Well, believe it or not, I think I'm about ready to start designing a physical layout for the cockpit...thanks to much help from some forum-folks. All of the input controls have been established and tested. All the analog (potentiometer) controls are done and tested. I'm even using 2 monitors now (#1 for just scenic-view, and #2 for just instruments/gauges).
The cockpit will be loaded to the ears with functionality, and I've still got plenty of unassigned inputs left for things I probably forgot, or for re-assigment.
I've created a small website that shows some of the details...feel free to have a look if you're interested. (www.jetcoder.com/cockpit.html)
I'll continue to update the website as progress goes on. If any of you gents would like me to add some element of the project to the website...just let me know
Still have a few bugs to work out, but essentially all the functionality and controls are up and running.
>>Is this coockpit like... hardware... and you are buliding it ..... by yourself?<<
Yes, it is hardware, and yes...I'm building it completely from scratch. The concept is my own and I'm building it by myself, but I got plenty of help from forum folks on technical issues.
>>tell me about it...<<
Did you visit the website? Basically, the idea was to make FS more than another computer game. I wanted a "cockpit" that would make me fly the plane...not just click a mouse or tap a keyboard. So I set about to bring as much FS functionality as I possibly could out to the cockpit, and eliminate the keyboard/mouse as much as possible.
>>I always was thinking that maybe I will bulid a coockpit for myself but how I don't know? <<
Once you have the determination that you are going to do it, it's not very difficult after that...just go at it one step at a time. Many folks build cockpits, and there are many ways to approach it. I developed my own way, and I'm pleased with it. I have all the functionality I need, with plenty of room for expansion, and so far I have less than $200 into the whole project.
>>I want to know is this coockpit a homemade or company?!<<
I made all of my own controls (control-yoke, rudder pedals, propRPM controls, Mixture controls, gear-handle, etc)...there would be some added cost if you had to have them made, or purchased them from a supplier. The cockpit itself isn't built yet, but that will be a minor cost (I'm guessing maybe $20-$30 for materials). The real cost is in the controls (which are already done and work perfectly) and in the basic design concept - some folks use a series of networked computers, I'm using just the one that I use for general computing.
>>and can I make one even if it will take years for me... <<
Again, it's the determination...I can't see why you couldn't make a cockpit. As for how long it takes: I own an engineering company and my days are long and busy, including weekends. In spite of that, it has taken me about 5 or 6 weeks to get everything ready to install...not years.
>>and is it for FS? <<
Yes, it is designed for FS, and specifically for FS2004, although I'm sure it would work with other versions of FS with some minor code changes.
>>how does it work with FS???<<
As I said, there are a number of ways to design the overall concept of building a cockpit, and I chose what I felt would be the simplest, the quickest, and the most cost-effective way. First I looked at the various ways to control the functionality...How do I turn things on and off from a cockpit? Those who use the mouse to click on screen-buttons may not be aware of this: Except for a very few functions (such as creating a Flight Plan), FS can be run and controlled entirely with just the keyboard! Look in Controls/Assignments and you'll see "Key Commands" for just about every function. For example: CTRL+SHIFT+F1 cuts the fuel off to whatever engine(s) are selected with "E". This is the path I took...using these "Key (keyboard) Commands" to run FS. I found a keyboard emulator card from Hagstrom that has 72 switching inputs which allow you to replicate keyboard functions with a switch. Example...I can program the card so that Input-1 sends a string of keyboard commands to the PC (like CTRL+SHIFT+F1), and then attach a switch to Input-1 of the card. When I flip that switch (in the cockpit), the fuel is cut off. Get the idea? I'm using 2 monitors: I wanted one screen for just the scenic view, and one screen for just gauges and instruments. As time goes on, I'll figure out a way to also bring the gauges out to the cockpit, but for now this is a pretty good compromise. Shown below is my new instrument panel for multi-engine prop planes...note the absence of any indicator-lights or switches or levers...because those will all be in the cockpit! And note that this is my own layout, using gauges that I borrowed from various aircraft in the FS inventory, and I used XML to create some new ones. Also note this doesn't look like any particular aircraft panel, and that's intentional...with this panel, I can fly any multi-engine prop or turbo. There'll be a panel for singles, and one for the Jumbo jets, as well. The layout is comfortable, easy to read, and I really don't care if it looks like some approved layout.
Whew...a long post! Enough for now...let me know if I can help you get started.
I got the idea but looks hard for me I'm 16 years old... and don't know how could i make the yoke, Throuttle, ..........
If you have something for me to let me know how to get started?
I really want to make one for me....
but the card that you said about is it like the keyboard or you bring one and how do you program it? the throttle how does it incress and ...
I was thinking of this before I know surclaro.com and siad maybe I acn like if I pressed AP something attached with it will hit Z key something like this
HOW CAN I GET STARTED? WHAT I NEED AND HOW CAN I DO IT?
What an incredible reconstruction project that is, hey? Surely that has taken years and a ton of $$$. Those chaps did some very, very classy work!
Mine won't be anything at all like that, but it isn't intended to be...I'm pointedly not replicating a particular bird. I might feel like some bush-flying in the Cessna Amphib today, or maybe a run from Boston to Sao Paulo in the 777...ya never know. My cockpit will accommodate just about anything with wings. The next level will be getting the gauges out in the cockpit, and then I can eliminate the second monitor altogether. But there's no rush on that.
Hello David:
Well, 16 or 60, FS is a lot of fun...and a cockpit makes it all that much more challenging and more like "real" flying.
As for getting started, here are my recommendations: There are some questions that come to mind. First, do you possess the technical skills to make controls similar to what I made, if I were to send you more detailed photos of them, or is there someone who would help you with it? If so, do you have access to a workshop and some tools? If the answer is no to both questions, this means you would have to buy a control-yoke, throttle quadrant, and probably rudder/brake pedals...I have no idea of the cost of such things (maybe someone else on here can give us an idea). But it leads to the next question...Will your finances tolerate such a cost?
Remember what I said before: There are a number of approaches one might choose for interfacing a cockpit with the PC and FS, but I believe the approach I took (using the keyboard emulator) is, by far, the least complex and the least costly way to do it. Therefore, I can only advise you on how my system works, and before anything else, I think you should familiarize yourself with the concept of flying FS with just the keyboard...make things happen with the key-commands instead of clicking on the screen-buttons. A good way to start is to commit yourself to making an entire flight with just the keyboard (and of course a joystick, if you're using one). Write down all the things you would click with the mouse (setting the radios, setting and activating autopilot, calling and responding to ATC, etc), and then find the Key Commands for those functions in Controls/Assignments and write them down too. You can also find most of the Key Commands on the Kneeboard (click A on the right side). So now you have a list that may look something like this:
Managing throttle (F1 - F4)
Managing Flaps (F5 - F8)
Tuning Radios (N/NN for Nav - C/CC for Comm) and the (-) and (=) keys to tune.
Tuning Autopilot (CTRL+SHIFT+Z) sets the bug for tuning Altitude (then -/=) CTRL+Z turns on/off the altitude HOLD button
And so on, for all the things you'd do with the mouse to make this flight.
You can also get these Key Commands from the listing on my website (click the List of Functions) button, but be aware...some of the commands you'll see there are ones that I assigned to specific keys (or combinations of key-strokes)...they didn't come with FS.
Okay, now take off to your destination. When ATC gives you an instruction, such as "Turn to heading 125", make the changes in autopilot with the keyboard: CTRL+SHIFT+H and then use the (-) or (=) keys to change the heading. If you mess up, try it again, and keep trying until you're comfortable managing your plane with just the keyboard commands. It's important, because that's how I'm gonna recommend you proceed, and it's really quite simple from that point. I'll send another post here, that explains how it all works...don't wanna make any single post too long.
Okay David...here are a few pictures that show the whole concept. I used just one switch circuit for the example, but if you understand how one works, the others are the same except for different key-commands.
The code for this couldn't be easier: It's a simple .txt file you can write with Windows Notepad. The code for the example (to toggle autopilot off and on) is this:
IN01:[Z]
It's telling the card that when the switch connected to INput 1 is closed, send a "Z" to the computer same is if I hit a "Z" on the keyboard. Again, I used just autopilot to keep it simple, but you can do serial commands, as well. For example, let's say that switch was a pushbutton switch instead of a toggle switch, and I wanted to use it to "Sync Propellers" on the King Air 350. The key-command for that function is CTRL+SHIFT+F5.
The code for that would be: IN01:[(+)Ctrl] [(+)Shift] [F5]
The plus-sign (+) tells the PC that I'm holding that key down...you have to reverse it (with a minus-sign (-) to tell the PC you've "released" the keys after the last command (F5), so it really would look like this:
IN01: [(+)Ctrl] [(+)Shift] [F5] [(-)Ctrl]
Pretty simple...your command instruction is surrounded by brackets [ ].
Did you do what I suggested...make a full flight using just the keyboard commands? It's important that you do, so that you see how it really works. When you've done that, the next couple of steps would be:
1. Make a complete list of whatever functionality you want in your cockpit. Feel free to borrow mine (www.jetcoder.com/sim-functions.html), but I recommend you create your own list. There are tons of functions, and rather than risk forgetting something important, I broke it apart into "groups" (no big deal here, it's pretty much what you see in Options/Assignments:
Airframe
Autopilot
Communications
Engines
Lights
Radios
Simulator General
Shown below is a list of control-inputs I'll have for the "Autopilot" group.
Remember...you're dealing with just inputs to the program (things you turn on, turn off, or adjust), not outputs from the program, such as guage readings.
As for the interface card that I recommend, you can see it at: http://www.hagstromelectronics.com and it's the KE72 on the front page of their website. You may as well go see what it's all about.
Another task I have for you is learning how to change assigments, if you don't already know how. Go into Controls/Assignments and chage something (maybe change the Autopilot on/off from a "Z" to some other keyboard character), and then prove it works on the keyboard. Don't worry...if you try to assign a key that's already being used, FS will tell you...keep trying until you find one that FS says is available.
That's enough homework for you...let me know when you've accomplished the steps above...including the keyboard-only flight.
Computer Pilot Magazine has been running a monthly series on building a Home Cockpit starting with their January Issue upto and including the current issue.
You did very well indeed! That's a very nice list to start with, and believe me, you'll add to it as time goes on.
Three questions:
1. After startup, did you perform a flight using just the keyboard?
2. Are you okay with changing assignments? For example, could you change autopilot on/off (Z) to something like CTRL+SHIFT+9 ?
3. Are you using a joystick?
In order for myself and the other folks on here to help you develop a cockpit, please tell us a little more about yourself, your situation, and specifically what your cockpit goals are, okay? Just general stuff, nothing specific or personal.
1. Do you have access to some basic tools, or maybe a workshop?
2. Do you consider yourself a pretty handy guy, who can make some things if need be?
3. Will your "cockpit" be a desktop arrangement of perhaps a control-yoke and maybe a seperate panel with some switching, or do you plan to build a completely stand-alone cockpit? There's a world of difference between those two scenarios. Dan recommended that you visit fscockpit.com, and I heartily endorse that...it's a great place to get some super ideas, and it'll help you establish what you want to build. Please go there, look around, and come back here with maybe a picture or a good description of what you want to build, okay?
4. Finances are your own business, but you can plan to spend at least a few hundred dollars: The Hagstrom card is about $125, and there's no cheaper way around it that I'm aware of. You'll also need some hardware, such as a bunch of switches.
5. Do you have a volt-ohm meter or DVM, and are you familiar with using it?
6. What about soldering tools? You'll need at least a cheapie.
You did very well indeed! That's a very nice list to start with, and believe me, you'll add to it as time goes on.
Three questions:
1. After startup, did you perform a flight using just the keyboard?
2. Are you okay with changing assignments? For example, could you change autopilot on/off (Z) to something like CTRL+SHIFT+9 ?
3. Are you using a joystick?
Garry
1- yes, and I can fly with the keyboard only
2- I can get along with it after I use it many times.... yes I am
3- yes, I am..
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