Captains,

I have been keeping a secret and now it is time to share..

I have been drawing, planning, cutting, drilling, sawing, cursing, and knocking off 7-11's for over a year now in an attempt to build my own "custom cockpit." Now mind you this is nothing like to 20k jobs you see at "mycockpit.com."

It is a generic pit modeled after the 737/717 with touches of both. Where I differ from the true fanatics is that I will be using glass panels for most of the flight displays. I can't spend the money to make this "photo real" but have managed to design a "budget model." I did this on a budget with my tax check helping seal the deal..

The main cockpit is now complete with the last of the paint going on today... Tomorrow starts the hard part...bringing over all of the hardware from my current setup to the new. I also need to add the winshield frames, projector mount and overgead.

The Basics....

Dual CH yoke and rudder flight controls
X-52 throttle (for now)
Blue backlit keyboard, 10 key and panel lights
Two flat panel monitors 19"
GoFlight MCP Autopilot w/autothrottle control
GoFlight Gear and Trim Panel
2 GoFlight nav/coms
Goflight switch bay
NEC projector system
Matrox Dual Head analog monitor controller


What is still to be purchased,

A really good 737 throttle quadrant.. (may be next income tax check on this one)
Hardware FMC
2 GoFlight "multimodules"
CH switch panel controller.

What is ready to go? Most all of it.. Putting a piece or two on at a time...

I will be posting build pics here as soon as my fine bride will let me have her camera and the CD with the photos on it.. LOL . The main console and pit took only 15 hours to build with her helping.. She is actually a good helper at carpentry...

Anyway...watch this sticky for pics as I progress... I must be nuts... Flight sim will do this to you..

Jeff

Progress Update....

These pics show the basic panel module in various states of construction and a semi-finished look. These pics don't show the modules or anything else as i am still in the process of putting that all together and have run into some USB issues...soon...yes...soon...

Basic plywood frame



More or less together....



First test of projector...in daylight



Rolling onto final KGEG.... first landing in the beast... 80 inch screen...OMG... very clear to my surprise...




Pilot eye view..... M.O.L.



So far so good. The Pilot and FO views really add a dimension to this... The sense of movement is very good and the art of landing has had to be relearned...

Still to come... Module installation and the center pedestal which is now attached... Also, side view monitors and windshield shell... lots to do!!

Jeff

Pretty cool Jeff, looks like you have a very understanding spousal unit

Very cool, but you had better put some wheels on that baby so you can roll it out to the street when the wife unit chunks you! hehehe

Awsome Dude! Your Copilot/Stewardess/Boss has gone beyond the obligations of any contractual agreements made in the past, and needs recognition commensurate with the allowed instillation. We're talking Cancun or some such digs

Indeed my wife is very understanding... Luckily we had two spare bedrooms in the homestead... I got a sim room...she got a craft room...

I'll post some more recent pics when I get a chance... starting to come together! And yes... I do owe recompense... She already has a "summer list" of payback projects!!

Jeff