Hello all,
my first Introduction in Oct. 2007 started with my idea to built a 747 home-cockpit. I got some nice introductions, but two month later I had to make up my mind and change to a 737. Sorry guys, from the big iron family, this idea would have had overstressed me in serveral ways. I can say this more convincigly in review of the development and realizing the 737 project. My handskills, my IT- and my electronic-knowlegde, finally my financial source are not as far as good to succeed in such a project. Now that my project is in a presentable shape, its time to share some up and some downs with you.
My idea was to realize the pit in a modular way, three four or more steps, initially to keep my old units as long as possible. Well you can do this, but keep in mind, combining CP, cockpitsonic and engravity and goflight hardware might be difficult. Donīt loose time and money in creating to much interim solutions. I started with a MIP from Cockpitsonic. Today I would say it might be better to start with a MCP and Throttle unit, next pedestal, then high quality Yoke and rudder and finally MIP and Overhead.
The disatvantage of this course might be that updates and modifications during the time hamper, because the hardware units get more and more improved, perhaps some have to be replaced to come further.
If you start with a project, keep looking around to systems at close range and try to establish contacts. In general the hardware firms do good support, but be patient, you are not the one and only customer, be more carefully when using local distributors, usually they sell and canīt give you much support, but I admit this is my personal experience.
Usually plan your contacts during working hours, on weekends no on is around, usually the time you are fiddling with your sim ..therefor modifications should be planed carefully. At a certain stage you might realize, things go big, then you need help from professionals, you might be a good or excellent simpilot, but you might be not a good IT/Software/electronic freak. If you buy a Mercedes, you donīt think of doing service and fixing all by yourself, buying and using a homepit might need the same approach, moreover when your main goal is flying the sim vs. to built a sim. The initally delimited costs of course exeeded the limits (approx. 25%). In the beginning I decided to spent as much money for my sim as for a PPL liscence and for 30-50 flying hours in the first two years. I can say today I practised more than I thought in the beginning . but after two years Iīm happy with my sim, this ist he most important thing to say and I wrote this to thank some person who helped to realize it.
things remain to be done:
platform, seats, overhead panel
My Sim:
Hardware:
Cockpitsonic
FDT with CP-flight MCP/EFIS for Captain and F/O
Throttle and Pedestal from Cockpitsonic
CDU from Engravity
Column-Yoke/Pedals for Captain and F/0 from PFC
Software:
Microsoft FS9
Project magenta
FSUIPC
Autobrake and others (TSR)
I would thank for helping me realizing my homecockpit
Mr. M.Roehr (Cockpitsonic)
Mr. H. Sobisch (Cockpitsonic)
Mr. P.Dowson (FSUIPC)
Mr. T.Richter (Technical Service Richter)
Bernhard (LSZH)
