Pilot Seat and Controls Hook-Up

I took a break today from putting the Real Skis on the Real Airplane to get back to working on the flight simulator cockpit.  I mounted the pilot chair, rudder pedals and control yoke to the seat mount and built a tray table for the keyboard and mouse..

I tested the setup with a brief flight around the pattern at Portland (Maine) international Jetport (KPWM)

"Breadboarding" Complete

It has been a few weeks since the last post but I have actually been busy integrating the console hardware and getting the software up and running on the VATSIM (Virtual Air Traffic Control) network. I flew an IFR winter weather flight from KPWM (Portland,Me) to Boston Logan yesterday with real winter weather simulation and a rapidly dropping low pressure area that dumped a bunch of snow here. Everything worked great (Love that simulated known icing gear on the Beech Baron)

Next is to move the "breadboard" arrangement into the cockpit layout..

Testing the Computer Hardware with Four Monitors in FSX

Finally got all of the computer and display hardware and I have spent the last week testing various window configurations and it looks pretty good so far.. This is all setting on the bench testing but I will be integrating the GOFLIGHT console next.. See the little video below.

Construction Progress....

The Controls and Console construction is essentially complete with only final fitting and adjustment of the positoins for the controls and seat left to do.   I have also fired up the new computer, loaded FSX and am starting to experiment on the exact view configurations that I want on the four monitors.  I have all of the hardware except the additional graphics card and smaller two monitors.. all which should be here next week.. I am liking what I am seeing..

The Construction Begins.

I finally got enough of the pieces to start the seat and controls construction.   The rest of the parts are all on the way from one source or another.  Most of the computer and monitor parts are coming from EBAY transactions.  Once I get the controls and the control console I will finish up the seat and controls frame..

Stay Tuned......

Console Close - Up

This is a more detailed picture of the cockpit console with the throttle quadrant, Flap / Gear module, Autopilot Module and Radio Modules

Howie's view of the WilleySim

My good friend Howie thinks that my simulator project will take more room than I really have in the shop.  Here is his view of the project.......