Hello from Ireland! Going to build cockpit sim. Suggestions, advices...?

[zhuleny]

Hello people. 

After long time of "flying" on MS FS, recently I got b-day gift - flying experience in real cockpit simulator of big commercial airliner. You know, those semi-professional full scale realistic imitation of cockpit used for public and also training pilots...

I was so excited from this experience, that I could not sleep for few days and more and more realized, that I want something like that in my home. Now my "flying room" with ordinary joystick and monitor looks suddenly sooo dull... 

So... Is there anybody around Dublin who already have that, build it, finished or not finished, purchase some parts of such thing? 

Any suggestion what I should do, what should not, what I need to be aware of and so on...?

I can honestly say that I am skilled with tools like screwdriver, soldering iron and such DIY things... I understand electric scheme and signature of components well enough that I can build or complete electronics components or wiring by myself, so I do not need to purchase expensive already-made panels or hardware parts. If I get proper detailed guide of building this or that, I can do it.  On the other hand, I am not programmer, forget about writing scripts, codes...  Also I cannot made my own PCB's, I do not have lathe or any such heavy workshop tools.

Oh, maybe I should mention I have 3D printer, so there is another advantage to build many parts cheaply.

I also still not decided, whether to build Boeing or Airbus cockpit. Personally I don't mind, I am happy with both, but I have no idea of advantages and disadvantages of each that aircraft cockpits.

Well, price is not everything, but I am not millionaire, so cut expenses as low as possible is important part of what and how I will build.

I would go as close as possible to imitating real cockpit layout, but it don't need to be perfect.

Another question - possible to use laptops for avionics? I have two spare Dell Latitude E6400 laptops, so I hope I can use them for avionics. Both have VGA and Display port. How many computers I need? And how many displays for projecting scenery I can/need/should connect? Definitely will not going to projectors, no room neither money for that.

I am not sure, what soft would be best, what combination and so on... Of course I start with the things most needed for flight control and on one side (captain) and then add more and more systems, displays, hw switches, gauges etc. So the systems should be adjustable, that I don't need pay for something I later cannot use. Prosim737/ProSimA320 maybe? Core flight controls and panels at first - MIP and MCP, throttleQ, yoke, FMC... And later overhead, pedestal and 1st officer instruments and controls...

Thank you very much for any advice and direction. 

Jan H.

[Bob Reed]

Welcome Jan.... Oh you have stepped off the edge of that cliff for sure! Ok first thing... Take a deep breath and relax! You are about to start down a very long, enjoyable, frustrating and the best, in my opinion, hobby there is! First thing is use the search on this board to help answer some of your questions. There are 1000s of threads on here to answer almost any question you could have. 2 things to think about right away. First is how much room do you have? Your space will never be big enough but the cockpits you are thinking about are very large so keep that in mind. 2nd, decide on an aircraft and stick to it! THe next most important thing I can say to you is keep your desktop system up and working. You need to be able to fly while you are building or you will get to a point that it becomes too much like work and you will start wondering why you are doing all this and you will get tired of it and quit. Trust me I have watched this time and again! Remember you have to keep the big picture in mind! A flyable cockpit... THe pictures of the cockpits you have seen on here took most of us years and several builds to get them where they are today. The "project" is never finished as there are always ways to make things better. Now to answer t least one of your questions, the E6400 is more then enough computer to run any of the avionics packages that I am aware of out there. So once you have decided on am aircraft, purchase the avionics and get that up and working. Even if you just run it on the laptops and have it sitting on the desk you are flying from now. That will help inspire you! So again I say welcome and jump on that search and start looking!!!

[GyverX]

Best advise I could give is this. Make notes.
Start of with a list of what you want then make a list of what you KNOW you can make and build.
This is just a list to start off with.
I would then suggest downloading Sketchup 2017 for windows, (Not the new online browser thing) Take dimensions of your space and then build your cockpit inside of that. Making with a desk as a platform or from the ground up. I learned from a guy on youtube (Woodworking) name jayscreations (Look for Jay Bates) and he does all of his designs from sketchup and then forms a cut out scheme in sketchup to get the most out of his wood for the project. anyways.
Make notes, make lists find out what YOU can do and what you want. Once you have things written down you can always go back to to list, Check em off or expand them.

Also look into Arduino. There are a few books on Amazon that are fairly cheap. and LOTS of stuff on the internet that can get you started wit ideas of what is possible.

Hope I havnt made things worse...

[kingchiro]

I wholeheartedly agree with the comments so far.
Now for my thoughts.
I started building in 2011 after a 737 simulator flight. I had to have a 737 after that, whatever it took. Well, after doing LOTS of reading on the internet, I finally almost settled on the 737 with parts from FDS in Canada. Well by chance I was talking to Eric and Ron over at the Learjet 45 forum and I was sold. Hence I now have a beautiful cockpit, with a specialised Avionics package and FMS and loving life.
The Learjet or whatever you choose will also determine things like the size of the airports you want to land in. If you like landing in Idaho bush strips then you can forget the tube liners. It will also determine the size of the room required and whether you may have the option of projectors or TV's.
Whatever you choose you are in it for the long haul whether you want to or not. You will also need access to like-minded people such as here in the forum for when you come across a problem you need help with.
Go for it. It has changed my life. I do not have a day that goes by that I do not think of my beautiful Learjet.
Mark

[zhuleny]

thanks for all replies.

GyverX - yeah, I already created list with "stages" and steps I have to go through.

More and more I am searching, it looks I will build Airbus cockpit. Simplier, more straightforward, and on final cheaper at least.
The guide and plan saying that it take two years to made almost complete cockpit. I have no problem with that. I like making dyi things, gadgets, play with tools and building thingies, lights, components...
Now I am on stage to order 100% scale panels layout posters, to made mock-up frame for getting idea of size, measurements, space and so on...

[jackpilot]

Beware the A320 cockpit is HUGE much much bigger than the 737.