Flying magazine is described as the World's Most Widely Read Aviation Magazine. The August 1976 issue contains an article entitled, "Desk-top Simulators: Training Tools or Toys?". The article includes reviews of the ACT-510, the Pacer Mk II and the recently released ACT-610. The simulators had cassette tapes for different flights, such as Newark, NJ to Philadelphia. The tapes would simulate check-points along the way and conversations from the control towers. The article points out that the ACT-610 was a position based simulator vs. a time based simulator. If you had a time based simulator (ACT-510) and messed up during your flight, the tape would keep playing and you would quickly get out of sync. The position based simulators could account for you wandering off course and still have meaningful communication

The ACT-610K was the most expensive by far, selling for $4,895. The article concludes, "Far from being a toy, a desk-top simulator is a valuable training tool."

This entry is for 12 Flying magazines, one for each month of 1976.