space shuttle mission from launch to reentry and landing.

The growth of Link Aviation, its expanding flight simulation technology and its future potential induced General Precision Equipment, Inc., to buy the company in 1954. Fourteen years later, The Singer Company purchased Link from GPE and has guided the company’s growth since then.

Air Force C-130 Simulator by Link

Note: This data was copied from a Employment Brochure printed mid to late 70's.(jeh)

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