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 he 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).

The aircraft featured on this page are part of the Frasca family’s historic collection of antique aircraft including; a P-40, a Spitfire, a Wildcat, an SNJ, a T-34, a Fiat and a Zero replica. These aircraft illustrate the companies grassroots genesis into the world of aviation training and the passion for flight in general.

In his flying days, Rudy was active in many aviation organizations. He has loaned several of his aircraft to the EAA museum so that the general public can enjoy them. Numerous awards have been bestowed upon him for his personal efforts and the companies contributions to the simulation industry.

Over the decades, Frasca International has evolved as the company develops new technology and products. Today’s flight simulators bear little resemblance to the “trainers” built in Rudy’s garage, but the passion for training pilots better is still the driving force behind the company.

Rudy Frasca By P40
Rudy Frasca Factory
Rudy Frasca 412 and 100

Gallery

View Frasca's collection of historical photos.

2022

Frasca joins forces with FlightSafety International

2022

Frasca joins forces with FlightSafety International
2018

Certification to the ISO 9001:2015 Standard

2018

Certification to the ISO 9001:2015 Standard
2018

Frasca Celebrates 60th Anniversary!

2018

Frasca Celebrates 60th Anniversary!
2016

First Level 7 FTD with Frasca’s Motion Cueing System

2016

First Level 7 FTD with Frasca’s Motion Cueing System
2014

Level D CJ1+ Delivered to China

2014

Level D CJ1+ Delivered to China
2012

Certification to the ISO 9001:2008 Standard

2012

Certification to the ISO 9001:2008 Standard
2011

Bell 429 Level 6 FTD/JAA FTD2

2011

Bell 429 Level 6 FTD/JAA FTD2
2010

Dual Qualification on 2 Level B FFS Level III FTDs

2010

Dual Qualification on 2 Level B FFS Level III FTDs
2009

FAA Level 7 Qualification on AS350 B2 FTD

2009

FAA Level 7 Qualification on AS350 B2 FTD
2008

Frasca Celebrates 50th Anniversary!

2008

2007

First Level 6 Helicopter FTD with TruVision™ Global™ Introduced

2007

First Level 6 Helicopter FTD with TruVision™ Global™ Introduced
2005

FFS with TruVision™ Approved to Level C

2005

FFS with TruVision™ Approved to Level C
2003

Delivered 16 Level 6 FTDs to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

2003

Delivered 16 Level 6 FTDs to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
2000

737 with First Electric Motion System

2000

737 with First Electric Motion System
1992

Bell 412 FFS-First FFS Delivered by Frasca

1992

Bell 412 FFS-First FFS Delivered by Frasca
1991

Developed Graphical Instructor Station (GISt™)

1991

Developed Graphical Instructor Station (GISt™)

1991

1989

HS-125 with Motion and Hydraulic Control Loading

1989

HS-125 with Motion and Hydraulic Control Loading
1987

Applied Motion to General Aviation Devices

1987

Applied Motion to General Aviation Devices
1985

Developed Textured Free-Flight Visual System

1985

Developed Textured Free-Flight Visual System
1984

Developed Electric Control Loading (ECL)

1984

1983

Transition to Digital Simulations (PC)

1983

Transition to Digital Simulations (PC)
1976

Transition to Electronic Generation Flight Modeling

1976

1975

Developed Simulated Sound Generation

1975

1960

First Table-Top Simulation

1960

First Table-Top Simulation
1958

Frasca Founded

1958

Frasca Founded
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