When the U.S. Army first began training pilots to fly helicopters by instruments they used converted.
Item specifics
| Condition: | Used |
When the U.S. Army first began training pilots to fly helicopters by instruments they used converted CA 1 A airplane simulators to which they added a collective control stick, changed the airspeed dial to reflect slower helicopter air speeds and other minor changes. (They sent out an instruction sheet on how to do this.)
This didn’t simulate a helicopter very accurately. So they let a contract to Trainer Corporation of America to build 18 helicopter simulators. Designated device 2B3, it had many features of a real helicopter including blade stall, settling with power, retreating blade stall, engine and rotor blade sound, throttle on the collective control, an accurate helicopter instrument panel and other features. These cost over a half million dollars in 1960s dollars.
This simulator is number three of the eighteen made. It was purchased from a surplus sale in the 1970"s This trainer has been in a barn since then and needs a complete restoration.
I also have simulator number 12, partly restored, but not included in this sale.
These may be the last 2B3 simulators left. I’ve never seen one in any aviation museum, on any list of inventory, or on a website. A google search does not find a 2B3 simulator or a photo of one. That’s why I am listing this as one of the two known. The museum that gets this will have something not seen in any other museum. When someone builds a museum of simulation technology, this is a must have item. This simulator is sure to bring back memories for Vietnam pilots of training at Fort Rucker and Fort Bragg. A service and parts manual is included with sale. A syllabus for instrument training from Fort Bragg dated 1972 is included. It was in the instructor’s desk that is included with this sale. I would like for this to go to a museum, Serious offers only. Pickup location near Grayson, KY Current date: 2016-08-22