Frasca International  Frasca International, Inc., is an American manufacturer of flight simulation training devices, with over 3000 training devices delivered in approximately 70 countries throughout the world. Now based in Urbana, Illinois, Frasca International was founded in Champaign, Illinois in 1958 by Rudy Frasca. Frasca flight simulators are used in all segments of the aviation industry, including their extensive use in many prominent college aviation programs, including Purdue University, Indiana State University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, University of North Dakota, Louisiana Tech University, University of Illinois, and Western Michigan University. In 1949, Rudy Frasca joined the United States Navy, where he first experienced flight simulation as a Link Trainer instructor. Following his service, and a period of research at the University of Illinois Institute of Aviation, Frasca founded Frasca Aviation (later renamed to Frasca International) in 1958. All early Frasca training devices used mechanical computers exclusively. After working out of various locations for several years (including his home garage), Frasca established a permanent manufacturing plant in downtown Champaign, IL. In the late 1970s, Frasca devices were converted to use analog electronic computers, allowing for devices that were more simple and cost-effective to manufacture, operate, and maintain. The electronic transition began a period of rapid technological development, culminating in the transition to a digital, PC-based simulation architecture in 1983. In 1990, in order to support steadily increasing demand, Frasca International again relocated to a office building and manufacturing facility in Urbana, Illinois, adjacent to Frasca Field. The new facility provided a substantial increase in manufacturing capacity, and allowed for the production of the company's first Full Flight Simulator (FFS) a short time after moving to the new location. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s (decade), Frasca continued to expand its product line, providing training devices for all types of aircraft, both fixed-wing and rotary-wing, and in 2003, Frasca manufactured a Level B Cessna 208B Grand Caravan FFS, followed by a Level C Beechcraft B200 King Air FFS in 2005. In the mid-2000s (decade), helicopters began to play an increasingly prominent role in the Frasca line-up, with the first Level 6 helicopter Flight Training Device (FTD) delivered in 2007. Subsequently, two more helicopter FTDs (a Eurocopter EC135 and a Eurocopter AS350) were qualified Level 6 in 2008, followed by another EC135 qualified as a JAA Level 3 FTD by the FCAA.