This piece originally ran in the January 2022 issue of EAA Sport Aviation magazine.
The ATC-510 Personal Flight Simulator was manufactured in the 1970s by Analog Training Computers Inc. The full unit includes the simulated panel and a pair of rudder pedals. ATC Inc. also sold simulated flights on cassette tape that the student would “fly” according to simulated air traffic instructions. It’s designed to replicate the instrument panel of a basic light aircraft, including a simulated transponder, nav/comm suite, and automatic direction finder. It was intended to be used as both an introductory unit as well as to help pilots maintain instrument proficiency. Through an FAA letter of authorization, time on the unit could be logged for certain Part 61 and Part 141 training requirements.