The Museum of Flightsimulation is situated in the industrial zone in Someren Holland. they have a number of restored flight simulators ranging from the 1930's to 1980's.

Photo: Martijn Rozeboom

There are several Link Trainers and other simulators including an Airbus A-310  that are in the process of being restored. The A-310 was a donation from KLM. The simulators are accessible to the public so they can learn about aviation and flying in particular.

After a short instruction, people are invited to fly in one of the simulators. The guide helps the pilot and supports him or her when necessary. A flight exercise usually consists of take off, climbing to 1500 ', flying straight and level, turns, banks and landing.

We were only two when we arrived at the Museum for our private tour. The museum is only open to the public on Sundays, for any other visits, you phone and book a tour. The 50 Euros we paid for a 3-1/2 hour session was very good value, as it included flying in several simulators.

We were given a tour of the facility and admired the plethora of working simulators. The latest addition an Airbus A-310 CAE simulator was donated to the museum by KLM. The cost was 1 Euro. To get the simulator to the Museum cost 6000 Euros. In order to create space for the A-310 simulator, two older Link trainers, Link D-2 (1942) and Link C-8 (1954)
had to be removed and are now stored. The  simulator is in the process of being restored to flying condition without movement. The hydraulic system is too costly to maintain.

Other simulators in the Museum, Link AT-10  (1960), ATC-112 helicopter (ca 1970),Singer/Link GAT (1970),ATC-610, desktop simulator (ca 1972),Beech Baron with FS-X (1974) and a homebuilt simulator using a concave glass for visuals.

After the tour it was coffee break and then we got a basic lesson about flying, control surfaces etc..and then onto flying.

First we flew the Singer-Link GAT-1.

Link insisted on moving the trainer to achieve some sense of flying. This trainer does not move very realistically only three axis movement, the sound is very natural. The simulator was built to mimick, a Cessna 150F.

This is an ideal trainer for the Instrument Flying. Just about all flight instruments can be eliminated one by one, motor disturbances can be introduced in different ways.   Flying with "Limited Panel" and practicing emergency procedures can be taught. Also, the weight of the aircraft (with load) and the location of the center of gravity can be changed. There is an outside monitor for the Instructor to follow the flight in detail.

This was blind flying 101 and even with 3 axis this trainer can make people motion sick, a barf bag is handy at all times.

Then we flew  the Beech Baron 58.

This simulator was based on a Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain, a 10 seater aircraft with two piston engines. It simulates a Beech Baron 58. The vision is presented with three projectors, with a visual of 120degrees.for twin-rated pilots who want to practice navigation flights all-over-the-world and in all weather conditions, this is a very good simulator. Apart from a few engine instruments all gauges work.

We flew out of Seattle (Sea-Tac) and that was almost home territory for me. Did some TO's and landings at various airports in the Seattle area and had a lot of fun. The visuals are stunning and we were forgetting about time when it suddenly was all over. That was due to the Canadian Cowboy landing short of the Tacoma Narrows airport and crashing into a fence. :-((

If you are ever in Holland you got to visit this unique Museum. 

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Museum of Flightsimulation, Dutch only!, translate with Google