Hi All,I'm going to build my own home cockpit based on the ATR42/72-500 using the IOCard from OpenCockpits.Since I would like to use SIOC to program all onboard systems, I need to know detailed information about overhead (detailed function of the various switches) and power management logic to better simulate for instance a correct start-up sequence or the power managing.Where could I find that documentation? Is there here someone who can suggest me (or send) the needed documentation?Thank you, regards.Bob

One good way to start that is To buy the ATR-42 Software from FLIGHT ONE I think it is very nicelly simulated most of the systems that could be a good start!!Take care.Roberto

As suggested, the Flight One aircraft is probably going to prove useful, so I would agree that getting hold of that would help (get hold of it anyway, cos it's very nice). And certainly when it comes to putting everything in the right place in your cockpit it will be useful.It should be noted however, that like a lot of add-on aircraft for FS, the switches for many of the systems are little more than eye candy really, and in terms of home cockpit use, that's really all they need to be.To elaborate, when you flip the switch to turn on the light for the logo on the tail for example, since in a homebuilt cockpit you are not going to be looking at an external view of your aircraft, it doesn't really matter whether that switch actually turns that light on or not (unless you want to use your homebuilt cockpit to practice minor electrical failure drills). The same is true of many systems which are modelled in add-on aircraft, as FS itself doesn't model many of those systems at all. So when you flip on the 'galley power' or alter the 'cabin pressure' for example, those switches don't even need to be connected to anything, just as long as they operate in a convincing way (i.e. a light comes on next to the switch or whatever).This is in fact exactly what static cockpit training simulators used by airlines do.You can of course simulate many things indirectly in a home cockpit, so you could have your 'avionics' switch turn on the power to the monitors you use for your MFDs or whatever, or rig switches so that one needs to complete a circuit before another one will 'work'.Just don't forget that you are simulating an operation!

>So when you flip on the 'galley power' or>alter the 'cabin pressure' for example, those switches don't>even need to be connected to anything, just as long as they>operate in a convincing way (i.e. a light comes on next to the>switch or whatever).Crap, did I build the compression chamber around my sim for nothing??!!! :)I agree. SIOC is pretty suitable for this kind of logic programming too. PMSystems is another alternative, but it costs money. I'd use it for a commercial project thouhg since I bet it would speed up development quite a bit. But SIOC is nice for this, I think.For electric loading, I think it might work nicely with a sioc variable that gets add/subtracted by certain amounts every time a switch is turned on or off, depending on the circuit that the switch operates.Then have a "battery" variable that gets subtracted every 10 secs or so by some constant * electricload variable. Might work.I am thinking of a same kind of approach for fuel valves for my twin piston sim - when you turn fuel valve "OFF" in FS it kills the engine instantly. In real life it takes up to a few minutes (depending on power setting) until all the fuel between the valve and the engine is used up, and until the engine sputters. A small variable (think of it as "container between fuel valve and engine") that the fuel valve "adds" to when it is open, and the fsuipc fuel flow value subtracts from might work. When the variable reaches 0, turn the Fs fuel valve variable off.Has anyone done this yet?//Tuomas

Well...I know that I can't implement a "real" cockpit in my room...as I know that a home cockpit it's not just some blinking lights that turn on and off when I push a switch.What I would like to know, if possible of course, is the "logic" with which some systems work in the ATR42/72.That aircraft, as maybe someone of you knows, has a power management system with which the pilot can set the response of the engines...this system sets the engines according to some variables...what I would like to know, thus, is what these variables are or, at least, how this system works in general.Concerning the start-up sequence since I'm not a trained pilot (I'm not actually a pilot) I need to know what systems I must turn on at first, what systems I can't activate prior to have activate another one and so on...in other word the start up sequence.Am I asking too much maybe?I perfectly know that I can't do the same things as I were in the real cockpit of an ATR42/72, but if I could get closer to it I would be happy.I think this is the spirit that "drives" a person to start building a home cockpit spending hours and hours setting up even the smallest detail of his "creature"...am I wrong?So...if you have some information that can be useful for my "work" please report me.Regards,Bob

What you're looking for is something called a POH or pilots operating handbook. It will shed some light as to the arrangement of the electrical systems, the fuel systems, hydraulic systems and how each one is attached physically. It may give you the insight you need. If part A fails, then how does part B get its juice to work? will it backfeed through part C or is it dead in the water if part A goes down? These are questions the POH is designed to give a pilot. They won't tell you any variables. In fact, I am designing a program to simulate the entire overhead and systems logic of a 737 much like pmSystems does, but it will interface with my ever-going 737 software suite. To make my software, I am having to test variables and check their reaction times to that of known sources like PMDG 737. I flip a switch in FS and the same in my software and see that the reaction times are similar. Once they are, at least my software agrees with that of the more popular commercial product that was probably done to imitate the real thing (so mine imiatates a commercial product that imitates the real thing, so hopefully that means mine imitates the real thing too).So the Flight1 ATR might be a wise investment. Flight1 and PMDG are probably the two best at replicating the exacting details of the real deal. You replicate them in a real brick-and-mortar fashion and you'll have close to the real thing.My $.02

Further to the Flight One suggestion for info on ATR cockpit operations, you might also want to try checking out www.fs2crew.com - they are currently working on an interactive cockpit utility specifically for the Flight One ATR 72-500, and although I haven't checked all of the site out, I believe there may be some stuff of interest to you on there.Also note (just in case you win the lottery) that Binter Air are selling their older ATRs to upgrade to more modern versions, so if you suddenly find yourself with a few million to spare, give em a call - well, we can dream can't we?Al

You gave me a good clue...I have just to check in my pocket but I haven't found anything so far ;)Well...I want to thank you guys for all your suggestion...I tried to search over the net "POH atr" but there is nothing interesting or that matches the information I'm looking for.I will check that web site hoping to find something interesting.Bye for now,Bob

I took a look at the web site suggested but I didn't find anything about that "interactive cockpit utility".Anyway...do you know where can I find the ATR42/72 POH?Regards,Bob

Hello Bob,have you had a look at www.esscoaircraft.com ?They have a lot of precious AOH and/or POH and I have seen some references about ATR aircrafts. Look under Aircraft Manuals-Commuter Airliners-Avions (strange location ...). I have bought my Dash-7 AOH from them and it has been an incredible source of precious data to modelize the systems of my Dash-7 home cockpit with IOCards. (but you re somwhere luckier than me because you can count on the marvelous Flight One ATR72 product to help you)Of course, it is not so cheap but it is really the definitive source of information. And it will accompany you for the rest of your simmer life ...And it is always interesting to see other cockpit builders outside the mainstream Airbus/Boeing choice ...Best regards.PhilippeLSGG

Hi Philippe,thanks for your suggestion, it helped me a lot.I'm not buying it at the moment but it's really a precious suggestion to save for the future.Unfortunately the ATR42/72 has some functions (power management for instance) that are not implemented using standard gauges of FS2004 but programmed internally (I suppose this has to be this way) so now I'm looking for a way to interact with them from outside of FS2004.It's a challenge but there is surely a solution to bypass it.Regards,Bob

no idea if it was mentioned before or not .. but I remember having seen a demo movie of a software which did simulate the ATR (I think) fully. If it was not ATR, then it must have been Dash8 but I doubt that.Maybe that would come in handy.I'm sorry that I can't find the url :(It was something that looked something like PMSystems.

Well...thank you as well...I will try if I can find something.Regards,Bob