FScockpit HOME

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FS Cockpit changes

Find your way into flight simulator cockpit construction

FScockpit HOME.

1: EXAMPLES.

2: COMMUNITY.

- An impression.

- User groups and forums.

- Links to other cockpit builders.

- Links to suppliers.

3: HOW TO GET STARTED.

- Building blocks of a flight simul....

- The 5 questions to ask .

- Cockpit specifications .

- Panel construction.

- Hull construction.

4: GAME PC.

- Microsoft Flight Simulator.

- Interface software.

- Mouse simulation.

5: COCKPIT INTERFACE.

- Keyboard emulator.

- Special interface solutions.

- PC and interface cards.

- Micro controllers.

- Data communication.

6: COCKPIT ELEMENTS.

- Various switches.

- Panel mounted indicators.

- Mechanical gauges.

- CRT-based gauges.

- Radio and navigation instruments.

- Flight controls.

- Display system.

- Sound system.

- Speech system.

- Vibration system.

- Motion system.

- G-force system.

- Ventilation system.

- Complementary simulation.

7: FINAL REMARKS.

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Word from the author.

What's new ?.

Acknowledgements.

Copyright & Disclaimer.

Contact information.

Word from the author ...

 

Being a Microsoft Flight Simulator enthusiast for at that time over 16 years, I decided in the mid of 2000 that making an aircraft for the Microsoft Flight Simulator myself was the new challenge I needed. The choice was the "DC- 3", to me the most beautiful (perhaps better romantic) plane ever built. The objective was "As real as it can get".

 

So I started ... on the one hand investigating the Microsoft Flight Simulator SDK and the wealth on information on Internet on how to make an aircraft and panel. On the other hand gathering DC-3 manuals and other documentation. Having done this for several months I discovered that:

 

- it takes many many hours in order to achieve "as real as it can get"

 

- in particular the panel stays a huge compromise when compared to the real thing

 

All the time I had already a fascination for those who build their own real flight simulator cockpit at home, but never considered it with respect to my own situation. However one day at the start of 2001 when wrestling with the Microsoft Flight Simulator SDK and being not really satisfied with the results after all the hours of work, I "woke up" and considered that building a real flight simulator cockpit would at the end require a similar amount of time and a greater enjoyment. The latter with respect to both the construction (combination of tinkering and programming) and usage. So I switched course for a real DC-3 experience when flying: the development of a DC-3 flight simulator cockpit based on the Microsoft Flight Simulator.

 

So why did I start this site? In order to find out initially how to build an aircraft for the Microsoft Flight Simulator and later to find information on the DC-3 and on flight simulator cockpit construction, I have made many long journeys on the Internet touring from site to site. All the travel experiences resulted in lots of notes and bookmarks. When starting to make sense out of all this information I realized:

 

- the steep learning curve there is

 

- the power of sharing information / knowledge

 

Publishing this site is my contribution to shortening the learning curve -by sharing information and knowledge- and by that a contribution to innovation and enjoyment in the flight simulator community.

 

As I gather new information, receive feedback on this site and make progress with my own flight simulator cockpit I will update this site.

 

Any feedback on the content of this site and/or suggestions on additions etc. are welcome.

 

Enjoy browsing FScockpit.com !

 

Herman Lenferink.