The decision to build a flight simulator was decided after 13 Flight ATC moved from Penfield to RAAF Edinburgh and became 613Squadron AAFC. Whilst at Penfield, the Flight did own a Link Trainer. A vacuum operated flight simulator originally designed by a Mr. Link who was also responsible for inventing the Pianola, also vacuum operated. Unfortunately after the move, the Link Trainer was never seen again.

 

During the initial planning stage a CUO L Higgins found the wreck of an old Baron 58. He found the aircraft abandoned at the Noarlunga airport and after obtaining permission and ownership it was transported to 613 Squadron in 2003 with the help of Mr. Hannaford (Parent of a 613 Cadet) who owned a large truck with a crane behind the cab .

 

The simulator is an Beech craft Baron 58. Most of its life was spent flying in Papua NG and still has its original Manufacturers plate and number, P2-ALE attached to the airframe.  Cadets helped  to clean out the tons of weeds, mud and bird residue. Two pack aircraft paint was donated to us and a local crash repair shop did the spray painting.

 

It was then moved to its present location under cover where it could be worked on. All of the work was done by Sgt AAFC Dobie, RAAF Cpl Gavin Gargosky and myself at that time the CO of 613Sqn. It took three years to convert all the mechanical controls to be electronic and computer generated. The interior fuselage was totally recovered,  new carpeted floors, new (Car) seats,  and a different cockpit instrument lay out was introduced as

the original was unsuitable for our purpose.

 

One of our highlights was the comment from an experienced Baron 58 Pilot/Instructor who was offered to try it out was that after putting the Sims  fully through its paces was,
 

"It is absolutely like flying the real thing!" praise indeed!

 

Typically of all aircraft it is an ongoing labor of love to keep up the simulator maintenance and  up to date electronically.

 

 

Joop Gargosky

FLTLT (AAFC) (retired)

Ex Commanding Officer

613 Squadron

Australian Air Force Cadets