Link Trainer

Desk for the D4 breaks down more if you want it to – overhead/top/two side cupboards and centre drawer.

Take the side steps off the fuselage – use jacking castors on the base and the fuse/octagon/base will pass through a standard door (may need to unhinge door if not clear opening.

One word of caution – moving complete unit is nose/tail heavy and prone to overbalance. I used specially built support dolly to nose and tail to cross rough ground.

Different weights/lumps of other trainer types (basically ANT and D4 has sliding cockpit roof – D2 hinge up like Bf109)

Ross

The Link trainer comes in two parts – the upper ‘cockpit’ which in turn fits to a large metal box frame base. The other part is the instructors station which is basically a big desk on which the crab operates. You can handball the desk ok if you take the drawers out – its still heavy, but the Link cockpit would need to be disconnected from the base. Both are pretty heavy and awkward to move without a pump truck. To get it out of a basement you will definitely need to split the cockpit by the sounds of things.

TT

The AP for the D4 version states; Fuselage, Octagon and base 2450 lbs and Desk complete 600 lbs.

I will have a look which manual i have but i think it might be the ant-18 model but will check

Many thanks,

TerryP

I will have a look which manual i have but i think it might be the ant-18 model but will check

Link trainer

Pm Sent

Chaps, apologies for butting in on this thread but I have a serviceable D4 and Plotting Table together with 3 pallets of spares ready for immediate collection. This is a goldmine opportunity for the spares alone – can anyone make me an offer or point me in the direction of someone who really wants this as a ‘Job Lot’ as I don’t want to wade through all we have to find individual parts?

Finally got round to uploading some pictures.
Just in the process of disconnecting everything now to sand the interior ready to re-varnish.
So far all components look in very good condition so i think long term it will come alive again .

If anyone knows of any manuals for the c3 or ant18 that would be a great help also if anyone has any link trainer parts spare as need a few bits and pieces.
Many thanks

I shall get ome pictures taken tomorrow as it was dark when i got back.
She is pretty complete apart from wings and instruments.
Allcomponents were still fitted in cockpit floor and fwd and aft panels.
The base looks pretty complete but in pieces but will look i tomorrow to see what is there and work out what is missing.
I know i need the external panel that fits on the port side of fuselage .Is it some kind of switch ? also where would the manufacture plate be .
Looking fwd to tomorrow to start making a plan of action 🙂

Congratulations on becoming part of the link club.

From what I can tell C3 & ANT-18 are one and the same.

Lets see some photos;)

Good luck with it

J
www.bottishamairfieldmuseum.org.uk

Does anyone know the difference between the ant-18 and the C3 as im nearly 100 percent sure the one i collected today is not a D4 but looks identical to the ant-18 .
Is there a easy way of id the differences ? I cant seem to find a id plate on it to condfirm it.
Any help greatly appreciated.

Newark Air Museum has two type D2 Link Trainers (vintage circa 1942) and plotting tables on display in Hangars 1 and 2 at the museum – whilst both are serviceable they are not operated.

Excellent assistance for the restoration of the second unit was provided by the Museum of Flight at East Fortune; this included circuit diagrams and relevant sections from the APs.

Just a cautionary note, people should be aware of potential issues with Link Trainer instrumentation of ‘a certain age!’ 😉

There’s a working example at Tangmere, not sure which version it is.

Thanks for the heads up on the weight on the bench.Sounds like its going to be fun on saturday lol.
Regards instruments ,As soon as i find out part numbers etc and what instruments are needed i shall drop you a message .
The owner has told me the panel is still attached but no instruments are fitted but the control column is still fitted so at least two major cockpit parts are still there i guess.

No ours came as the photo shows – we have just got a base/hexagon on long-term loan – beware the base is incredibly heavy – sorry no clues how to disconnect.

At the moment we are focusing on our fuselage – as you can see it needs alot of work!!

Did yours come with the hexagon base etc and workings ?
Apparently the one i am collecting is still mounted on its base so going to have to work out how to dismantle it off the base to get it in the van.
Any clues ?

We are currently restoring our instrument panel to its original WW2 USAAF format (ours came with a modified panel with some later instruments that may be suitable for a D4)- we may have some surplus instruments for sale – let me know what you need – ebay seems a good source of instruments also.

Ours is wood covered (ply) but have been told it may have orignally been fabric covered.

No.This one came from a private deal.
I did see the one on ebay .I think it was painted in camo wasnt it.
It looked in a very bad condition .

Terry,

Any chance I could have a copy too – email [email]jasonwebb@bottishamairfieldmuseum.org.uk[/email]

Binbrook,

Stephen’s photos at Thorpes Abbott example looks to be D4 – is yours the one that was advertised on ebay recently??