Aircraft of the ADF -A13 Link Trainer

In 1937 Squadron Leader Scherger (later Air Chief Marshal Sir Frederick Scherger) inspected the Link trainer overseas and, realising its value for instrument flying training, recommended its acquisition for Australia. At this stage the RAF had ordered fifty of this design, so the RAAF allocated $2700 for the procurement of one for evaluation at No 1 Flying Training School at Point Cook.

The first RAAF Link trainer, A13-1, was received in August 1938 and its value was immediately recognised by an order for eight for use at all the RAAF flying bases. This order, valued at $32,500, was delivered in 1939 (A13-2 to A13-9).

The first RAAF versions were the ANT-18 design built in Canada by the JVW Corporation and Avro, or purchased direct from the US. These were A13-1 to A13-81, and A13-98 to A13-140. A13-82 was an ANT-18 also built by JVW, but was diverted from the Netherlands East Indies in June 1942 with a number of aircraft, which were also accepted by the RAAF. Other early RAAF Links, which came from the US, were the Type D2 design (A13-83 to A13-97).

Another version of the Link in RAAF service was the Link Celestial Trainer (LCT), or the ANT-34, ordered in 1943 and delivered from Canada in June 1944. Three of these large multi crew instrument simulators were to be installed at East Sale (for No 1 Operational Training Unit), Rathmines (No 3 OTU), and Tocumwal (No 7 OTU). Only the East Sale trainer, serialled A63-1 (LCT serail no 94), was commissioned, and the other two (LCT 95 and LCT 96) were later reduced to components to support the sole simulator. This was operated until 1957, and its disposal was approved in February 1963. From 1959 many of the Link ANT-18 trainers were allotted to Air Training Corps (ATC) units. Various ATC Squadrons still hold the following ANT-18 Links: NSW five on charge, Vic two, SA four, Tas two, Qld/NQld five and WA one.

With the advent of the jet age a more sophisticated instrument trainer was required. The first of this new design, A13-150, was a Link Type D4 Mark 1, built by Air Trainers Ltd in UK. A13-150 arrived in Melbourne in October 1950 and was installed at East Sale. A further order for this type was placed in 1955, and these nine, serialled A13-151 to A13-159, were installed primarily at Point Cook (for No 1 Basic Flying Training School), but also at Townsville, Amberley, Richmond and East Sale. Some of these saw out their service with the RAAF School of Technical Training (RSTT) at Wagga.

An additional D4 Mark 1 was obtained by the RAN for service at Nowra as No 279, but this was transferred to Point Cook in June 1957 and became A13-160. Most of this type were disposed of in 1970. However, A13-159 was allocated to the RAAF Museum in August 1971, and A13-158 was issued free of charge to the Indonesian Air Force at Halim Air Base in June 1973, under the Defence Aid Program to South East Asian nations.

The final model of Link to see RAAF service was the D4 Mark 2, also built by Air Trainers Ltd UK. These ten simulators, A13-201 to A13-210, were delivered over 1955-56. This type was deployed to most flying bases, and after several were disposed of or converted to spares in 1963, the type was operated until 1965 and then sold in 1970.

With more advanced aircraft came dedicated aircraft simulators. Types such as the Mirage, F-111, Hercules, Orion and Hornet have had flight and mission simulators installed at various RAAF bases.

Some Link trainers still remain. In addition to the ANT-18 examples held by ATC Squadrons mentioned above, a further one is displayed by the Camden Museum of Aviation at Narellan. Also in 1981, A13-31 was refurbished at RAAF Amberley and displayed at the Diamond Jubilee Air Show.

More recently A13-108 was restored by ARDU at RAAF Edinburgh and is one of those now held by South Australian Squadron ATC. Additionally the RAAF Museum at Point Cook has two Links, an ANT-18 A13-32 and a D4 Mark 1 A13-159, and the Museum of Army Aviation and Flying at Oakey, Qld display A13-114.