Hello everyone.I have just joined this forum as I am starting to build a GA simulator.Most of my flying as a PPLIMC has been on Piper PA28 and Robin 2160 with just a few Cessna hours.My first cockpit build is around a simkits panel so will have to be C172 based.My main reason for the build is a totally imersive instrument trainer so I can keep upto speed in this area without a safty pilot and foggles.I have lots of grand ideas as I'am sure everyone does at the start but my main requirement is to be sat inside a cockpit enclosure with the only views of the outside world being computer generated.I hope to have a front view and both side views.My job is IT so the computer side of things should not be a problems.This main thing that I am thinking about at the moment is the display system.I have had a look through past posts to get some ideas, the curved mirror idea sound really good but I think this would need quit a lot of space.One idea that is going around in my head at the moment is fresnel lenses.I thought if I was to use the lenses as the cockpit windows and run three or four flat screens behind them I may get the effect I want.Does that sound feasable or is it back to the drawing board ?ThanksDarren

Hi Darren,With good quality Fresnel lenses you can indeed get some good effects. Take a look at http://www.bugeyetech.com/home.php Here's a link to a paper describing what appears to be Bugeye's approach before the principles left Boeing to start Bugeye http://www.rickleephoto.com/mosaicfresnel.htm There is some display system info here: http://www.mikesflightdeck.com/scenery_display_1.htmMikewww.mikesflightdeck.com

>My first cockpit build is around a simkits panel so will have>to be C172 based.Well, this is not really true - pretty much all light airplanes have very similar instrument panel. If you are making a instrument trainer, the sizes and dimensions are really not that important. What you want is the Basic T layout and navigation gauges. Those are more or less the same in all GA planes that do not have a glass cockpit.Get a good flight model (Dreamfleet planes seem very high quality) - decide first which aircraft class you want (single engine prop vs twin prop etc) - for twin the Dreamfleet C310 is very good, as well as is the Baron 58. For singles the Dreamfleet PA-28 Archer is awesome, and the Bonanza has received good comments.RealityXP makes very good avionics for such a trainer.Basically what I am trying to say, is, *forget a specific aircraft type* and design based on *what systems and avionics you need* - and then get one of those good flight models and build a custom setup around it. That flight model gives you the performance figures etc.//Tuomas

MikeThanks for the reply, I have ordered a fresnel to try.TuomasThanks for your replyI agree in part with your observation.Most aircraft do have the basic T layout but the ancillary instruments i.e Engine guages, fuel guages, Vac etc etc are of different sizes, shapes and locations.Trimmers, switches and fuel selectors are mounted in different positions and operate in differing ways as do flap controls, throttles, mixture and carb heat.The list goes on and on.All of these affect the way you scan the panel and operate controls when flying.I do feel that a simulator used as a procedural trainer will give greater benefit the more closely it represents the aircraft you fly.That said I would still prefer to get up and running based on a Cessna layout than spend many momths trying to replicate a Piper or Robin with home made equipment.Maybe for my next project.Darren

>I do feel that a simulator used as a procedural trainer will>give greater benefit the more closely it represents the>aircraft you fly.>That said I would still prefer to get up and running based on>a Cessna layout than spend many momths trying to replicate aYep, that is true too. Of course, you will probably be flying several types of aircraft over the years, so it also might make sense to build something generic.Most aircraft have the similar stuff in roughly the same places. While a sim can be a good aid in the "spatial familiarization" of the flight deck, in personal flight training there are also other factors. Navigation, both VFR and radio navigation, radio phrases, ifr procedures etc are things that can very much be practiced on the simulator. Getting used to the actual cockpit layout is just a small part of the equation in my opinion of course. You probably want to have one simulator after all, unless you live in a huge garage with acres of free space :)While a "replica" flight deck representing very closely an existing airplane is nice for type familiarisation indeed, it is not that important in the other procedures. As long as you get the idea of "put the gear down before landing" in your head, it does not matter that much *where the actual switch is located*, if you know what I mean.Of course it is also nice to build a "realistic" looking cockpit, it also adds to the immersion and feeling, which is why we do this crazy stuff after all :)//Tuomas