The build on my home cockpit has gone really well in the last few weeks. At this point, everything is now up and running and I’m tweaking some of the different systems and settings. I’ve produced a brief video (below) showing the setup and highlighting the major design features. The video is quite general and in the future I will be posting much more detailed segments on specific aspects of the system and any future expansions.
The text below after the video is a transcript of the descriptions in the video:
There has been progress in a number of areas with the project. For one, I recently started building the desktop simulator cockpit. I’m looking forward to not having to use the keyboard for most controls! The goal of this build is to construct a ‘cockpit’ that can be moved onto my desktop for use with FSX. It needs to be big enough to contain realistic looking displays and controls, but not so big that it’s obnoxious and can move it away when I use my desktop computer for other things. The general layout is based on the Boeing 737-800, although I’m not trying to make an exact replica and am making some changes as needed to suit the project as needed. There will be a very abbreviated overhead panel (lights, seatbelts and basic engine controls) that will attach to the main structure although the layout of this is still being designed.
Another major goal is to keep costs to a minimum and recycle old bits from around the house as much as possible. I’m happy to incorporate some old computers I had lying around into running the display panels. Those displays, by the way, will be running FsClient and FsXPand from Flyware Simulation. Continue »