Cockpitbuilders.com

Greeting all, I'm glad to be a new addition to the community.

I'm Patrick, from the US, and I'm building a B737 flight simulator. I'm not a real pilot, but have found a flight instructor and am currently in ground school working on my FAR part 61. Look forward to flying for real. :)

I love planes!!! <--- Had to get that out now. My interest in flight simulators started when I topped my last gaming computer build. I have been building computers for over 12 years and I wanted to build something more challenging. I stumbled over XPLANE and FSX and decided to merge my love of computers and planes.

It has been a long year with a steep learning curve. I'm currently working on my electrical engineering degree and have had to take up programming in C++ in order to make some of the avionics equipment for this build to work. So far everything has been done by hand, I have not purchased any commercially available equipment. Even with the many obstacles, I've continued on with the project and so far here is what I have:

Current test setup, it is build up on a raised 8' x 8' platform to hid all wiring underneath. Also, to allow for a dual yoke mechanism below the "flight deck".
(https://scontent-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/10931059_1618724585025313_1741664633848440340_n.jpg?oh=10c4a7896b1bfa30cf3ec3865d4b3ecb&oe=55C28257)(https://scontent-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/q83/p180x540/11037351_1618724468358658_4178715549848532739_n.jpg?oh=750cd38501195f1dcd67d29411a004b8&oe=55CB5357)

Here is a mockup of the circuitry for the NAV radio.
(https://scontent-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/11156260_1635888199975618_6759942033137124977_n.jpg?oh=707c5a2545b0d5e7a40ad06aa59a6f85&oe=560A84DE)(https://scontent-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/p180x540/10407569_1644969319067506_8871097492497328899_n.jpg?oh=aa72afb7c0e61ac054ec41c6c2bbcf84&oe=55DC2CE8)

After all works fine with hardware and software, I etch PCB and solder all components:
(https://scontent-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10687_1618724868358618_877965012553621238_n.jpg?oh=ccb15b2de9c2e87f4d3af63d667d31a9&oe=55CB2EFF)(https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/11169796_1643717215859383_7390834404691506489_n.jpg?oh=87eddb1b9e077d75ffceb5ef54898821&oe=55D73E2C&__gda__=1439178771_629a1fc792599acf54b96d06a6ed3272)(https://scontent-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/s720x720/11010586_1643717245859380_5800079268508761853_n.jpg?oh=c9061a3c378c0e9e6cea016b406ad20c&oe=5607D74E)

Most recently, I began working on the avionics console and throttle quadrant:
(https://scontent-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/t1.0-9/p180x540/11205957_1645132132384558_2566390127388272206_n.jpg?oh=80ad2ae9b2f8f78f7d68e41173398c86&oe=55D7246D)

I look forward to being a part of this community and sharing what I have to offer.

Welcome !