Flight simulator inventor Rudy Frasca passed away on May 11 of natural causes. He was 89. Frasca’s name was familiar to generations of students who were trained and tested on flight simulators built by the company he founded in 1958. He is survived by his wife, Lucille, “who was always his strongest supporter,” as well as his eight children and 18 grandchildren.
Serious question and not to belittle Mr Frasca. When does a Flight Training Device become a simulator?
I would have thought Edwin Albert Link’s trainer was one of the first simulators. First built in 1929.
The image of the 737 simulator is reversed. Engine #1 is on the right and engine #2 is on the left. Look at the fire control panel just aft of the thrust levers.
Sharp eyes! I now see that also.
Good catch! It’s that way on the Frasca site…
Mr. Frasca was a fine gentleman, a true friend of aviation. I taught some of his sons at Southern Illinois University Aviation Technology, and would visit with them at aviation trade shows. He and I were seated together at an aviation related banquet at the university and I was able to get to know him. He shared his experiences while flying his “Felix the Cat” US Navy fighter in the movie “Midway”. He will be missed…
Now it’s fixed.
I believe that the author was referring to him as AN inventor in the flight simulator field, not as the guy who originated it. Note the in the second paragraph he is cited as being unhappy with the the then current state of the art in the field.