Would this work ... assuming the angles and mirror sizes were correct? Notes:1) The 3 outside views on the one projector is done by "undocking" the views and resizing the windows accordingly.2) The Projector is set to "rear projection" so images would appear "normal" to the viewer. http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/53640.jpg

That is very interesting but I think rather complicated because of the mirrors getting in the way of the projecting imeage, could there be a way to test this?Roberto

Yes to seperate the images you would need to have the mirrors up closeto the projector which would create a very small field of view.Wouldnt hurt to test though.Gaz

If you are using a single projector with a standard lens...An issue that will appear is keeping all three images in focus. The optical path length is different for the center image relative to the side images. If the center image is in focus the side images will not be.Also, the side image planes appear tilted relative to the generating image plane. Imagine that you have a single projector, a single screen and no mirrors. Now turn the screen 30 degrees. One edge of the screen is close to the projector, the other is farther away. The center may focus but the edges will not.It's a clever concept, but it needs more development. Please keep working on ideas like this.Mikewww.mikesflightdeck.com

How about putting a fresnel lens just before the projector on each side of the left/right views? That way the distance can be compensated for, and by angling the lenses the focal length can be altered, thus providing a near-perfect image on the screen. Would this be a valid idea? It's worth testing as page lenses can be obtained cheaply enough, plus you can use them for other things if the idea doesn't work ;)

I was also thinking of the projection system for home-built cockpitbeing unsatisfied with the one monitor system.I've read about the home made projection system as put your monitor in a box behind a fresnel lens, turn up the contrast, and you've got it.I've also read that this just not gonna work ( I cannot manage to buy a fresnel to test it. Couple days ago I've got the similar idea about the mirrors (one magnifier one to make the screen bigger and another one which reflect it into your eyes.I've tested it with a very basic way and it didn't work.At the corners the screen wasn't sharp as it was in the middle of the magnifying mirror.Further on think about your idea I think you cannot fill the outside view as you thought because there will be a dead path on the front view.But, what if you put another mirrors on the front view as you do at the sides?Can you correct the focal lenght with this pair of mirrors?/ I wish I could find the way. I definetely don't want to spend my budgetfor 3 projectors/Another idea is to put one projector for front view and use 2 monitors for the side view.....

Mike:>>An issue that will appear is keeping all three images in focus. The optical path length is different for the center image relative to the side images. If the center image is in focus the side images will not be. Actually it's even harder than that, Mike. I looked at the pic and thought maybe one could use one monitor for the straight ahead view, and just split the image from a second one - placed behind it - in two with mirrors to give a less detailed image for ahead/left and ahead/right. Problem is, if you look at the nicely done sketch, the light path to the outside of the two outer images is longer than the lightpath to the inside of the same image. You'd have one side of each view focused and one not :-(Got to be a way round that though...... mind working......Richard

As I said before, use an angled fresnel lens between the projector and the first mirrors, one each side, and that will correct the focal length, and as the lens is angled it will compensate for the different focal lengths of each edge.