· 4 min read
Fly the AeroBall SimCab: The Only Surviving $3 Million Simulator on Earth
Not a screen you look at. A cab you climb into, with analog instruments, and it's yours to fly.
Ask families what they remember from the Aviation Cadet Museum and a lot of them name the same thing: the SimCab. It is the part of the show where the museum stops talking and hands you the controls.
What it is
Strap into the only surviving example of this simulator on earth — originally built at a cost of over three million dollars — and fly the AeroBall game yourself. The cab is analog: real instruments, real switches, real feel, lit from inside.
Why a simulator matters in a cadet museum
Cadets learned on the ground before they learned in the air — that is the whole logic of the Link Instrument Trainer sitting a few feet away, the “Blue Box” that taught a generation to fly on instruments alone. The SimCab belongs to that lineage: expensive, purpose-built machinery whose entire job was to let someone fail safely.
Who can fly it
Guests of all ages fly the SimCab during the show — women, men and children. No flying experience is assumed and none is needed; Errol talks you through it.
How to get a turn
| When | During the 3:00 PM show, one show per day |
|---|---|
| Season | April 1 – October 31, closed Sundays |
| Admission | Adults $20 · Children 7–12 $10 |
| Reservations | Required — call 479-253-5008 or book online |
Seats are limited to one show a day, so reserve ahead. We only take cash at the door — book online with a card if you would rather have it settled.