Hello Oz

[zimmy]

Hi all

I'm brand new here as well as brand new to cockpit building, newbie to the max!

My daytime job is a proprietor and project manager of a building company on the Gold coast Australia. We specialise in custom fit-outs and renovations of homes, shops and restaurants.

I have a multi trade background including mechanical engineering, boatbuilding and joinery. My hobbies include electronics, photography and flight sim. I'm also handy with web design and currently on a learning curve with android app development.

I have been a diehard MS flight sim user for 6 years but have recently seen the light with X-plane 10.

As it turns out there is also an opportunity for a friend of mine and I to acquire a Boeing 747 cockpit, which is a daunting task for a couple of cockpit building novices like us, however we do have a team at the ready should we go that route all experienced in many areas other than cockpit building!

I'm here on a learning curve firstly to determine whether it's worth the exercise to get the cockpit or build a replica. Secondly to learn how to put one together. I'm hoping my background and skills can also be of assistance to fellow members here as well, to make it a fair exchange.

I should also mention my fellow sim buddies who are keen on being involved in the project at hand. Firstly my mate Reggie who is an avid simmers and electronics and programming genius (yes he wears bifocals). Then there is Ricky a mechanical/hydraulics engineer with kahunas. He has built mobile cranes and franna type vehicles from old trucks & scrap. If we decide on the existing cockpit option he will be taking care of the 'incision' and relocation as well as a hydraulic platform for the simulator. Last but not least our good friends Mike and Dennis both retired pilots, Dennis is an ex Learjet pilot and Mike who is also an aviation engineer and has worked on RAAF Jet engine rebuilds. I'm hoping they'll join here in their own right soon.

I'm looking forward to meeting fellow members here and being part of the experience

[Kennair]

Hiya Zimmy from the West Coast of Oz.  Welcome to the forum and the long and arduous task of cockpit building.  Sounds like you've got a lot of essential skills already and combined with hours of research will stand you in good stead once you start fitting out that 747 nose cone.  There's a few other 747 builders here and of course you've got one of the originals close to you in Sydney Matt Sheil.  We've also got a couple here in Perth, one of which also purchased a nose cone and intends putting it on hydraulics.

Good luck and I look forward to reading your progress.

Ken.

[zimmy]

Hi Ken,

Thanks Ken for the reply and the warm welcome.

I got a look at your website and its fantastic, great work and info. I am thinking about some web space to keep a scrap book of our project.

I just got hold of my BAK book recently as well and plan to start a PPL course later in the year.

Please keep in touch

Sharif