Which aircraft are best suited for home cockpit builders?

[Jackpilot]

Hi Bryn
Just adding my cent!

Airbus is easier on all counts from a builder perspective, but this is only the appearance.
Systems, including fly by wire, are much more sophisticated and difficult to replicate.
And the real interraction with the airplane (overriding automatism sequences notably) next to impossible to recreate 100%.

The NG flys like a big Cessna with antiquated but well known and easy to acquire technology, and many many systems easy to interface.

On the other hand, who said that you cannot have a 737NG with two sticks for a cleaner, easier,(much cheaper) and more modern cockpit. Why not? We are the engineers after all.

[Michael Carter]

If I liked Airbus, I would have built an Airbus.

It' not a matter of simplicity. It's a matter of what I like
and what I want.

[fweinrebe]

Dave, it looks like like the 737NG builders prefer the PMDG version and the Airbus guys like the PSS version the most. Just my observation.

I am also starting to wonder which jet I would build once the PC9 is completed this century. I chose 3 jets which I like the most to narrow my research. They are the B757,B777 and B747-400. Of the 3 although the B757 is my favourite, I will probably go for a B777 since more resources are available for it.

Then I will try out each B777 package that is available and choose the best suited one. Accepting the fact that it will only suit 80% of my needs and I will still have to figure the other 20% out.

I guess the lesson here is, go for the aircraft you like most (or almost most) and build that. Each one has its own battle to fight.

[salautom]

B777, excellent choice!

- FS9 or FSX
- opencockpits interfacing
- sim-avionics software

(and if you have the money: a CNC-milling machine, it is my best tool)