You might be talking about a large gyro-chair. It has a seat in the middle, and spins to give the sensation of weightlessness and/or unusual orientation.
Here are some variants:
http://spaceboy.nasda.go.jp/lib/cent...g/tksc_132.jpg
http://www.makinwaves.ca/images/gyro.jpg
I believe
astronauts are trained in these devices.
'Regular' pilots are, as far as I know,
not.