AIR FORCE DISPLAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25673, 23 October 1944, Page 2

AIR FORCE DISPLAY

NEW ZEALAND INDUSTRIES FAIR’ The exploits of the air force are so much in the minds of people that the Link Trainer, in which all pilots receive an important part of their training, is of general interest. Although it is well known by name, very few members of the public have actually seen it in action. This will be remedied at the New Zealand Industries Fair when, through the courtesy of the Minister of Defence, Mr F. Jones, a Link Trainer will be on show and demonstrated by expert instructors. The trainer consists of the cockpit of • plane, mounted on a series of bellows and controlled electrically. The dashboard contains all the necessary controls for all main flying operations. The trainee takes his seat in the cockpit, and a hood is pulled over, leaving him with just the light on the dashboard. He is equipped with earphones through which he receives his instructions. Following the instructions received he has to fly at different speeds and at different heights, and follow certain routes which naturally involve banking. He has also to be able to find an aerodrome and land on a beam. Every movement that the machine makes is recorded electrically on a control table, and when the lesson is over the trainee can sec his course and learn how far he has deviated from the instructions he has received.