New Build - Looking For Input on Type to Build

[Buddym]

After a lengthy absence due to some personal tragedy, I am ready to return to simming. I think I am canning my A320 build for a GA build, something more compact. I am looking for input on a type to build using the following guidelines:

1. Prop-job, perhaps a twin
2. Yoke and pedals, no joysticks
3. Fast
4. Glass cockpit
5. Retractable gear (goes with #4 I guess)
6. Modern autopilot
7. All required functions supported in FSUIPC

Thanks!

Buddy

[AK Mongo]

Welcome back Buddy. Can't wait to see your progress.

Reid

[Buddym]

Thanks Mongo. Yeah, been away for a while, ready to fly and build again, the A320 project is out of scope for now. What's up with Spiro? I saw his project is for sale?

[Efe Cem Elci]

What about a nice Lear? I see Nick at AHPS has a cockpit and interiors :)

[No Longer Active]

Buddym - Wondered where you went! Brilliant to have you posting again! Welcome back!

So you gone GA then? everyone always goes back to GA at some point, you just cant fly without a bit of low altitude VFR flying!

I wondered why Spiro is selling up, he put so much time, money and effort in to that sim!

As for your venture.....

I think you should go for a generic twin, maybe based on a Baron, its mainly, switches, LED's and glass gauges. Or..... You could challenge yourself with an RG version of the Cessna 182 using glass! That would be neat (but that would be a single engine)....

Anyway, glad to have you in the GA trap! lol!

Alex

[Buddym]

Hi Alex, nice to chat with you again as well. I got sidelined with the passing of my mother and my oldest daughter, both within just a few months of each other and it just left me with no drive to do much of anything.

As a challenge-oriented person I have a typical MO, similar to may so-called "serial-hobbyists", where I tackle a new project with gusto until I reach the point that I am succeeding, at which point I lose interest. I then want to move on to the next "thing" that I can learn to do. Cockpit building suffered from that a bit. Once I had reached the point where software was working, I was using my CNC machine to make my own panels, etc. That part of it is sort of old hat now, but I still want a realistic pit to fly in, so GA seems to be the ticket. I want something that takes up less space but still fun to build and fly. Baron might be fun, I was also looking at the Diamond DA42, but it has a stick ratherthan a yoke.

Incedentally, as a result of this change in direction I will have my FDS Nova Series A320 MIP panels for sale.

[No Longer Active]

Hi Buddy.

You do not need to say no more about your absence, we totally understand mate, I cant begin to imagine what you have been through. But as said, its great that you have dropped by!

I very much look forward to your venture, and I know that we had some great ideas with some airbus parts last year, and maybe we can use those simple and effective concepts within GA. I remember the last product you designed was a simple LED card of some sort, and I was struggling with the FSBUS pcb's and I couldnt drill the holes for the 8 segment displays...as I remember? That was some time ago.

Ive still got the airbus parts and panels in pieces in my mates garage, not done nothing really since me, you and Spiro last talked collectively together!

Onwards and upwards, and all the best to you pal!

Alex

[Geremy Britton]

Nice to have you back Buddy :)

[Tom_G_2010]

Buddy,

Sorry to hear what you went through, but very glad your back in action again. I'm with Alex on the Baron or 182RG. I'm using an actual fuselage for my build and because 172's are so readily available, on eBay and in salvage yards, I went that route but will be keeping it rather generic to allow for other aircraft emulation.

If I was starting over I think I would be considering either a Beech Baron or a a Cessna Skymaster. I also find myself debating the use of a real fuselage. It's a bit of a split decision with pro's and con's for either option.

Glad to see another GA builder! I sometimes feels like there are far too few of us.

Looking forward to hearing what you decide on.
Tom G.
http://www.mycessnasim.info

[AK Mongo]

Buddy,

So sorry to hear about your losses. I can see how that would rock a guy back on his heels a little. Don't have much to add about choices in a/c that match your description. I am going older school without 3, 4 or 5.

[Buddym]

Thanks everyone for the nice welcome back. Alex, the little 8-output USB card I designed is ready to be used. Various folks will have to continue to write interface software to couple it to FSUIPC, but it works great. It even has the nice little spring-loaded terminals like Leo's boards. I am just about to dive back in and get a PCB done for the old MJOY, boy do I love that board! I have hand-wired a few for folks around here at home and everyone just loves them.