diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SIM_Aircraft.cpp b/libraries/SITL/SIM_Aircraft.cpp
index 366ec90930..a6baf91eb9 100644
--- a/libraries/SITL/SIM_Aircraft.cpp
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SIM_Aircraft.cpp
@@ -1094,6 +1094,9 @@ void Aircraft::update_external_payload(const struct sitl_input &input)
     }
 #endif
 
+#if AP_SIM_GPIO_LED_1_ENABLED
+    sim_led1.update(*this);
+#endif
 #if AP_SIM_GPIO_LED_2_ENABLED
     sim_led2.update(*this);
 #endif
diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SIM_Aircraft.h b/libraries/SITL/SIM_Aircraft.h
index 4af43bb80c..90f07089ea 100644
--- a/libraries/SITL/SIM_Aircraft.h
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SIM_Aircraft.h
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 #include <Filter/Filter.h>
 #include "SIM_JSON_Master.h"
 #include "ServoModel.h"
+#include "SIM_GPIO_LED_1.h"
 #include "SIM_GPIO_LED_2.h"
 #include "SIM_GPIO_LED_3.h"
 #include "SIM_GPIO_LED_RGB.h"
@@ -377,6 +378,9 @@ private:
 #endif
 
 
+#if AP_SIM_GPIO_LED_1_ENABLED
+    GPIO_LED_1 sim_led1{8};  // pin to match sitl.h
+#endif
 #if AP_SIM_GPIO_LED_2_ENABLED
     GPIO_LED_2 sim_led2{13, 14};  // pins to match sitl.h
 #endif
diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SIM_GPIO_LED_1.cpp b/libraries/SITL/SIM_GPIO_LED_1.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5ae8a40ef4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SIM_GPIO_LED_1.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+#include "SIM_config.h"
+
+#if AP_SIM_GPIO_LED_1_ENABLED
+
+#include "SIM_GPIO_LED_1.h"
+
+#include <SITL/SITL.h>
+
+using namespace SITL;
+
+void GPIO_LED_1::init()
+{
+    leds.init();
+}
+
+void GPIO_LED_1::update(const class Aircraft &aircraft)
+{
+    if (!init_done) {
+        init();
+        init_done = true;
+    }
+
+    const uint16_t pin_mask = AP::sitl()->pin_mask.get();
+    const bool new_led_states[1] {
+        ((pin_mask & uint16_t((1U<<LED_A_PIN))) != 0),
+    };
+
+    leds.set_state(new_led_states);
+}
+
+#endif
diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SIM_GPIO_LED_1.h b/libraries/SITL/SIM_GPIO_LED_1.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4409499327
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SIM_GPIO_LED_1.h
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+/*
+
+  Simulator for GPIO-based "Board LEDs"
+
+  ./Tools/autotest/sim_vehicle.py -v ArduCopter --gdb --debug --rgbled
+
+  reboot
+
+ */
+
+
+#include "SIM_config.h"
+
+#if AP_SIM_GPIO_LED_1_ENABLED
+
+#include "SIM_LED_n.h"
+
+namespace SITL {
+
+class GPIO_LED_1
+{
+public:
+
+    GPIO_LED_1(uint8_t _LED_A_PIN) :
+        LED_A_PIN{_LED_A_PIN}
+        { }
+
+    void update(const class Aircraft &aircraft);
+
+private:
+
+    void init();
+    bool init_done;
+
+    SIM_LED_n<1>::LEDColour colours[1] {
+        SIM_LED_n<1>::LEDColour::RED,
+    };
+
+    SIM_LED_n<1> leds{"GPIO_LED_1", colours};
+
+    uint8_t LED_A_PIN;
+};
+
+} // namespace SITL
+
+#endif  // AP_SIM_GPIO_LED_2_ENABLED
diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SIM_LED_n.cpp b/libraries/SITL/SIM_LED_n.cpp
index 30cd3b90ef..df721612f7 100644
--- a/libraries/SITL/SIM_LED_n.cpp
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SIM_LED_n.cpp
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ void SIM_LED_n<NUM_LEDS>::init()
     pthread_create(&thread, NULL, update_thread_start, this);
 }
 
+template class SIM_LED_n<1>;
 template class SIM_LED_n<2>;
 template class SIM_LED_n<3>;
 
diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SIM_config.h b/libraries/SITL/SIM_config.h
index 99a53bfb0f..bd5d07e799 100644
--- a/libraries/SITL/SIM_config.h
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SIM_config.h
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@
 #define AP_SIM_LED_N_ENABLED (CONFIG_HAL_BOARD == HAL_BOARD_SITL) && defined(WITH_SITL_RGBLED)
 #endif
 
+#ifndef AP_SIM_GPIO_LED_1_ENABLED
+#define AP_SIM_GPIO_LED_1_ENABLED AP_SIM_LED_N_ENABLED && 0
+#endif
+
 #ifndef AP_SIM_GPIO_LED_2_ENABLED
 #define AP_SIM_GPIO_LED_2_ENABLED AP_SIM_LED_N_ENABLED && 0
 #endif
@@ -36,7 +40,7 @@
 #endif
 
 #ifndef AP_SIM_GPIO_LED_RGB_ENABLED
-#define AP_SIM_GPIO_LED_RGB_ENABLED AP_SIM_LED_N_ENABLED
+#define AP_SIM_GPIO_LED_RGB_ENABLED AP_SIM_LED_N_ENABLED && 0
 #endif
 
 #ifndef AP_SIM_LOWEHEISER_ENABLED