| Frasca
Flight Simulators
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The museum exhibits several flight
simulators and trainers manufactured by Frasca International,
Inc., of Urbana, Illinois. Frasca International was founded
in 1958 by Rudy Frasca. Rudy began taking flying lessons at
the age of 14 and soloed shortly thereafter. In 1949, Rudy joined
the Navy and was stationed at Glenview Naval Station, where
he worked as a flight instructor teaching pilots on the early
Link trainers. After the Korean war, Rudy left the Navy to attend
the University of Illinois, where he did research in Aviation
Psychology and honed his interest in the field of flight simulation.
The more Rudy worked with that early generation of pilot training
devices, the more he realized that there had to be a better
way. In 1958, putting together everything he had learned in
the Navy and the University, Rudy built his first flight simulator
at home in his garage and Frasca Aviation was founded (the name
later changed to Frasca International to reflect the emerging
character of the business). With over 50 years of active flying,
Rudy’s love of aviation is obvious. But aviation is not
just a business for Rudy, it’s also his avocation. Over
the years, Rudy has flown hundreds of aircraft and collected
several, including a number of "warbirds," all in
flying condition: a P-40, a recently restored Spitfire Mk XVIII,
a Wildcat, an SNJ, a T-34, a Fiat, and a Zero replica. |
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Rudy is active in many areas of aviation and has held every office
in the Warbirds of America organization. He has been a member of
the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) since 1956 and has loaned
several of his aircraft to the EAA museum so that the general public
can enjoy them. He has received numerous awards both for his personal
efforts and for Frasca International’s success in the simulation
industry.
| Frasca International is located on Frasca Field,
an FBO owned and operated by the Frasca family. The FBO also
houses Frasca Air Museum which includes Rudy's collection of
WWII aircraft. The facility, built in 1990 is a 70,000 square
foot building with offices and manufacturing areas. A high bay
manufacturing area allows for production of multiple Full Flight
Simulators. The factory includes a machine and wood shop, standard
production area, custom production area, offices and shipping
and receiving areas. |
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Over the years, Frasca simulators have developed a reputation for
realism, reliability and affordability. As the number and reputation
of Frasca simulators in use grew, the name "Frasca" began
to be used as a generic term for simulators, becoming in effect
a household word in the aviation training community. Rudy’s
company continues to work hard to maintain the good reputation that
Frasca simulators have earned. Although the company has grown dramatically,
Rudy’s original mission remains the same: to design and manufacture
high quality and reasonably priced flight simulators for training
pilots worldwide.
Frasca International is an innovator in many areas. Under Frasca's
direction, the company led the industry in the development of cost-effective
simulation for single and twin reciprocating engine, pure jet and
turbopropeller fixed wing simulation, and helicopter simulation.
Within the last fifteen years, Frasca International has developed
a significant custom simulator market.
Frasca takes pride in providing customers with highly authentic
and reliable duplication of the performance and characteristics
of actual aircraft. In addition, Frasca simulators have a well-deserved
reputation for long life and easy maintenance. It is estimated that
over 90 percent of the over 1,500 simulators built since the company's
inception in 1958 are still in operation today. Customers benefit
from Frasca simulators in many ways. They are used as primary and
advanced simulators to teach flying techniques and procedures, including
emergency procedures. Military organizations use the simulators
in much the same manner, but go even further with their instruction.
Military simulators are used for mission rehearsal, tactical exercises
and cross-training. Because of the highly accurate replication of
actual aircraft characteristics, the simulators substantially reduce
the training hours pilots have to spend in the real aircraft --
time that can be used for actual missions. The ability to provide
efficient and effective flight simulators, aided by industry growth
brought on by the international shortage of airline pilots puts
Frasca International in the right place at the right time. Frasca
International is uniquely positioned to capture much of the midrange
market, as well as the lower range of the more expensive simulators.
In order to compete effectively and allow growth, Frasca International
has undertaken an expansion program that has doubled the plant size
and tripled the number of employees. Frasca presently employs 140
individuals and continues to expand.
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