Edwin Clayton Link

Edwin Clayton Link‏‎ (July 26, 1904 – September 7, 1981) was an American inventor, entrepreneur, and pioneer in aviation, underwater archaeology, and submersibles. He is best known for developing the Link Trainer, one of the first flight simulators, which was used extensively during World War II.

Early life[edit | edit source]

Edwin Link was born in Huntington, Indiana, to Edwin A. Link, Sr., and Katherine (Martin) Link. His father owned the Link Piano and Organ Company, where Link worked as a young man. However, his passion was always for aviation.

Career[edit | edit source]

In 1929, Link used components from his father's organ factory to create the Link Trainer. This was a ground-based flight simulator meant to safely teach new pilots the necessary skills before they took to the air. The Link Trainer was adopted by the United States Army Air Corps and other nations' air forces during World War II, training hundreds of thousands of pilots and reducing accidents.

In the 1950s, Link expanded his interests to include underwater exploration and archaeology. He developed a series of submersibles, including the Link Belt, which was used in numerous underwater archaeological expeditions. He also founded the Link Foundation, which supports research and education in the fields of aeronautics, simulation and training, ocean engineering, energy, and life sciences.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Link's contributions to aviation and underwater exploration have had a lasting impact. His flight simulators revolutionized pilot training, and his submersibles opened up new possibilities for underwater exploration and archaeology. The Link Foundation continues to support research and education in his fields of interest.