Wow--that is not that experience of several of my airline pilot buddies--besides, I think you are confusing a 747 captain with a commercial pilot (which takes about 250 hours in the USA). Even then, generally, you stop paying for ratings after you become a commercial pilot. You make your employer pay for that--I understand it is more expensive in Europe- but then again that is why quite a few europeans come to the US to train--which would also very covered by 25,000 bucks.

Really? A friend of mine who flies for KLM claims he has a loan in excess of 250 000

To be honest Jim I'd do as Miguel if I could spare the money.And probably, if I had the money to make such a setup, I'd also have the money to do some real flying too. It's more a matter of common sence for anyone to realise whether they can do it (I mean financially) or not, without bankrupting, which would be quite silly.In any case I still feel very jealous when I look at such virtual cockpits in the net. Good job Miguel.

well every cockpit can be better and better depending of the money yuo want to spend. for example, i can put more monitors for windows, i can put movement but really are things that by the moment i don

And.....with that money, I could buy 40+ hours in the real thing....Enough time to really get used to the 'feel' of the real thing...something you'll never get from any or all the add-ons you could possibly purchase. Just my 2 1/2 cents...:)Regards,jack noulet

well, i have this cock

Wow--that is not that experience of several of my airline pilot buddies--besides, I think you are confusing a 747 captain with a commercial pilot (which takes about 250 hours in the USA). Even then, generally, you stop paying for ratings after you become a commercial pilot. You make your employer pay for that--I understand it is more expensive in Europe- but then again that is why quite a few europeans come to the US to train--which would also very covered by 25,000 bucks.And now that I think about it--250,000 euros is close to 400,000 bucks US. For a rating? No--I am throwing the BS flag on that play. You could go to Harvard University for cheaper. Not buying that "friend" story. Maybe in total for his college degree, all his ratings, all his time --even then I think it does not add up. I think your friend is blowing some smoke at you.

In Europe it's between

this pictures were taken during a familiarization flight with a pupil. today he is first officer of ryanair

Awesome :DBut why does it have INS when it's an NGX? :b

so youe tower is pretty much acting as your avionics systems :(

So what you are telling me is that when Delta Airlines hires folks from military or the regionals they make them go get that MD80 rating? No, I'm afraid that you have that way backwards. Actually most airlines DO pay for the rating as they train folks for specific aircraft. Southwest is (that I know of right now) the only Part 121 airline that requires a 737 rating ahead of time--and frankly that is ok since that is the ony airframe you will fly at Southwest. Regarding the figures on the European "Pay for Training" programs we're trying to avoid here in the US-(I won't get into the politics of it) I won't tell you if they are correct but I will question the wisdom (sanity) of financing such a great large amount of money for so little education which I guess why our flights schools here are flooded with Europeans and Asians who will convert thier FAA certs to JAA certs.Don't confuse the situation with charters flying or corporate flying in the US--those guys want ratings up front.

In Europe it's between

Oh and I am not in any way saying Miguel did something wrong--that is a wonderful job he did and I am impressed with it. It is just the pilot in me that wonders that his passion is less for actually flying than it is for building.

Oh and I am not in any way saying Miguel did something wrong--that is a wonderful job he did and I am impressed with it. It is just the pilot in me that wonders that his passion is less for actually flying than it is for building.

Don't mean to speak for anyone here, but surely a man is entitled to have a passion for flying of the real and virtual sort as well as for home flight deck construction, considering how closely related all three disciplines are.Tony

Miguel,Can you take a picture of the overhead (Ground-Up point of View).

Awesome :DBut why does it have INS when it's an NGX? :b

hithe INS is in the pedestal becasue i don

Very nice setup here Miguel, I think I had the same MCP as you when I did a 744 pit (never finished), it was from FDS. I'm thinking about doing a complete rebuild and probably the 737 down the road. Just out of curiosity; what are the rest of your panels, and what are you using for your IO/LED boards? It looks like you may also have a 744 FMC as well as a 737 also from FDS? Back when I did mine there weren't the options that are around today, and if someone wanted to do a simpit it was R&R's Epic boards only pretty much.@ Loan: Yeah, the problem of doing a sim pit is you are somewhat tied into that particular aircraft, but really only for asthetics. You could still fly other AC, but some things like the FMC/CDU's may need relabeling temporarily. I like the older style guages that the 737 still uses and really adds to the simpit experience.@Jim A: The great thing of pit building is you do little by little so you don't notice the expense as much as you might think. Building a pit and coding one is a LOT of work, but definitely does become a great hobby. As for rather having 40hrs in the real thing then a simpit I would strongly disagree since having your own is second to none in my opinion. Lastly, you are talking like a youngster to say something like "... wonders that his passion is less for actually flying than it is for building". Most serious cockpit builders like myself already have professions and are not about to attempt an airline career at the sweet age of 39, especially when you don't have any schooling yet for it. I had thousands invested in mine and only had a couple hundred bucks a month (at best) to throw toward the hobby, but have been there, done that, and will do it again. If I had all the money back from my scuba diving hobby I could probably buy a real 747-8! :(Great videos also Miquel, the only thing I would add is a few serious protectors :(