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    Designing Realistic Control Panels 

    Published on 01-21-2012 06:43 PM
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    MyCockpit ® Presents "Mikes Tips" by Mike Powell

    Designing Realistic Control Panels


    Part of the process of building a realistic flight simulator is determining dimensions and how pieces fit together. The main instrument panel and controls grab a lot of the builder’s attention, but secondary control panels are major contributors to the overall look and feel of a sim as well.
    ...
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    Immersion & Scenery Display 

    Published on 12-19-2011 06:49 PM
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    MyCockpit ® Presents "Mikes Tips" by Mike Powell

    Immersion & Scenery Display


    Immersion is the feeling that you’re part of a virtual world. It’s what we aim for in our creation of ever more realistic flight simulators. We want to be a part of a virtual aviation world which allows us to experience flight as realistically as possible.

    Vision is a big part of immersion. High quality imagery ...
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    Springs and Control Loading 

    Published on 11-02-2011 10:10 PM

    MyCockpit ® Presents "Mikes Tips" by Mike Powell



    Springs and Control Loading


    Control loading systems provide the forces which resist movement of the controls in simulators. Ideally the control loading forces will mimic the control forces experienced by pilots in real aircraft. In fact, designers of commercial and military simulators go to great expense to assure that they do.
    ...
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    Building Surface Mount Electronics 

    Published on 08-21-2011 09:50 AM

    MyCockpit ® Presents "Mikes Tips" by Mike Powell



    Building Surface Mount Electronics

    We depend on electronics for many of our sim functions. Circuitry interfaces flight and engine controls, blinks annunciator lamps, and spins steam-gauge style instruments. Mostly we can find suitable off-the-shelf electronics. Sometimes we build electronics because no standard gear will do what we want. Sometimes we build electronics just for the satisfaction it brings. ...
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    Making Tee Joints 

    Published on 07-23-2011 10:10 AM
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    2. Sponsor Announcements

    MyCockpit ® Presents "Mikes Tips" by Mike Powell



    Making Tee Joints

    The ingenuity of the flight sim community never ceases to amaze. In this article, author Mike Powell demonstrates another use of a product that can be found in almost any garage and is nearly equally as popular. Its simplicity will leave you dumb-struck. ...
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    Arduino?... Arduino! 

    Published on 07-06-2011 11:52 AM
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    2. New Products

    MyCockpit ® Presents "Mikes Tips" by Mike Powell



    Open-source Electronics Prototyping Platform

    The term “Arduino” is popping up in flight sim circles with growing frequency. Discussions often lean a bit to the techie side which may be a bit off putting to some, and that’s a shame because Arduinos have a lot to offer. ...
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    Head Up Displays in Fighters 

    Published on 05-27-2011 05:32 PM

    MyCockpit ® Presents "Mikes Tips" by Mike Powell



    Head Up Displays in Fighters
    The head up display, or “HUD”, in fighter aircraft allows the pilot to keep his attention predominantly focused outside the aircraft where the bad guys are most likely to be found. The HUD displays aircraft performance data, targeting information and weapon system status as an image overlaying the forward through-the-windscreen view. ...
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