What have you done for your simulator today?

[jackpilot]

Just flew out of KSFO for a circuit at dawn.

[blueskydriver]

Hey Everyone,

For my simulator(s), I transported the grey one to the retired pilot who has decided to use it for a parade float instead of a lawn decoration. Currently, it's in his hanger awaiting a custom built trailer for it too be placed on.

Now, here is the final story of the grey cockpit trying to have one last flight!

First, I had the trailer all loaded with the cockpit on the trailer sideways, and inside was the raydome top half along with the wodden platform Karen and I made for it. With everything strapped down tight, I headed from my place to Winona, Minnesota, about a 2 hour drive.

Next, I am driving into La Crosse, WI on I-90 (just before crossing the Mississippi River) and a semi truck was passing me, when all sudden one of his right rear trailer tires blows out right adjacent to my trailer where the cockpit was sitting. Well, all the rubber from his tire blows up into the cockpit and bust my strap holding the raydome half, then the raydome comes flying out and drops below my left trailer tail light ripping it off, from there the raydome flies up in the air about 50 feet to fall back down in front of a really old lady in a small car! She hits her car brakes just missing the raydome that was now skidding along just in front of her! We're talking a skidding road dance here! Anyway, the lady who looked about 90 years did an excellent job of avoiding the raydome, and then she got out of her car to move the raydome off the road.

As for me, I saw all this in the rearview mirror, as I stopped right away. Although, I was alone and being in the wheelchair I couldn't even get out of the van! So, I sat there watching the lady who drove past me waving as if nothing happened. Of course my heart was in my throat and I felt sick because all I could think about was the future lawsuit...you know living in the USA...the land of lawsuits and all.

Then, catching my breath and realizing I did no harm to anyone, I drove to the next exit to back track and go get the raydome. Luckily, I found an area of flat gravel to drop the wheelchair lift about 100 feet away, so there I am out on I-90 with all the afternoon traffic racing by, trying to move and re-strap the raydome to the trailer in front of the cockpit. Lots of fun to say the least, but I managed it and got it all secure. From there I stopped at a gas station to recheck everything and look at the remnants of the left tail light; the housing and lens were gone, but the bulb was still there.

The really funny part of my story is just before leaving on this trip, I spent an hour fixing the left trailer light that was not working properly and I replaced the bulb. Had I just left it alone, I would've hit La Crosse an hour sooner, missing the truck and his tire blowout, with no raydome flying out doing a V1 R V2 scene, nor seeing the older lady out drivng Dale Earnhardt (Earnhardt died in a crash). Plus, I wouldn't have needed to stop and buy an entirely new trailer light before returning home in the dark...

Moral to my story, don't drive big loads alone anymore, don't think all really old people cannot drive anymore, don't fix trailer lights before leaving anymore, and don't think cockpits do not dream of flying anymore, because they still do!

John

PS the picture is the cockpit before leaving 

[blueskydriver]

Now, the big question is why did I go alone? Well, I thought it was going too be an easy 2 hour drive with no problems, so I told Karen to stay home to work on her garden...

Although, while driving along, she sent me this pic, which got me distracted or kept me from over reacting to the semi trailer's blowout; thereby, avoiding a total wreck!

Here is the pic...she doesn't know I posted this yet!

John

[Ed]

Wow John!!  That's quite an experience and I'm sure a memory that will stay with you for a long time. You never know what this hobby will bring forth next. I'm really happy that all turned out well in the end, and I sure hope you're still with us after simlady finds out you posted her pic. lol.

Good all turned out well John. I was glued to the post while reading. I can just imagine how tough it must have been.

[blueskydriver]

Hey Ed,

Yes, that trip is one for the long term memory banks...lol! Now, we're working on getting the back of the white cockpit cutoff, luckily no transporting from me this time. However, I am betting we'll get some sort of send off memories from this one as well...

John

[Joe Lavery]

Hey John,

What a story, that must be true, you couldn't make that up....   

Glad it all turned out in the end though; and surely there must have been someone that could have ridden shotgun for you?

And I agree with Ed, it could be some time before we hear from you again once Karen see's this post.

Best... Joe.

[blueskydriver]

Hi Joe,

Yep, really true and I should go grab my van's dash board cam to YouTube the footage. Not going too see the actual event, but for sure will see the back tracking and me picking it up off I-90. I'll go get it from the van now...

As for Karen, she'll likely see the pic sooner then later and I already have my defense planned...lol! I posted it to show her in the garden or at least her near it, and to say how hard she works at things...she is really sweating and it was 95 degrees outside!

As a footnote, her yellow top matches my yellow top that's shown in my profile pic... hehehe or did anyone even notice that LOL!

John

[blueskydriver]

Checked the video and the dash cam was on auto loop, so the footage unfortunately got recorded over...darn it! Take my word for it though and here is my new advice, always make sure everything is tripled strapped with cockpit items, they were meant to fly and they're always still trying...lol!

John

[RayS]

I can't top the radome story. (That was a great read. Thanks for sharing!)

The floor guys are currently refinishing the garage floor this week, so thought I'd take her out for a spin and reposition from KHLN to KSEA.

I purchased a Garmin 430 simulator when I was at FSExpo and it arrives today. Just need to figure out how to tell my boss that I'm starting to feel a bit under the weather. (coughcough!)

[blueskydriver]

Today is the last day for the white cockpit being in the hanger/shed, we got it outside and plan to cut the back wall off tomorrow, and then on Friday it'll be trucked to it's new home... Checkout the attached pics.

John

[RayS]

Not much today. Ran 2 CAT-6 Network drops to the garage and punched-down the non-garage side. Have to wait until the floor guys are finished in the garage later this week to punch the drops on the garage side.

Sub-wall goes up on Saturday to wall-off the wood-working area.

Then it's new garage doors, a ton of security equipment, and finally drywall.

[blueskydriver]

Awesome Ray, will you post some pics please? What did you have done to the garage floor...epoxy?

You mentioned a wood working shop on the other side, just curious do you use air filtration units? Those 2 units I got from Public Surplus have made my hanger so much easier to breath in. Although, I am not doing any wood working, I have a lot of fine dust from the gravel driveway outside getting inside, yet the units I put up have made a night and day difference.

Once I get the simulator up and running they should teally keep the dust down to the very minimum, which was a problem in the past while in the garage; especially, with the computers sucking in dust...

John

[bernard S]

giving the old girl air con

[blueskydriver]

How many tons is that with both units?

John

[RayS]

Pics!

Tinkered around a bit with a Garmin(ish) 430.

Watching paint dry on the garage floor (Epoxy-Stain mix) and of course a few CAT-6 network drops to the garage.

Next up is the sub-wall this weekend.

Any dust is usually self-induced. I'm putting in a dust recovery system in the wood shop. I cut a lot of MDF and the dust from that material is significant.

[Steenos]

Throttle Quadrant finally came in this week!

[Steenos]

I have no idea what this connection is on the back. I bought it from Germany (eBay). Anyone know? I've sent FSC.IT an email. Hoping they can help.

[fsaviator]

Backlighting?

[fsaviator]

I assume from your other post that this is the TQ you bought on ebay?  Is it made by FSC?  Is it motorized?

I also assume that if you bought it on eBay, it is no longer under warranty.  I suggest you pop the sides off and get to know your TQ.  It will save you headaches later.  Once you have the sides off you can see what that connector is goes to.

If it is a motorized TQ it has to draw power somewhere.  The USB won't be sufficient to drive motors.

If it isn't motorized I would guess backlighting or perhaps a solenoid for the parking brake.

I'd crack it open and figure it out.

Take lots of pics and notes!

[Jason L]

Wanting to get some pictures updated, but have done a lot!  Backlighting done for all MIP panels, assembled and backlit 2 CDU's, put together most of the annunciators and LED's.  Hoping to start assembling the MIP this week.

[Steenos]

It is motorized. I think the power comes from a PSU but I'm not totally sure. I've emailed FSC

I assume from your other post that this is the TQ you bought on ebay?  Is it made by FSC?  Is it motorized?

I also assume that if you bought it on eBay, it is no longer under warranty.  I suggest you pop the sides off and get to know your TQ.  It will save you headaches later.  Once you have the sides off you can see what that connector is goes to.

If it is a motorized TQ it has to draw power somewhere.  The USB won't be sufficient to drive motors.

If it isn't motorized I would guess backlighting or perhaps a solenoid for the parking brake.

I'd crack it open and figure it out.

Take lots of pics and notes!

[okansacli]

I am still looking for ways to model  turbulence chop sounds into my sim to make things more realistic. I am playing around with FSUIPC offsets but without any success, I think I will look further into simconnect. Since Accufeel software does not work on P3dv4, it will try to model this myself.

Regards from Istanbul


Okan Sacli

[RayS]

Today the floor guys finished up so I was able to test the CAT-6 Copper..

Success on all fronts!

[RayS]

As I type this, drywall is going up in the new man-cave-sim-hangar.

I named the new wireless network "Delta Skylounge" after testing the CAT-6 network drops..

Pics will be posted tonight.

Hi Ryan. 

[blueskydriver]

WOOOOOW! That floor looks very nice Ray! I showed your pic to Karen yesterday and I was saying we should get our hanger/shed/Johnny's Toy Box floor done.

We had the garage floor done and it took two weeks from start to finish, that's including drying times, but it looks awesome. I just wonder how long it'll take for 40'x60' or 2,400' sq/ft to get done? Then, the big question is where do we put everything as it all has to come out because I wouldn't want a half & half line...

Has anyone ever done one this big or knows some who has? I'd be interested in hearing about it. In the mean time, I will keep looking at Ray's pics, speaking of which, will you please post a few more with brighter lighting Ray?

John